The Firstborn Is Dead

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Template:Album infobox The Firstborn Is Dead is the second album released by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. It was first released in 1985. Nick Cave took his obsession with the American South a bit further on this record, with its references to Elvis Presley and bluesmen like Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 The songs 3 Credits 3.1 Personnel

Track listing

1. Tupelo (7:17)
2. Say Goodbye to the Little Girl Tree (5:10)
3. Train-Long Suffering (3:49)
4. Black Crow King (5:05)
5. Knocking on Joe (7:38)
6. Wanted Man (5:27)
7. Blind Lemon Jefferson (6:10)
8. The Six Strings that Drew Blood (4:50) (CD only)
9. Tupelo (single version) (5:01) (CD only)

The songs

• "Tupelo" is loosely based on the John Lee Hooker song of the same title, which is about a flood in Tupelo, Mississippi (Hooker's song appears on Original Seeds). Tupelo is the birthplace of Elvis Presley. Cave's song incorporates imagery of the birth of Elvis and the apocalypse at the second coming of Christ.
• "Wanted Man" is a version of the song composed by Bob Dylan for Johnny Cash. Cave was granted permission to alter the lyrics. Cave's lyrics include references to his friends, such as photographer Polly Borland.

Credits

• Recorded at Hansa Studios, Berlin.

Personnel

• Nick Cave – vocals, harmonica
• Mick Harvey – guitar, piano, organ, bass, drums, background vocals
• Barry Adamson – guitar, organ, bass, drums, background vocals
• Blixa Bargeld – guitar, background vocalssv:The Firstborn Is Dead