1988 Rock Classic Was Just Named the Most 'Disturbing Song' of the '80s

While the '80s may be considered an era that embraced poppy, uplifting tunes, not every song from the decade is lighthearted.

For instance, on May 30, the publication Far Out magazine highlighted some creepy and spooky songs released in the 1980s. The publication's ranking of the "five utterly disturbing songs from the 1980s," included numbers, like "One in a Million" by Guns N' Roses from 1988 and "I Saw Your Mommy" by Suicidal Tendencies from 1983. Far Out named Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds' 1988 song "The Mercy Seat" the most "disturbing song from the 1980s."

According to the publication, the 7-minute-plus song, off the album Tender Prey, offers a disquieting listening experience, with its intense arrangement and lyrics depicting a prisoner who will soon be executed.

Nick Cave Opened up About Performing With Johnny Cash

During a 2024 interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the frontman of Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Nick Cave, referenced that late country music star Johnny Cashreleased a version of "The Mercy Seat" in 2000. Cave shared that Cash, who died in 2003 at the age of 71, had been his long-time hero.

"I used to watch him as a child. They played The Johnny Cash Show on TV in Australia, and I got to sit there as a child and see this man with this voice, and there was something about this voice that just, it followed me all my life. And eventually he recorded one of my songs, 'The Mercy Seat,' I don't know, like, 50 years later," said the Australian musician, now 68.

He then noted that he recorded a cover of Hank Williams' song "I Feel so Lonesome I Could Cry" with Cash, shortly before his death. Cave said that he "was terrified to sing with [his] hero mostly because of his extraordinary, sort of gravitas of his voice."

He also said that Cash wasn't in the best of health when he met him at the recording studio. According to Cave, Cash was having issues with his eyesight and was recovering from the flu, causing him to have laryngitis. Cave recalled Cash telling him that he prayed to Jesus to recover his voice so he could sing with Cave.

"He said, 'I never asked Jesus for anything, but I had to perform with you today. And last night I dropped down on my knees. And I said Jesus, I got to sing with Nick, give me back my voice, give me back my voice,'" said Cave, who clarified that Cash was able to perform the Williams tune with him.

Cave also said that Cash turned from "this depleted man" to "something really extraordinary literally before [his] eyes" when he began performing.

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This story was originally published May 30, 2026 at 5:49 PM.