Natalie Merchant - Thick As Thieves

[AshuniaDzunia]

can anyone give me a instrumental version of this song?

the instrumentals in this song are absolutely perfect.

[AshuniaDzunia]

can anyone give me a instrumental version of this song?

[llel11]

almost as beautiful as the lyrics is the undulating rhythm of the piano notes...one of the most hypnotic songs

[AshuniaDzunia]

does anyone have just an instrumental version of this song, or know where i can get one? beautiful song , vocals and all.passion re invented

[Moonfire257]

I did a competition to this song once, the costumes were beautiful and the judges liked it...

[rAnDoMrOoRoO]

I love this song, the lyrics are so perfect!

[emmy4981]

she deserves more credit and fame than she gets

[rxshea]

the tyrant's voice is softer now..

[JerFhilm]

Day Glo, glow provokes the wrong imagery.

[pammielover21]

These are the nicest lyrics i've ever heard

[IWannabeJew]

@pammielover21 Yeah, even for Natalie this is exceptional, but if you enjoy her wordiness, check out some early 10000 Maniacs, like Hope Chest or The Wishing Chair. Even their middle-era stuff has its moments.

[BelisaTheTechie]

Natalie merchant deserves a Grammy !!! She is one of the best singer song writer of our time!  What a voice!

[SpeedOfDark186Kmps]

As an intravert, I'm always amazed that I can like any of her music. However, the lyrics almost always leave me pondering and the experience is humbling. She's a wonderful musician and a lyrical genius.

[elleJify]

She has vision. Reject advertisements

[rossewidge]

My heart drops when her voice cracks during the lyric "Teach it how to smile." The 2005 solo piano version on her Retrospective version is superior to the album version. Her sad songs always make me cry.

[laypalio]

CAN SOMEONE MAKE A KARAOKE OF THIS, i love the audio used in this song :D

[dearmissedessa]

Does a nyone know what shes talking about when shes talking about harlot, and they burn their bridges as they go? its so hard to find the meaning of her songs online! or anywhere

[GayTempest]

@dearmissedessa the lyrics of "they burn their bridges as they go" refers to the prior verse. What people make up the "doomsday crowd"? The ones that say the world is ending are generally Christians, Muslims, Jews, and anyone that believes the prophecies of Nostradamus. There is a falling-out, as Natalie says, of those people from society. Their last retreat IS moving slow as people still cling to their religious beliefs, and in the process they alienate themselves, aka burning bridges.

[elleJify]

@GayTempest yeah brother friend i heard that

[AHeartLikeDavids]

@GayTempest a haunting piece, I wonder about the following verse "The heretic is beatified, He'll teach the harlot's child to smile" Who is "He" and the harlot?

[IWannabeJew]

@AHeartLikeDavids The harlot might be Catholicism and the heretic the one to teach the Harlot's Child, Protestantism and other Christianities helplessly derived from Catholicism. That would be in harmony with the Pilgrimage to Compostela de Santiago (Saint Ya'akov/"James"), Saint James' alleged final burial place, I believe.

[hellothereitsjustme]

@AHeartLikeDavids I think "He" refers to the aforementioned heretic - heretic obviously being someone who is at odds with generally accepted ideas/religion. We can assume a harlot/prostitute's child does not know who the "Father" is or is not loved/cared for by the "Father"...so perhaps the harlot's child = a non-believer, or someone who feels God has not been there for them...just my interpretation anyway.

[hellothereitsjustme]

@dearmissedessa We can assume a harlot/prostitute's child does not know who the "Father" is or is not loved/cared for by the "Father"...so perhaps the harlot's child = a non-believer, or someone who feels God has not been there for them...just my interpretation anyway.

[rosesredvioletsblue]

Excellent.

[rosesredvioletsblue]

thank you for uploading!  Natalie is a great artist!!!

[Niblik6015]

Thanks for posting the lyrics. It's embarassing how much I was wrong about what the words in this song actually were.

[YoshiLemon]

2:43-2:45 sounds like a telephone ringing.

[ReligionThink]

Awesome!

[IWannabeJew]

You gotta love when a song can play for 7 minutes and never seem dull.

[jeffery41272]

what is she talking bout

[dbrother2]

jeffery41272:

I believe the hypocrisy of man & maker...

Our certain doom & salvation...?

Is this a Nat Merchant original? Any American alive for more than 30 years (now) surely has heard a song or 2 by N Merch/10,000 Maniacs; but I am just dicovering her genius in depth now on Utube...

"Which side are you on, boys?"

[IWannabeJew]

Definitely an original. This is like a flashback of her earlier wordiness.

[LostFREEDOM]

love u

[MrArtudtoo]

her version on Retrospective is even better

[SuicideC0mmand0]

Yeah, the piano version is much better, there's more emotion...

That's such a beautiful song, I listen to it everyday !

[dancingINnavarre]

I never thought it was possible to be so moved as I am by this song and album.

