Vocaboly.com

[Guentcho Skordev]

Hello all,

Does the word "fall" in the song mean anything else than moving (like
the Moon moves around the Earth - it could also be considered "free
falling" with the right conditions not to hit the Earth)?

Thanks,
Guentcho

[Einde O'Callaghan]

If you want us to help it would be much better to quote the part of the
song you want us to interpret. I doubt if anybody here will actually do
a search for the lyrics of a Nick Cave song just to satisfy your
curiosity. On the other hand if you actually quote the part of the lyric
you want us to look at you'll probably get several replies.

Regards, Einde O'Callaghan

[Guentcho Skordev]

I am not so sure about copyright, but if Nick Cave calls me on the
phone tomorrow, I can ask him myself what he wanted to say.

| 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
| And 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
| 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 different 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
| 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"
|
| [...]

The rest of the song is quite ironic, but I leave it to the interested.

I think, in the second part "falling" means only "falling", but I have
problems with the first part ("falling lovely and amazing" - well, it
doesn't have to mean anything, but maybe it has some meaning).


Bye,
Guentcho

[Nick Wagg]

[Ancrene]

Sorry if I'm butting in on a topic that's already been settled, but just to
add another perspective to this.

Falling can also mean "to pass into a particular state, condition, or
situation" - suggesting that what they are observing is "becoming" amazing;
or alternatively could be changing in an amazing and beautiful fashion.

The lyric therefore keeps the theme of "falling" although using the word in
a different context.

I could be wrong, but it is another possibility.

[richhouse]

I'm not entirely sure, but it would seem to me, just through reading the excerpt provided, that Mr Cave may have been referring to the perception of the sky rising and setting. He talks about the pressing his face against the glass, implying he's looking through a window, and as anyone who's watched a time lapse video will know, it can appear that the sky is indeed "falling". I think it is meant to indicate a lengthy passage of time spent in one place.
But that's just my opinion.
_________________
Regards,

Rich House

www.thehouseband.co.uk