Song of the Lake album art

Song of the Lake

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Wild God (2024)
Moderate 85 BPM
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Song DNA

Dynamic Range6/10
Sudden Changesmild
Texturelayered
Predictabilitymedium
Vocal Styledynamic vocals
Notes: Gentle, atmospheric production with swelling strings and subtle percussion creates a contemplative flow, though Nick Cave's emotive baritone delivery adds occasional intensity without harshness.

Misophonia Triggers

Mouth Soundsnone
Percussive Clicksnone
Breathing Soundsnone
Repetitive Micro-soundsnone

A haunting ballad about an old man contemplating life, death, and temptation by a lake, blending poetic lyrics with orchestral elements.

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Hear it the way it was made

The right gear changes everything.

Moods: contemplative, melancholy, reflective

Traditions: alternative rock, post-punk

How this song sits on each sensory axis

A dynamic range of 6/10 means this song moves. Expect a real volume climb between quiet sections and the loudest part of the arrangement — enough that you may want to set the initial volume below where you'd normally land.

Sudden changes: mild. There are one or two transitions worth knowing about, though they're musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

Texture is layered — a full arrangement with clear separation between parts.

Predictability is medium — conventional structure overall, with one or two moments that deviate from what you'd expect.

Vocal style: dynamic vocals.

Where this sits in Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds's catalog

We have 44 songs from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds in the library. Of those, 15 are rated Safe, 21 Moderate, and 8 Intense. This song's dynamic range of 6/10 sits above the artist average of 5.6, making it the #25 most dynamic track of theirs in our library.

Other tracks from Wild God

We have 4 songs from this album. Overall, the album leans moderate in sensory profile.

2024 context

Released in 2024. We have 134 songs from that year in our library, averaging a dynamic range of 6.2/10. This track is about average than the year average. Explore more from the 2020s.

Explore by mood and tradition

Moods
contemplative · 3297melancholy · 5399reflective · 5792
Traditions
alternative rock · 991post-punk · 392

Why this rating

We rate this song Moderate because it falls between our Safe and Intense thresholds on at least one dimension. Moderate is the default for most well-produced music that has real arc but no surprise elements. Full rubric: methodology.

Rating last reviewed: 2026-04-13. Reviewed by the Music I Want editorial team against the documented methodology.

Think this rating is wrong? Email the editor — every message is read and ratings get revised.

Frequently asked about "Song of the Lake"

Quick answers pulled from the song's sensory analysis.

What is the sensory intensity of "Song of the Lake" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds?

"Song of the Lake" by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds rates as Moderate intensity. Dynamic range 6/10, mild sudden changes, layered texture. Moderate is the default for well-produced music with real arc but no surprise elements.

How loud is "Song of the Lake" — what is its dynamic range?

"Song of the Lake" has a dynamic range of 6/10. Noticeable climb from quiet sections to loudest point. Set opening volume slightly lower than your preferred peak.

Does "Song of the Lake" have sudden or surprising changes?

"Song of the Lake" has mild sudden changes — one or two transitions worth knowing about, but they are musically resolved rather than surprise-driven.

What is "Song of the Lake" best for?

In our library "Song of the Lake" is recommended for: deep listening, emotional release, relaxation. These tags are assigned only where the song's sensory profile genuinely supports the use case.

When was "Song of the Lake" released?

"Song of the Lake" is from 2024, on the album "Wild God". It appears in our 2020s catalog.

What is the emotional mood of "Song of the Lake"?

We tag "Song of the Lake" as contemplative, melancholy, reflective. Moods are tonal descriptors based on how the song reads emotionally — separate from the sensory intensity axes.

What is the vocal style of "Song of the Lake"?

The vocal style is dynamic vocals.

Should I listen to "Song of the Lake"?

"Song of the Lake" is Moderate intensity — fine for most listeners, but with enough dynamic activity that it works best as active listening rather than background.

Songs with the same DNA

layered texture, similar intensity — across any genre or era.

Angry All the Time
Tim McGraw
moderate
DR 6
The Remedy
Jason Mraz
safe
DR 5
It Can Happen
Yes
moderate
DR 7
Que Ruido
J Balvin
intense
DR 7
Master of None
Beach House
moderate
DR 5
White Boy
Culture Club
moderate
DR 6

Safer alternatives with a similar feel

These songs share similar moods but with a gentler sensory profile.

Both Sides, Now
Joni Mitchell safe
Sittin' On The Dock of the Bay
Otis Redding safe
Blowin' in the Wind
Bob Dylan safe
It's Too Late
Carole King safe
If I Were a Boy
Beyoncé safe

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