"The Weeping Song" is a song by the Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. It was released as a single from their sixth studio album, The Good Son (1990), on 17 September 1990 by Mute Records.
The lyrics take the form of a dialogue between father and son, who alternate lines during the verses while singing together on the choruses. The father's part is sung by Blixa Bargeld, while Cave performs the son's part. Cave recalled the song "came out of nowhere with very little thought", one day while he lived in Brazil and walked from his home to a nearby bar he frequented.Sanderson, Dominic (2024). Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds: Every Album, Every Song. Sonicbond Publishing, ISBN 9781789520262
Accolades Year Publication Country Accolade Rank 1990 Sounds United Kingdom Singles of the Year 47 2007 NME United Kingdom Classic Singles * 2013 Rolling Stone Germany Anniversary Special: 222 Songs *
(*) designates unordered lists.
Formats and track listing All songs written by Nick Cave, except where noted.
UK 7" single (MUTE 118) "The Weeping Song" – 4:20 "Cocks 'n' Asses" (Nick Cave, Victor Van Vugt) – 5:45
UK CD single (CD MUTE 118) "The Weeping Song" – 4:19 "Cocks 'n' Asses" (Nick Cave, Victor Van Vugt) – 5:46 "Helpless" (Neil Young) – 4:30
US CD single (9 66605-2) "The Weeping Song" – 4:19 "The Train Song" – 4:46 "The B-Side Song" (Nick Cave, Victor Van Vugt) – 5:46 ("Cocks 'n' Asses" retitled for the US market) "Helpless" (Neil Young) – 4:30
Personnel Adapted from The Weeping Song liner notes.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave – lead vocals; piano Blixa Bargeld – lead vocals; guitar Mick Harvey – bass guitar; vibraphone; shaker Kid Congo Powers – guitar Thomas Wydler – drums
Production and additional personnel The Bad Seeds – production Polly Borland – cover art; photography
Charts + Chart performance for "The Weeping Song" Chart (1990) Peakposition Australia (ARIA) N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart. 172
Release history Region Date Label Format Catalog United Kingdom 1990 Mute MUTE 118 United States Elektra CD 9 66605-2
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