"(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?" is the second single from the album ''
The Boatman's Call'' by
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock music, rock band formed in 1983 by vocalist Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey and guitarist-vocalist Blixa Bargeld. The band has featured international personnel throughout its care ...
. The single, released on May 19, 1997, was pressed on
7" and
12" vinyl, as well as a standard
CD single, though the song failed to chart anywhere except the U.K., where it only made it to #67. A promotional music video for the song was also recorded.
Background and history
The song, like many on ''The Boatman's Call'', seems to reflect on
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward Cave (born 22 September 1957) is an Australian singer, songwriter, poet, lyricist, author, screenwriter, composer and occasional actor. Known for his baritone voice and for fronting the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Ca ...
's personal relationships and spiritual yearnings at the time of writing. This song in particular is widely speculated to either be a
love song or directed at either the mother of Cave's son Luke, Viviane Carneiro, or
PJ Harvey
Polly Jean Harvey (born 9 October 1969) is an English singer, songwriter, and musician. Primarily known as a vocalist and guitarist, she is also proficient with a wide range of instruments.
Harvey began her career in 1988 when she joined loca ...
, with whom Cave had a brief relationship prior to the album's recording and release.
A line from the song that states, "there's a man who spoke wonders / I've never met him / he said, 'he who seeks finds and who knocks will be let in, which is an indirect quotation of ''Matthew 7:8'' from
The Bible.
Track listing
UK and Australian CD single
(Liberation Records, D1626)[Discogs, ''Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For? (CD, Maxi) at Discogs'' http://www.discogs.com/Nick-Cave-The-Bad-Seeds-Are-You-The-One-That-Ive-Been-Waiting-For/release/2220460 Retrieved from ''discogs.com'' on April 24, 2010.][Discogs, ''Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For? (CD, Single) at Discogs'' http://www.discogs.com/Nick-Cave-The-Bad-Seeds-Are-You-The-One-That-Ive-Been-Waiting-For/release/710408 Retrieved from ''discogs.com'' on April 24, 2010.]
#"(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?" – 4:06
#"Come Into My Sleep" – 3:48
#"Black Hair" (band version) – 4:14
#"Babe, I Got You Bad" – 3:49
UK 7" single
(Mute Records, MUTE 206)[Discogs, ''Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - (Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For? (7") at Discogs'' http://www.discogs.com/Nick-Cave-The-Bad-Seeds-Are-You-The-One-That-Ive-Been-Waiting-For/release/538882 Retrieved from ''discogs.com'' on April 24, 2010.]
#"(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?" – 4:06
#"Come Into My Sleep" – 3:48
Music video
Before the single's release, a promotional music video for the song was recorded. The video features the band performing the song in a small church hall.
Cover versions
A version in Swedish, (Är du) den som jag har väntat på? appears on album Vid Grinden by Georga.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Are You the One That I've Been Waiting For
Nick Cave songs
Songs written by Nick Cave
1997 songs
Mute Records singles