My Question for Nick Cave | Song
A Red Hand Question
For those who don’t know, Nick Cave is one of those rock frontmen of the Tom Waits or Leonard Cohen variety. You know, the arty type who’s songs almost blur into spoken word poetry at times.
Starting out as a more “me against the world” punk, he’s softened a bit. He’s been through the tragic death of a son, and he started an interactive, dare-I-say “Substack” off of Substack, where he takes emails and answers questions fans send him, called “The Red Hand Files”.
He’s also become one of those interesting “agnostics who started going to church more” which always intrigues me having so many friends that have left Christianity… what is making him go the other direction? Is it just a spirit of rebellion? Is it political?
Hearing his interviews, it doesn’t come across like that. He’s thoughtful, empathetic, and still not ready to say he has the same level of faith of Johnny Cash or even Bob Dylan.
This sounded like great question material, so I submitted one… in the form of a song. I don’t know if he’ll respond, and it is a bit shoehorning my own processing of the very question I’m asking… teasing out a bit how the biggest cause of my doubts is also the biggest reason I remain, but leaving it a bit cryptic… for now… so I hope that’s ok.
What a fantastic idea! Love your voice and the lyrics. I hope he answers.
I wondered if it’s perhaps that Nick Cave hasn’t had an encounter with God and that’s the issue.
I was a life-long non-believer, and into new age until two years ago I said the Lord’s Prayer and felt the presence of God. In that moment I knew undoubtedly that the God of the Bible is real. I’d never felt anything like it in twenty years of yoga, meditation and other spiritual practises.
I am a huge Nick Cave fan. From my understanding he is always moving back and forth between faith and doubt. I am not believer but I find this beautiful non the less. His soundtracks with Warren Ellis are other worldly!