While the 80s may be considered an era dominated by upbeat, positive melodies, not all songs from that decade were lighthearted.
For example, on May 30th the magazine Far Out highlighted several creepy and frightening songs released in the 1980s. The list of "the five most disturbing songs of the 1980s" included songs such as "One in a Million" by Guns N' Roses (1988) and "I Saw Your Mommy" by Suicidal Tendencies (1983). Far Out named the song "The Mercy Seat" by the group Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (1988) the most "angsty song of the 1980s.".
According to the publication, the song is over 7 minutes long and is taken from the album Tender Prey , offers an unsettling listening experience thanks to its tense arrangement and lyrics describing a prisoner who is soon to be executed.
Nick Cave spoke about his performances with Johnny Cash.
In an interview in 2024 on show "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert"« frontman of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Nick Cave , mentioned that the late country musician Johnny Cash released his version of the song "The Mercy Seat" in 2000. Cave said that Cash, who died in 2003 at the age of 71, was his longtime idol.
«I used to watch his performances a lot when I was a kid. They showed it on TV in Australia. «The Johnny Cash Show» , "And as a kid, I sat there and saw this man with this voice, and there was something in that voice that stayed with me my whole life. And eventually, he recorded one of my songs, 'The Mercy Seat,' I don't know, 50 years later," said the Australian musician, now 68.
He then noted that shortly before Cash's death, he recorded a cover of Hank Williams' "I Feel so Lonesome I Could Cry" with him. Cave said he was "terrified at the prospect of singing with my idol, mainly because of the extraordinary, sort of imposing quality of his voice.".
He also said Cash wasn't in the best of health when he met him in the recording studio. According to Cave, Cash had vision problems and was recovering from the flu, which left him with laryngitis. Cave recalled Cash telling him he'd prayed to Jesus for his voice to return so he could sing with Cave.
«"He said, 'I've never asked Jesus for anything, but I had to perform with you tonight. And last night I fell on my knees. And I said, 'Jesus, I need to sing with Nick, give me my voice back, give me my voice back,'" Cave said, adding that Cash was able to perform Williams' song with him.
Cave also said that Cash transformed from a "gaunt man" into "something truly extraordinary literally before [his] eyes" when he started performing.
This article was originally published by Parade on May 30, 2026, in the Entertainment section. Add Parade to your list of recommended sources by clicking here.