The Weeping Song Explained

The Weeping Song
Cover:	Nick Cave - The Weeping Song.jpeg
Type:	single
Artist:	Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Album:	The Good Son
B-Side:	Cocks 'n' Asses
Studio:	Cardan Studios (São Paulo, Brazil)
Genre:	Gothic rock
Length:	4:21
Label:	Mute
Producer:	The Bad Seeds
Prev Title:	The Ship Song
Prev Year:	1990
Next Title:	Straight to You
Next Year:	1992

"The Weeping Song" is a song by the Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It was released as a single from their sixth studio album, The Good Son (1990), on 17 September 1990 by Mute Records.

The lyrics take the form of a dialogue between father and son, who alternate lines during the verses while singing together on the choruses. The father's part is sung by Blixa Bargeld of Einstürzende Neubauten, while Cave performs the son's part. Cave recalled the song "came out of nowhere with very little thought", one day while he lived in Brazil and walked from his home to a nearby bar he frequented.^[1]

Accolades

Year	Publication	Country	Accolade	Rank
1990	Sounds	United Kingdom	Singles of the Year^[2]	47
2007	NME	United Kingdom	Classic Singles^[3]
2013	Rolling Stone	Germany	Anniversary Special: 222 Songs^[4]

(*) designates unordered lists.

Formats and track listing

All songs written by Nick Cave, except where noted.

UK 7" single (MUTE 118)

1. "The Weeping Song" – 4:20
2. "Cocks 'n' Asses" (Nick Cave, Victor Van Vugt) – 5:45

UK CD single (CD MUTE 118)

1. "The Weeping Song" – 4:19
2. "Cocks 'n' Asses" (Nick Cave, Victor Van Vugt) – 5:46
3. "Helpless" (Neil Young) – 4:30

US CD single (9 66605-2)

1. "The Weeping Song" – 4:19
2. "The Train Song" – 4:46
3. "The B-Side Song" (Nick Cave, Victor Van Vugt) – 5:46 ("Cocks 'n' Asses" retitled for the US market)
4. "Helpless" (Neil Young) – 4:30

Personnel

Adapted from The Weeping Song liner notes.^[5] Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds

• Nick Cave – lead vocals; piano
• Blixa Bargeld – lead vocals; guitar
• Mick Harvey – bass guitar; vibraphone; shaker
• Kid Congo Powers – guitar
• Thomas Wydler – drums

Production and additional personnel

• The Bad Seeds – production
• Polly Borland – cover art; photography

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
United Kingdom	1990	Mute		MUTE 118
United States		Elektra	CD	9 66605-2

Notes and References

1. Sanderson, Dominic (2024). Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds: Every Album, Every Song. Sonicbond Publishing, ISBN 9781789520262
2. Web site: Sounds End of Year Lists: Singles . 29 September 2015 . Sounds.
3. Web site: NME Classic Albums & Singles . 29 September 2015 . NME.
4. Web site: Anniversary Special: 222 Songs (2013) . 29 September 2015 . Rolling Stone.
5. The Weeping Song . . 1990 . booklet . . London, England.