One of Australia’s most successful musical exports in Alternative – Indie music is back again, this time with the title track to his 15th studio album – Push The Sky Away. Nick Cave’s career spans over 4 decades working not only as a musician, but also as a writer, actor and director. He has amassed quite the cult following over that time. Anyone who’s listened to the wide range of his songs featured here and followed his lyrical journey would understand he shouldn’t be boxed in as just ‘that goth rock guy.’
As is evident in the live performance below, Push the Sky Away takes a minimal approach to the Bad Seeds signature sound. In the early days Cave seemed obsessed with the themes of Love, death, religion and dark fantasies, and Push the Sky Away is consistent with theses themes as well; however, the narratives have become more obtuse. The sound here is uncharacteristically weightless and eerily atmospheric. The song is less narratively focussed, and more stream-of-consciousness haze. It’s just another understated yet telling piece in the mosaic of Cave’s creative arc.
Push the Sky Away is the second song to feature here from his 2013 record after the previous entry – Jubilee Street. It was recorded at La Fabrique in southern France and was the Bad Seeds first album not to include founding member Mick Harvey, following his departure from the group in January 2009. The songs on the album were written over the course of twelve months and “took form in a modest notebook” kept by Cave. The cover image (see above) shows Cave opening a window shutter to illuminate his naked wife, Susie Bick in the couple’s own bedroom. The process of the recording was documented in the documentary, 20,000 Days on Earth, which I thoroughly enjoyed viewing.
Push the Sky Away went to No 1 in Australia, which was a first for the group. It also reached number one in six other countries. It also got a career high peak at No. 3 in the UK and No. 29 in the US. It was their first album to reach the top 50 in the US. It was acclaimed by music critics where at Metacritic, the album received an average score of 81.
In the video below, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis perform a rendition of Push the Sky Away recorded at their Film Music concert in December 2019 with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs.
[Verse 1]
I was riding, I was riding home
The sun, the sun, the sun was rising from the field
[Verse 2]
I got a feeling I just can’t shake
I got a feeling that just won’t go away
[Chorus]
You’ve got to just keep on pushing it
Keep on pushing it
Push the sky away
[Verse 3]
And if your friends think that you should do it different
And if they think that you should do it the same
[Chorus]
[Verse 4]
And if you feel you got everything you came for
If you got everything and you don’t want no more
[Chorus]
[Verse 5]
And some people say it’s just rock and roll
Ah but it gets you right down to your soul
[Chorus]
References:
1. Push the Sky Away – Wikipedia
“The more I live, the more I learn. The more I learn, the more I realize, the less I know.”- Michel Legrand
Observation Blogger 
I never knew him much until blogs but I’ve come to respect his writing and songs a lot.
Rarely does much time pass by when I don’t hear something new from him and I’m not impressed. Also he has such great stage presence. Speaking of which, if you find a minute check out this clip of him talking about Nina Simone. It’s pretty cool Max.
Him and Warren Zevon I listen to…both have dark sides that I enjoy! Wonderful interview Matt! He is a genuine guy.
I like Zevon’s ‘Excitable Boy’ and ‘Poor Poor Pitiful Me’ which I think you put me onto.
Yeh, I like Cave’s looseness when he talks and he’s quite articulate. Btw, I highly recommend the documentary 20,000 Days on Earth. Cheers.
Thanks Matt…I’ll keep that in mind!
Even though it’s a quiet song, it feels pretty intense. From the “Push the Sky Away” album, I only “Jubilee Street,” another intense song.
I’m closing in on responding to all the comments that bewilderingly ended up in my Spam folder.
Re. ‘Push the Sky Away – your salient description – ‘Even though it’s a quiet song, it feels pretty intense’ align with my thoughts on it. You know what’s the real kicker for me – is the conviction of his voice and overall stage presence. Cave seems like someone that you have to see ‘live’ to really let the songs go way deep. I love ‘Jubilee Street’ as well and what he does with that live and I’ve seen many versions is impressive to say the least.