This song, and his early albums until Tender Prey, dealt in a large way with a few themes. In his novel "And the Ass Saw the Angel" he brought most of them together in one statement. As the person before me said, this song deals with Elvis's birth, but as presented it closely resembles Euchrid's birth--the bottle, the box full of straw, the twin dying not long after birth. The Preacher of doom also is embodied and fleshed out in Abie Poe, the pistol wielding, self-anointed prophet.
Also, throughout the novel, and the songs from this period, are echoes of Jesus' birth and religious language, things Nick has long made a part of his artistic repertoire. I find it fascinating to see all these strains developing, even so early, in an writer of Nick Cave's caliber. I would say that we need more like him, but he has done his job so well, another like him would only detract from his work. Nick Cave is a true artist.
This song, and his early albums until Tender Prey, dealt in a large way with a few themes. In his novel "And the Ass Saw the Angel" he brought most of them together in one statement. As the person before me said, this song deals with Elvis's birth, but as presented it closely resembles Euchrid's birth--the bottle, the box full of straw, the twin dying not long after birth. The Preacher of doom also is embodied and fleshed out in Abie Poe, the pistol wielding, self-anointed prophet.
Also, throughout the novel, and the songs from this period, are echoes of Jesus' birth and religious language, things Nick has long made a part of his artistic repertoire. I find it fascinating to see all these strains developing, even so early, in an writer of Nick Cave's caliber. I would say that we need more like him, but he has done his job so well, another like him would only detract from his work. Nick Cave is a true artist.