Nick Cave's musical tour de force
" The Mercy Seat " speaks of a meeting
between GOOD and EVIL,which takes place
at " Evil's own Calvary."

I have always believed that
the character who awaits his terrible fate
in the " Throne of Wood and Wire " is none other
than The Reverend ( sic.) Preacher Harry Powell.

The character of Preacher Powell originates
from the classic 1955 'film noir'
" The Night of The Hunter "
directed superbly by the
Hollywood Heavyweight Charles Laughton.

Preacher Powell is a " Tour De Force "
played by Robert Mitchum
who missed out on an Oscar...HOW ??...WHY ?
Powell is the original " Wolf in Sheeps clothing "
A Gothic Parable,spine tingling in his sickness,
a twisted allegory of PAIN and inner turmoil.

Preacher Powell is really a worthless charlatan.
A serial killer of " Widaw Wimmin "
masquerading as a Southern Baptist " Hellfire " Preacher.

So,Where is the TMS Connection ?

Glad you asked me that....

The Dark and Deadly Preacher Powell's modus operandi
is to befriend " widdaw wimmin " who he then kills
after first emptying their
bank books and any property deeds.

After a killin' spree Powell eventually finds himself
caught by the Law and (most certainly)put on Death Row.

On Preacher Powell's knuckles are tattooed the words " Love and Hate "
(sounding familiar? see foto in " Cathedral Gallery ")
and his favourite party trick is Tellin'
the 'Good hand' versus 'Bad hand' story....about how
" Ol' wicked Cain laid his brother low "

In " The Mercy Seat " I think the character's (IMO Powell's)
tattooed hands ARE " The Filthy Five "
that Nick speaks of,The GOOD Hand
versus The BAD Hand...
Wolf versus Lamb?...You can Decide which...

Nick's Death Row detainee cries out
" My good hand tattooed E.V.I.L. across it's brother's fist,
That Filthy Five!! They did nothing to challenge or resist."

Before he is strapped into the 'Chair' he muses
" In Heaven His throne is made of gold,
The ark of His Testament is stowed
A throne from which I'm told,
All history does unfold
Down here it's made of Wood and Wire
And my body is on fire And
God is never far away "

At Christ's own Calvary crucifixion,
Pilate asks the crowd of people
" Who shall I free?,Barabbus or Christ? "

Barabbus,like Powell was a thief and murderer,
at the end of his life Powell still
pleads his innocence..." An eye for an eye
And a TRUTH for a TRUTH,and
anyway I told the truth (?)
And I'm NOT afraid to die "

Finally realising the futility and FINALITY of
impending death he would chide us with...

" And the mercy seat is waiting,
And I think my head is burning
And in a way I'm yearning To be
done with all this measuring
of the truth,An eye for an eye,
And a truth for a truth,And
anyway I told the TRUTH,
But I'm afraid I TOLD A LIE!!!"

This article was first posted on 12/11/2002

I would be VERY interested to hear
ANY other interpretations of TMS or
any other Nick Cave titles and lyrics.