Grief Came Riding
Producers
Grief Came Riding Lyrics
[Verse 1]
A grief came riding
On the wind
Up the sullen river Thames
I was sittin' on the bank with my mouth open
When I felt it entering
I began thinkin' about our wedding day
And how love was a vow
I was thinkin' about the chamber door
Only we can enter now
I began thinkin' about our ancient friends
And of kissin' them goodbye
And then the wind blew under Battersea Bridge
And a tear broke from my eye
I started thinkin' about London
And nothing good ever came from this town
And if the Thames weren't so filthy
I would jump in the river and drown
[Chorus]
Don't be afraid
Come on down
I'm just sittin' here
Thinking aloud
[Verse 2]
A grief came riding on the wind
Up the river where the bridges crouch
Blowing people back and forth
From the marital bed to the psychiatric couch
Blowin' people far apart
Blowin' others so they collide
Blowin' some poor bastard right out of the water
Blowin' another one over the side
Hear the ancient iron bridge
And listen to it groan
With the weight of a thousand people
Leavin' or returning home
To their failures
To their boredoms
To their husbands
And their wives
Who are carving them up for dinner
Before they even arrive
A grief came riding
On the wind
Up the sullen river Thames
I was sittin' on the bank with my mouth open
When I felt it entering
I began thinkin' about our wedding day
And how love was a vow
I was thinkin' about the chamber door
Only we can enter now
I began thinkin' about our ancient friends
And of kissin' them goodbye
And then the wind blew under Battersea Bridge
And a tear broke from my eye
I started thinkin' about London
And nothing good ever came from this town
And if the Thames weren't so filthy
I would jump in the river and drown
[Chorus]
Don't be afraid
Come on down
I'm just sittin' here
Thinking aloud
[Verse 2]
A grief came riding on the wind
Up the river where the bridges crouch
Blowing people back and forth
From the marital bed to the psychiatric couch
Blowin' people far apart
Blowin' others so they collide
Blowin' some poor bastard right out of the water
Blowin' another one over the side
Hear the ancient iron bridge
And listen to it groan
With the weight of a thousand people
Leavin' or returning home
To their failures
To their boredoms
To their husbands
And their wives
Who are carving them up for dinner
Before they even arrive
[Chorus]
Don't be afraid
Come on down
I'm just sittin' here
And thinkin' aloud
And look there just below the water
See the saviour of the human race
With the fishes and the frogs
Has found his final resting place
Don't be afraid
Come on down
I'm just sittin' here
Thinkin' aloud
Don't be afraid
Come on down
I'm just sittin' here
And thinkin' aloud
And look there just below the water
See the saviour of the human race
With the fishes and the frogs
Has found his final resting place
Don't be afraid
Come on down
I'm just sittin' here
Thinkin' aloud
About
Genius Annotation
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' “Grief Came Riding” came from their sessions for No More Shall We Part. The song was included on a bonus CD packaged with a limited edition of the album when it was first released. It would later be included on the 2005 compilation B-Sides & Rarities and the 2011 re-release of No More Shall We Part.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
- 6.Rye Whiskey
- 8.Black Betty
- 9.Scum
- 11.The Train Song
- 12.Cocks N’ Asses
- 13.Blue Bird
- 14.Helpless
- 15.God’s Hotel
- 17.Cassiel’s Song
- 18.Tower of Song
- 24.Sail Away
- 30.Knoxville Girl
- 44.Opium Tea
- 45.Grief Came Riding
- 47.Good Good Day
- 49.I Feel So Good
- 50.Shoot Me Down
- 51.Swing Low
- 54.Nocturama
- 56.Under This Moon
Credits
Producers
Writer
Backing Vocals
Drums
Bass
Guitar
Piano
Vocals
Release Date
April 2, 2001
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