Deanna

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Deanna, written about a schoolmate and partner in crime of Cave’s was described by the man himself as a “disguised sort of story.” Deanna was chosen as the second single… Read More

Sep. 19, 19881 viewer19.9K views

Deanna Lyrics

[Hook]
(Oh, Deanna) Oh-oh, Deanna
(Oh, Deanna) Oh, dear Deanna (Oh, Deanna)
Well you know you are my friend, now (Oh, Deanna)
And I ain't down here for your money
And I ain't down here for your love
I ain't down here for your money
I'm down here for your soul

[Verse 1]
There no carpet on the floor
And the winding cloth holds many moths
Around your Ku Klux furniture
I cum a deaths-head in your frock
And we discuss the murder plan
We discuss murder and the murder act
Murder takes the wheel of your Cadillac
And death climbs in the back

[Hook]
(Oh, Deanna) Oh-oh, Deanna
(Oh, Deanna) Sweet Deanna
(Oh, Deanna) Oh-oh, Deanna
Well, this is a car (Oh, Deanna)
And this is a gun (Oh, Deanna)
And this a day number one
Our little crimeworn histories
Black and your smoking christmas trees
And honey, it ain't a mystery
Why you're a mystery to me

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[Verse 2]
We will eat out of their pantries
And their parlours
Ashy leavings in their beds
And we'll unload into their heads
On this mean season
But his little angel that I squeezin'
She ain't been mean to me

[Hook]
(Oh, Deanna) Oh-oh, Deanna (Oh, Deanna)
You are my friend and my partner (Oh, Deanna)
On this house on the hill (Oh, Deanna)
And I ain't down here for your money
No, I ain't down here for your love
I ain't down here for your love or money
I'm down here for your soul

[Bridge]
(Oh, Deanna) Oh-oh, Deanna (Oh, Deanna)
I am a-knocking (Oh, Deanna)
With my toolbox and my stocking (Oh, Deanna)
Well I'll meet you on the corner
Yes, you point it like a finger
And squeeze its little thing
I hear its kick, I feel its bang
And let's not worry about its issue
Don't worry about where its been
And don't worry about where it hits
Cause it just ain't yours to sin (Oh, Deanna)

[Hook]
Cause it just ain't yours to sin (Oh, Deanna)
Oh, sweet Deanna (Oh, Deanna)
I ain't getting any younger (Oh, Deanna)
And you're my friend (Oh, Deanna)
The sun a hump at my shoulder (Oh, Deanna)
And I don't intend gettin' any older (Oh, Deanna)
Oh-oh, Deanna (Oh, Deanna)
Well, I ain't down here for your money
I ain't down here for your love
I ain't down here for your love of money
I'm down here for your soul

About

Deanna, written about a schoolmate and partner in crime of Cave’s was described by the man himself as a “disguised sort of story.”

Deanna was chosen as the second single from The Bad Seeds' 1988 album Tender Prey.

In the song, the narrator describes a relationship that mirrors a “devil at the crossroads” kind of situation. The lyrics reference a theme of crime, justice, and murder, all recurring themes in Cave’s discography.

Cave detailed the girl behind the song in the 1988 interview with NME’s Jack Barron:

Oh Deanna is a retelling of a true relationship that I had with somebody through the story of somebody else, even if it doesn’t begin with “Once upon a time.” Deanna was a girl I knew when I was about eight. She lived in a trailer on the outskirts of the town with her old man who was basically this drunken, wretch of a character. Our relationship was kept a secret from him because he frequently beat her. I was just one day older than her. It was a very equal relationship we had.