Hollywood

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds' song 'Hollywood' is a haunting exploration of loss, longing, and the search for peace. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a journey, both physical and emotional, as the narrator travels towards Malibu, leaving behind a sense of yearning and unfulfilled dreams. The imagery of fires, a mysterious 'kid with a bat face,' and the Pacific Coast sets a somber and reflective tone, suggesting a world where wonder and wildness have been diminished.

The song delves into themes of isolation and the human condition, with the narrator expressing a desire to escape and find solace. The mention of a house in the hills with a 'tear-shaped pool and a gun that kills' hints at a complex relationship with violence and protection, while the cougar symbolizes a lurking danger that is both feared and embraced. The repeated lines 'I'm just waiting now for my time to come' and 'I'm just waiting now for peace to come' underscore a sense of inevitability and the longing for resolution.

The narrative takes a poignant turn with the story of Kisa, a mother who loses her child and seeks solace from the Buddha. This parable highlights the universality of loss and the difficulty of finding peace. Kisa's journey to collect a mustard seed from a house where no one has died ultimately reveals that suffering and death are inescapable parts of life. This story within the song reinforces the overarching theme that everyone is 'always losing somebody,' and the quest for peace is a long and arduous one. The song's conclusion, with its repeated emphasis on waiting for peace, leaves the listener with a sense of unresolved yearning and the recognition of shared human suffering.