Opium Tea Lyrics - Nick Cave & The Bad Seed

Here I sleep the morning through 

Till the wail of the call to prayer awakes me 

And there ain't nothing at all to do but rise and follow 

The day wherever it takes me 

I stand at the window and I look at the sea 

And I am what I am and what will be will be 

I stand at the window and I look at the sea 

Then I make me a pot of opium tea 

Down at the port I watch the boats come in 

Oh, watch the boats come in can do something to you 

And the kids gather around with an outstretched hand 

And I toss them a dirham or two 

Well, I wonder if my children are thinking of me 

'Cause I am what I am and what will be will be 

I wonder if my kids are thinking of me 

And I smile and I sip my opium tea 

At night the sea lashes the rust red ramparts 

And the shapes of hooded men who pass me 

And the mad moan of the wind laughs and laughs and laughs 

The strange luck that fate has cast me 

Well, the cats on the rampart sing merrily 

That he is what he is and what will be will be 

Yeah, the cats on the rampart sing merrily 

And I sit and I drink up my opium tea 

I'm a prisoner here, I can never go home 

There is nothing here to win or lose 

There are no choices needed to be made at all 

Not even the choice of having to choose 

Well, I'm a prisoner here, yes but I'm also free 

'Cause I am what I am and what will be will be 

I'm a prisoner here, yeah but I'm also free 

And I smile and I sip my opium tea