Nick Cave – Are You the One That I’ve Been Waiting For? – Carl Krenek – The Lovers

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds’s single “(Are You) The One I’ve Been Waiting For?” was released on the 19th May 1997. It was the first out of two singles from their album “The Boatman’s Call” which Nick Cave personally had expressed a dislike for, claiming the album was too personal and that music shouldn’t be that personal. The other single from the album is the song “Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere” which is sad but very beautiful as well. For some reason this painting of lovers in the month of May by the Austrian painter Carl Krenek seemed very fitting to accompany the song’s lyrics. I do love the tenderness between the lovers and the way the entire natural space is filled with flowers and leaves.

Carl Krenek, May – The Lovers (Mai – Die Liebenden), 1905, tempera

Are You The One That I’ve Been Waiting For?

I’ve felt you coming, girl, as you drew nearI knew you’d find me, cause I longed you hereAre you my destiny?Is this how you’ll appear?Wrapped in a coat with tears in your eyes?Well take that coat, babe, and throw it on the floorAre you the one that I’ve been waiting for?

As you’ve been moving surely toward meMy soul has comforted and assured meThat in time my heart it will reward meAnd that all will be revealedSo I’ve sat and I’ve watched an ice-age thawAre you the one that I’ve been waiting for?

Out of sorrow entire worlds have been builtOut of longing great wonders have been willedThey’re only little tears, darling, let them spillAnd lay your head upon my shoulderOutside my window the world has gone to warAre you the one that I’ve been waiting for?

O we will know, won’t we?The stars will explode in the skyO but they don’t, do they?Stars have their moment and then they die

There’s a man who spoke wondersThough I’ve never met himHe said, ‘He who seeks findsAnd who knocks will be let in’I think of you in motionAnd just how close you are gettingAnd how every little thing anticipates youAll down my veins my heart-strings callAre you the one that I’ve been waiting for?