“I Need You” by Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

“I Need You” is from a Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ album “Skeleton Tree”. Unfortunately while this project was being recorded, one of his sons, who was a teenager at the time, had a serious accident and died in England. 

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds's I Need You at Lyrics.org.

So as fate would have it, that tragedy went on to influence the album as a whole. So all things considered, the prevailing theory is that the unexpected passing of that loved one also made its influence felt on I Need You in both message and rendition.

A LOST MOURNED, ROMANCE STYLE

But from a lyrical standpoint, that theory is debatable. There are what can be deemed existential musings here and there. For example, at the beginning of the third verse, the vocalist puts forth that “nothing really matters” within the context of he and the addressee “(following) the lines in the palms of our hands”. That latter phrase, of course, is a roundabout reference to palmistry

But taking those statements together, what Nick is likely relaying, more simply put, is that in the grand scheme of things once something definitive has transpired, it cannot be undone.

And in this case, that something would be an event affecting an interpersonal relationship. More specifically, it reads as if the vocalist and addressee are or were romantic interests. 

So even though, as implied in the first verse, this song may be premised on losing “the one you love”, said individual, without the context of these lyrics, would not be Nick’s son. Nor does he appear to actually be referring to someone dying. Rather, the situation more logically appears as if maybe the vocalist has broken up with the addressee, presumably this lady who is wearing the “red dress” with her “hair hanging down”, with that latter observation likely being an allusion to depression.

So this is perhaps yet another track that maybe was intended to speak to a grander concept, such as a loved one being permanently removed from your life in general. And yes, the vocalist does convincingly relay that he ‘needs’ the addressee. But considering that Nick refers to said individual as “baby” and all, ultimately “I Need You” comes off as your quintessential romantic-heartbreak song.


“I need you, I need you
Just breathe, just breathe
I need you”

NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS

This song was written by Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds’ bandmate, Warren Ellis. Their compadres who also participated on the making of “Skeleton Tree” are:

  • Martyn Casey
  • George Vjestica
  • Jim Sclavunos
  • Thomas Wydler

THE FURTHER INFLUENCE OF THE LATE ARTHUR CAVE (2000-2015)

“Skeleton Tree” was not the only Bad Seeds’ project that was affected by the death of 15 year old Arthur Cave. Also on that list is the band’s studio album that came immediately after, 2019’s “Ghosteen”. 

Going back to 2016, concurrent with the release of “Skeleton Tree” a documentary was released associated with its creation titled One More Time with Feeling. So of course Arthur’s death played a major role in that production. And it is also via that project from which the music video to “I Need You” was derived.

RELEASE OF “I NEED YOU”

Nick Cave’s own label, Bad Seed Ltd., officially put out this song on 9 September 2016 as a single.

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