In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that hole
Larry made his nest up in the autumn branches
Built from nothing but high hopes and thin air
Collected up some baby blasted mothers
They took their chances and for a while
They lived quite happily up there
He came from New York City man
But he couldn't take the pace
He thought it was like a dog eat dog world
But he went to San Francisco
Spent a year in outer space
With a sweet little San Franciscan girl
I can hear my mother wailing
And a whole lot of scraping of chairs
I don't know what it is
But there's definitely something going on upstairs
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that hole (I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
Well, yeah, New York City, he had to get out of there
And San Francisco, well, I don't know
And then to LA, where he spent about a day
He thought even the pale sky-stars were smart
Enough to keep well away from LA
Meanwhile Larry made up names for the ladies
Like Ms Boo and Ms Quick
He stockpiled weapons and took pot shots in the air
He feasted on their lovely bodies like a lunatic
And wrapped himself up in their soft yellow hair
I can hear chants and incantations
And some guy is mentioning me in his prayers
Well I don't know what it is
But there's definitely something going on upstairs
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that hole (I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
Well New York City Man
San Francisco, LA, I don't know
But Larry grew increasingly neurotic and obscene
I mean, he, he never asked to be raised up from the tomb
I mean no one ever actually asked him to forsake his dreams
Anyway, to cut a long story short
Fame finally found him
Mirrors became his torturers
Cameras snapped him at every chance
The women all went back to their homes
And their husbands
With secret smiles in the corners of their mouths
He ended up, like so many of them do
Back in the streets of New York City
In a soup queue
A dope fiend
A slave
Then prison
Then the mad house
Then the grave
Oh poor Larry
But what do we really know of the dead
And who actually cares?
Well I don't know what it is
But there's definitely something going on upstairs
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that hole (I want you to dig)
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that (dig, that's right, dig)
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that (I want you to dig)
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that hole
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that hole
Larry made his nest up in the autumn branches
Built from nothing but high hopes and thin air
Collected up some baby blasted mothers
They took their chances and for a while
They lived quite happily up there
He came from New York City man
But he couldn't take the pace
He thought it was like a dog eat dog world
But he went to San Francisco
Spent a year in outer space
With a sweet little San Franciscan girl
I can hear my mother wailing
And a whole lot of scraping of chairs
I don't know what it is
But there's definitely something going on upstairs
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that hole (I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
Well, yeah, New York City, he had to get out of there
And San Francisco, well, I don't know
And then to LA, where he spent about a day
He thought even the pale sky-stars were smart
Enough to keep well away from LA
Meanwhile Larry made up names for the ladies
Like Ms Boo and Ms Quick
He stockpiled weapons and took pot shots in the air
He feasted on their lovely bodies like a lunatic
And wrapped himself up in their soft yellow hair
I can hear chants and incantations
And some guy is mentioning me in his prayers
Well I don't know what it is
But there's definitely something going on upstairs
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that hole (I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
(I want you to dig)
Well New York City Man
San Francisco, LA, I don't know
But Larry grew increasingly neurotic and obscene
I mean, he, he never asked to be raised up from the tomb
I mean no one ever actually asked him to forsake his dreams
Anyway, to cut a long story short
Fame finally found him
Mirrors became his torturers
Cameras snapped him at every chance
The women all went back to their homes
And their husbands
With secret smiles in the corners of their mouths
He ended up, like so many of them do
Back in the streets of New York City
In a soup queue
A dope fiend
A slave
Then prison
Then the mad house
Then the grave
Oh poor Larry
But what do we really know of the dead
And who actually cares?
Well I don't know what it is
But there's definitely something going on upstairs
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that hole (I want you to dig)
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that (dig, that's right, dig)
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that (I want you to dig)
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, Lazarus
Dig yourself, back in that hole
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Yes, apparently this story always freaked Cave out as a child. It seems like he rewrote the story, but putting it in a modern setting, where Lazarus gets raised from the dead only to flit about from city to city, get caught up in women and drugs, gets hounded by the press and then eventually, dies again.
"I don't know what it is, but there is definitely something going on upstairs."
This could refer to God tweaking and screwing around with everything up in heaven, keeping Lazarus out for whatever reasons. That's kinda iffy but that's the way I see it.
Now that I have this on my iPod, I've noticed that this is probably the greatest song to just strut down the street to. I mean, I'm sure the stigma of the music video has something to do with this but, but still...
Jackacoop, its Jesus that raises himself from the dead after 3 days, not Lazarus. He doesn't wait till he's moulding and his skins peeling off before he raises him while his relatives keep him in the house despite what must have been an unbelievable stench in a hot country. This was a story thats told to kids in primary schools remember. Its not mean't to portray Jesus as a sick weirdo entertaining a family of pyscho's (well in the bible story if not this song, anyway).
At first the "something going on upstairs" seems to be literal: Lazarus is lying in his tomb hearing what's going on above him - his mother grieving for him & "some guy" who is presumably Jesus praying for him. But at the end Cave is talking about what happens to the dead & the line turns into a vague declaration of faith. Very clever little twist!
nick cave is mad
I get a Lenny Bruce vibe from the whole thing, dig?
Unbelievably badass. This has one of the best grooves I've heard in a long time.
There's a bit of the third first missing but I'm too lazy to figure it out now. I guess we can wait till the album comes out.
So far this has been by far the best song of the year.
Doesn't Lazarus get raised from the dead by Jesus after he was dead for 3 days? Cool song though!
Yes, apparently this story always freaked Cave out as a child. It seems like he rewrote the story, but putting it in a modern setting, where Lazarus gets raised from the dead only to flit about from city to city, get caught up in women and drugs, gets hounded by the press and then eventually, dies again.
"I don't know what it is, but there is definitely something going on upstairs."
This could refer to God tweaking and screwing around with everything up in heaven, keeping Lazarus out for whatever reasons. That's kinda iffy but that's the way I see it.
Now that I have this on my iPod, I've noticed that this is probably the greatest song to just strut down the street to. I mean, I'm sure the stigma of the music video has something to do with this but, but still...
He has style here like no other I've seen, and quite a clever idea to begin with. No wonder he got high in the charts without much radio play whatsoever, in this country at least.