Red Right Hand

Album: Let Love In (1994)
Play Video
  • Take a little walk to the edge of town
    And go across the tracks
    Where the viaduct looms
    Like a bird of doom
    As it shifts and cracks
    Where secrets lie in the border fires
    In the humming wires
    Hey man, you know
    You're never coming back

    Past the square, past the bridge
    Past the mills, past the stacks
    On a gathering storm
    Comes a tall handsome man
    In a dusty black coat with
    A red right hand

    He'll wrap you in his arms
    Tell you that you've been a good boy
    He'll rekindle all the dreams
    It took you a lifetime to destroy
    He'll reach deep into the hole
    Heal your shrinking soul
    But there won't be a single thing that you can do

    He's a god, he's a man
    He's a ghost, he's a guru
    They're whispering his name
    Through this disappearing land
    But hidden in his coat
    Is a red right hand

    You don't have no money?
    He'll get you some
    You don't have no car?
    He'll get you one
    You don't have no self-respect
    You feel like an insect
    Well don't you worry buddy
    'Cause here he comes
    Through the ghettos and the barrio
    And the Bowery and the slum
    A shadow is cast wherever he stands
    Stacks of green paper in his
    Red right hand

    You'll see him in your nightmares
    You'll see him in your dreams
    He'll appear out of nowhere but
    He ain't what he seems
    You'll see him in your head
    On the TV screen
    Hey buddy, I'm warning
    You to turn it off
    He's a ghost, he's a god
    He's a man, he's a guru
    You're one microscopic cog
    In his catastrophic plan
    Designed and directed by
    His red right hand Writer/s: Mick Harvey, Nick Cave, Thomas Wydler
    Publisher: BMG Rights Management, Mute Song Limited
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 7

  • Theresea B from North Carolina The first time I heard this song was in the 1994 movie “Dumb and Dumber”. Second time in “Peaky Blinders”. Such a change and dynamic from one to the other scenes.
  • Karen Stickney from Lewiston, MeIt also appears on the soundtrack for the movie "The Vampire's Assistant". How can anyone forget that movie? It's just as important as "Twilight" and all those other vampire movies, even ones with kids who are transformed or blooded into vampires.
  • Mickey Knox from Crowleyville, WvI have only just started getting into Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. I've heard this song featured on the ost for the X-Files and there was a cover of the song done for one of the Scream movies. I do have to say I will be listening to more of Nick Cave this Halloween. I think this would be a good tune to play at a Halloween party.
  • Xiaoliang from Shenyang, ChinaThe part of this song has been also used in OST for Russian movie "The Goddess (How i fell in love)" by Renata Litvinova.
  • Deb from Melbourne, AustraliaThere is a version of Red Right Hand written for one of the "Scream" movie soundtracks (perhaps Scream 2 or 3?) that is almost comical in it's dramatic feel. Surely Nick is taking the piss out of Hollywood in this?!
  • Alden from Asheville, NcThis song also appeared on the X-Files soundtrack.
  • Dave from Edmonton, CanadaI don't remember if this song appeared in the movie "Dumb and Dumber" or not, but I have the soundtrack and this song isn't on there.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)

Donnie Iris (Ah! Leah!, The Rapper)Songwriter Interviews

Before "Rap" was a form of music, it was something guys did to pick up girls in nightclubs. Donnie talks about "The Rapper" and reveals the identity of Leah.

Bass Player Scott Edwards

Bass Player Scott EdwardsSong Writing

Scott was Stevie Wonder's bass player before becoming a top session player. Hits he played on include "I Will Survive," "Being With You" and "Sara Smile."

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Annie Haslam of Renaissance

Annie Haslam of RenaissanceSongwriter Interviews

The 5-octave voice of the classical rock band Renaissance, Annie is big on creative expression. In this talk, she covers Roy Wood, the history of the band, and where all the money went in the '70s.