Wild God – English Lyrics

• By: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
• Album: Wild God

Lyrics & Translation

“Wild God” by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds is an exceptional song for English language learners due to its rich, metaphorical lyrics and Nick Cave's distinctive storytelling. The song delves into profound themes of faith, humanity, and the search for meaning, offering a unique blend of poetic expression and powerful emotion. Its intricate narrative and evocative language provide an excellent opportunity to explore deeper English vocabulary and interpretation skills, making it a compelling piece for both musical enjoyment and linguistic growth.

[English]

Once upon a time, a wild God zoomed

...

All through his memory in which he was entombed

It was rape and pillage in the retirement village

But in his mind he was a man of great virtue and courage

And he flew out the window with his long, trailing hair

And the smoke from the bodies went straight up in the air

He was a wild God searching for what all wild Gods are searching for

And he flew through the dying city like a prehistoric bird

...

He went searching for the girl down on, in Jubilee Street

But she'd died in a bedsit in 1993

So he flew to the top of the world and looked around

And said, "Where are my people? Where are my people to bring your spirit down?"

...

A wild God searching for a faraway girl

Who was basically a mirage that nevertheless loomed large

She would hang under the rail as he blew 'round the room

And make love with a kind of efficient gloom

...

And the people on the ground cried, "When does it start?"

And the wild God says, "It starts with a heart, with a heart, with a heart, with a heart"

And the people on the ground cried, "When does it end?"

And the wild God says, "Well, it depends, but it mostly never ends

'Cause I'm a wild God flying and a wild God swimming

And I'm an old, sick God dying and crying and singing"

...

Bring your spirit down

Oh, we're wild Gods, baby, we're wild Gods

...

Yeah, bring your spirit down

Oh, well, he's moving through the flames of anarchy

And he's moving through the winds of tyranny

And the sweet, sweet tears of liberty, yeah, moving 'round the world

...

He's moving through your body like a prehistoric bird

He's moving 'round the world

Oh Lord, well, if you're feeling lonely and if you're feeling blue

And if you just don't know what to do

Bring your spirit down

Oh, we're wild Gods, baby, we're wild Gods

I'm a wild God, baby, I'm a wild God

Oh, here we go, we're going to the cradle of Africa

We're going to Russia, we're going to China

To the United States of America

Yeah, moving 'round the world

Yeah, moving like a great, big, beautiful bird

We're moving 'round the world

Yeah, and he's swimming at the end of the rotting pier

He swims to the end of his rotting idea

Swim to the hymn, swim to the prayer and bring your spirit down

...

I'm a wild God, baby, I'm a wild God

Well, here we go, yeah, here we go

...