Red Right (or Left) Hand

One of my favourite all time songs is Nick Cave's Red Right Hand. A superb bass line, haunting atmosphere and menacing vocals. I will never forget a 10 (?) year old Hari, dressed in horror garb, performing her interpretative dance to this in Mark Warner Paleros's kids talent show. Must have been about Y2000. Fab. 

Then, of course it was famously used as the theme song for the excellent 'peaky blinders'

Vengeance & retribution indeed. 

This of course is mixed up with radical protestantism in Northern Ireland, and is still on the flag of Ulster, but comes from deep in Irish Mythology.

 I wonder what Nick was thinking when he penned it. He is of course Australian. 

According to Google AI:-

Nick Cave's relationship with religion is complex: raised Catholic, he's deeply influenced by the Bible, especially the New Testament, finding profound inspiration and meaning in Christian stories and figures, particularly Jesus, though he often explores faith as a risky, existential quest rather than dogma, viewing it as a source of creative freedom, artistic inspiration, and solace amidst chaos. He separates personal faith from organized religion, focusing on the "Wild God" and the powerful, often dark, narratives within scripture. 

Also:-

Key Aspects of His Religious Views:

Christian Influence: Cave is a voracious reader of the Bible (especially the King James Version) and frequently discusses Jesus as a central, inspiring figure in his work.

Inspiration & Art: He views love songs as songs for God and connects his shift towards more mellow music to focusing on the New Testament. Religion provides immense creative fuel and a framework for exploring deep human emotions.

Faith vs. Dogma: Cave emphasizes a personal, adventurous, and risky faith, contrasting it with the comfort of organized religion or "Christendom," drawing parallels to Kierkegaard.

Search for Meaning: He finds solace in Christianity as a way to navigate a chaotic world, seeking meaning and connection through faith, even as an agnostic or someone questioning conventional beliefs.

The "Wild God": His faith embraces tension, the disturbing, and the "fecund place of terror," focusing on a powerful, untamed divinity rather than simple moralizing. 

So, a nutter, then.

Then again, he may just be a fan of Indian cuisine, & taken a gander at the Tandoori Chef's hands.