From The Badger's Lair #8 - Halloween Special

Commentary

Though most badgers may be spending this time of year curled up in their sets, hibernating in the wait for next spring to roll around so that they can once more frolick in Brian May's fields, over very own Badger is still busy working away in his lair. Tis the season so he's pieced us together a Halloween special this week – it's time for things to get spooky…

Halloween has – over recent years – become a big deal on Ibiza with pretty much everybody and their dogs getting dressed up as ghouls and heading out into the night to celebrate god only knows what. I actually think that life is pretty fucking scary as it is but being a changed man (Mark 2) go with the flow nowadays and tag along with the rest of the flotsam dragging my bloodied corpse from party to party getting steadily worse for wear as time slips by… Rather quickly.

(Best crushed and snorted with a beer close at hand)

This year me and Andy have been asked to select some troubling tunes for Pikes’ shindig (our usual Sunday haunt) so I’ve been digging through the vaults at The Badgers Lair this week. It’s a shame we only have a couple of hours to be honest as it seems that I have rather a large collection of miserable and disturbing music in my collection. To those that know me on a more personal level this will probably not come as much of a surprise but in fact I actually surprised myself. What the hell have I been doing?!? listening back has put me in a rather gloomy mood. So it’s only fit I should share a few of these moments with you.

Nick Cave – always good for a laugh – is going to appear more than once next Saturday I’m sure.

It began when they come took me from my home
And put me in Dead Row,
Of which I am nearly wholly innocent, you know.
And I'll say it again
I.. am.. not.. afraid.. to.. die.

I began to warm and chill
To objects and their fields,
A ragged cup, a twisted mop
The face of Jesus in my soup
Those sinister dinner deals
The meal trolley's wicked wheels
A hooked bone rising from my food
All things either good or ungood.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof.
An eye for an eye
A tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die.

Interpret signs and catalogue
A blackened tooth, a scarlet fog.
The walls are bad. Black. Bottom kind.
They are sick breath at my hind
They are sick breath at my hind
They are sick breath at my hind
They are sick breath gathering at my hind

I hear stories from the chamber
How Christ was born into a manger
And like some ragged stranger
Died upon the cross
And might I say, it seems so fitting in its way
He was a carpenter by trade
Or at least that's what I'm told

Like my good hand
tattooed E.V.I.L. across it's brother's fist
That filthy five! They did nothing to challenge or resist.

In Heaven His throne is made of gold
The ark of his Testament is stowed
A throne from which I'm told
All history does unfold.
Down here it's made of wood and wire
And my body is on fire
And God is never far away.

Into the mercy seat I climb
My head is shaved, my head is wired
And like a moth that tries
To enter the bright eye
So I go shuffling out of life
Just to hide in death awhile
And anyway I never lied.

My kill-hand is called E.V.I.L.
Wears a wedding band that's G.O.O.D.
'Tis a long-suffering shackle
Collaring all that devil blood.

And the mercy seat is a-burning
And I think my head is flowing
And in a way I'm hoping
To be done with all this weighing up of truth.
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And I've got nothing left to lose
And I'm not afraid to die.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway, there was no proof
And nor a motive why.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof.
A life for a life
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway there was no proof
And I'm not afraid to die.

Now the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is smoking
And in a way I'm hoping
To be done with all these looks of disbelief.
A eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
And I'm not afraid to die.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof.
A eye for a eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
But I'm not afraid to lie.

And the mercy seat is waiting
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning
To be done with all this measuring of proof
An eye for an eye
And a tooth for a tooth
And anyway I told the truth
But I'm afraid I told a lie.

Love the original but kind of feel that Cash made it his own. As he has done many times with other peoples work. The mark of true talent.

Nick’s version (original)

Johnny’s version.

Read all about it.

All kinds of good stuff on his best selling album Murder Ballads, these three being my personal favourites.

O’Malley’s Bar. Containing some of Cave’ best lines ever. My favourite in this case being – “Well Jerry Bellows, He hugged his stool, Closed his eyes and shrugged and laughed. And with an astray as big as a fucking really big brick I split his head in half”

The Curse Of Milhaven. A typically happy singalong in which 23 people are killed by the 15 year old Loretta (although she prefers Lottie) with the greenest eyes you’ve ever seen.

Stagger Lee. If I had a pound for every time I've listened to this I’d be weighted down with pounds. A troubling tale of a man unhappy in his own skin with a penchant for fat boys bottoms. Wonderful stuff.

Put your apples on the floor and get down to the scary sounds. Whilst being careful not to slip on the carelessly placed records.

The Cramps are sure to be making an appearance too but I can’t for the life in me choose which one (or two) will make the final cut. Far too many horrible hits to choose from. Figured I’d watch this, possibly the craziest performance of their crazy career for inspiration.