"(Are You) The One That I've Been Waiting For?" is the second single from the album ''

The Boatman's Call ''The Boatman's Call'' is the tenth studio album by the Australian rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, released on 3 March 1997 by Mute Records. The album is entirely piano-based, alternately somber and romantic in mood, making it a marked depa ...

'' by

Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are a Rock music, rock band formed in Melbourne in 1983 by lead vocalist Nick Cave, multi-instrumentalist Mick Harvey and German guitarist-vocalist Blixa Bargeld. The band has featured international personnel throug ...

. The single, released on 19 May 1997, was pressed on 7" and 12"

vinyl Vinyl may refer to: Chemistry * Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a particular vinyl polymer * Vinyl cation, a type of carbocation * Vinyl group, a broad class of organic molecules in chemistry * Vinyl polymer, a group of polymers derived from vinyl ...

, as well as a standard

CD single A CD single is a single (music), music single in the form of a compact disc (CD). Originally the ''CD single'' standard (as defined in the Rainbow Books, Red Book) was an 8 cm (3-inch) "mini CD" (''CD3''); later on the term referred to any si ...

, 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 musician, writer, and actor who fronts the rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Known for his baritone voice, Cave's music is characterised by emotional intensity, a wide variety ...

's personal relationships and spiritual yearnings at the time of writing. This song in particular is widely speculated to either be a

love song A love song is a song about love, falling in love, heartbreak after a breakup, and the feelings that these experiences bring. Love songs can be found in a variety of different music genres. They can come in various formats, from sad and emotion ...

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. 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 local band Automat ...

, 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 The Bible is a collection of religious texts that are central to Christianity and Judaism, and esteemed in other Abrahamic religions such as Islam. The Bible is an anthology (a compilation of texts of a variety of forms) originally writte ...

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 24 April 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 24 April 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 24 April 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.

Charts

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