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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Jackie Shave
Violin
Martyn P. Casey
Bass Guitar
Mick Harvey
Guitar
Lionel Handy
Cello
Leon Bosch
Bass
Blixa Bargeld
Guitar
Simon Fischer
Violin
Rebecca Hirsch
Violin
Conway Savage
Background Vocals
Gavyn Wright
Violin
Paul Morgan
Bass
Naomi Wright
Cello
Patrick Kiernan
Violin
Warren Ellis
Violin
Kate McGarrirgle
Background Vocals
Frank Schaefer
Cello
Thomas Wydler
Drums
Jim Sclavunos
Percussion
Bruce White
Viola
Geoffrey Clarkson
Viola
Nick Cave
Vocals
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Nick Cave
Songwriter
Warren Ellis
String Arranger
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Mick Geyer
Producer
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Producer
Simon Heyworth
Mastering Engineer
Mirek Stiles
Engineer
Kevin Paul
Recording Engineer
Tony Cohen
Producer
Mark Bishop
Assistant Engineer
Lyrics
As I sat sadly by her side
At the window, through the glass
She stroked a kitten in her lap
And we watched the world as it fell past
Softly she spoke these words to me
With brand new eyes, open wide
We pressed our faces to the glass
As I sat sadly by her side
She said, "Father, mother, sister, brother
Uncle, aunt, nephew, niece
Soldier, sailor, physician, labourer
Actor, scientist, mechanic, priest
Earth and moon and sun and stars
And planets and comets with tails blazing
All are there forever falling
Falling lovely and amazing"
Then she smiled and turned to me
And waited for me to reply
Her hair was falling down her shoulders
As I sat sadly by her side
As I sat sadly by her side
The kitten, she did gently pass
Over to me and again we pressed our
Indifferent faces to the glass
"That may be very well", I said
"But watch the one falling in the street
See him gesture to his neighbours
And see him trampled beneath their feet
All outward motion connects to nothing
For each is concerned with their immediate need
Witness the man reaching up from the gutter
See the other one stumbling on who can not see"
With trembling hand I turned toward her
I pushed the hair out of her eyes
The kitten jumped back to her lap
As I sat sadly by her side
Then she drew the curtains down
And said, "Oh, when will you ever learn
That what happens there beyond the glass
Is simply none of your concern?
God has given you but one heart
You are not a home for the hearts of your brothers
And God don't care for your benevolence anymore
Than he cares for the lack of it in others
Nor does he care for you to sit
At windows in judgement of the world he created
While sorrows pile up around you
Ugly, useless and over-inflated"
At which she turned her head away
Great tears leaping from her eyes
I could not wipe the smile from my face
As I sat sadly by her side
As I sat sadly by her side
As I sat sadly by her side
As I sat sadly by her side
Writer(s): Nicholas Edward Cave
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