The poetry is something I haven't seen in a long time, honest but you always feel there is a meaning hiding somewhere.

Her imagery is so powerful and beautiful, so rich.

[PauleQueenie]

GooD Day

[IWannabeJew]

The woman is a prophetess or the mouthpiece of a prophet or "Illuminati".

Give "This House is On Fire" a listen, recorded just before 9/11, if I remember correctly.

Also, there was an REM video that I have not been able to locate again where there was an image in the background of the Twin Towers and then an image of WWII Bomber planes, not necessarily in that order, but I do believe they were in succession, kinda like the Microsoft font, how it showed a plane flying into 2 skyscrapers.

[MrArtudtoo]

but she says in that song she doesn't have the gift of prophecy

[IWannabeJew]

Prophets often say such things.

Maybe she got the information from another source?

[dbrother2]

Wow...

So sad; to quote Larry Norman: the devil truley does have all the good music...

[IWannabeJew]

If Natalie Merchant is a servant of the devil, then there are no righteous ones left in the world.

[Constance0Lirit]

only because those who sing about god don't have the soul for it (if you know what i mean) with the devil you have a mellow and sad story, a fallen angel. but with god, he is 'perfect' - there's nothing wrong with him - so it's harder to hypocrise him, since you have to sing happily about the guy.

[IWannabeJew]

I consider this her lyrical masterpiece. She has other songs that teach better lessons, but the poetry in this one is gobsmacking.

[TheBellchenx3]

Wow. (: Das ist echt toll.(:

[Thynga3006]

I love the song, and think the lyrics is much colourful, but what's the song about? :)

[IWannabeJew]

@Thynga3006 We fans have a lot of different theories.  My theory is that it is about the millenial hysteria of the late 90's, when the CD "Ophelia" was released.

[hellothereitsjustme]

@Thynga3006 check out the song on songmeanings . net .....there's a lot of good ideas there

[Giovannisenzaterra]

I' didn't see God's face too anywhere sweet Natalie

[Giovannisenzaterra]

my father was so sure about his Mussolini's bliss,I'm just sire about human kind's bloody spell

[aloysha38]

This entire CD is Brilliant

[IWannabeJew]

@aloysha38 Yes, it is very haunting. Much meatier than Tigerlily. It took me a while to appreciate it as much as I do, now.

[UnhealthySalad]

Great video. Glad you included the lyrics. Listening to the guitar solo now. It (and the guitar playing in general) is out this fucking world. Always enjoy hearing the bass behind it too. Catchy. Anyway, this song is full of quotable lyrics...

"The worst of it has come and gone

In the chaos of millenium

And the falling out

Of the doomsday crowd"

Well, I wouldn't have spoken so soon...

"I May Know The Word" is a song like this, but the lyrics are far less colorful.

[DADSCELL]

I love this song! :(( it makes me sad.

[asianAOTEAROA]

voice like an angel

[lookinglass123]

I'd never heard of this!

Amazingly beautiful song, well done!

[monkeyed]

been one of my favorites since i first heard it. fucking beautiful.

[bruski10]

what a beautiful song. thanks for sharing it. i love natalie merchants voice.

[Deraon]

one of the best songs ever...

'wheel of fortune never turns again' :(

[IWannabeJew]

@Deraon Poor Vanna!  lol

[KytallasFavourites]

I adore Natalie Merchant. I haven't heard one song of hers that I didn't like.

[RainySommers]

Does anyone know where to get this?

It's my Favourite song! <3

[obxangie]

It is on the Ophelia album.

[lyssamiller]

Oh I really enjoy this song so much Thank you for adding this...Oh how I love it

[lucinda2005]

EARTH BUDDIES concert wish I was back there in 91

[karatequeen666]

love this song

thanks for making the vid

*you spelled paid wrong in the beginning tho

[inkonwater]

Great song. Reminds me strongly of Radio Baghdad of Patti Smith.

[phairlady03038]

maybe she means that the pilgramage of undiscreet blind faith will lead us to ashes, black wide open abyss...if you follow the blind leaders, the roman church, governments, put your trust in commerce you will end up in a dark abyss...true faith is belief without proof...

[adrianwriter]

I've just rediscovered Natalie Merchant the independent singer song writer and just wish she would visit England, soon. This song is moving and majestic in the way it merges Natalies soul sesarching lyrics and the atmospeheric, haunting guitar, piano and strings. The day she mixed this song, she was clearly on fire! I like the fact also that she sticks to her artistic aims, to sing true and eschew the instant need for pop culture acclaim. Her songs are gems with beauty, wisdom + a great voice.

[aiabunaibaka]

:3

thats why I like her.

She's just all around fantastic.

[BelisaTheTechie]

Excellent song!!!

[DavidRbi]

Its funny how the mind represses memories even good ones..at least for me. Then the music unlocks them all and the flood gates open...it's almost surreal.Many memories from this record and the time it came out. The song and her voice are mesmerizing..thanks for posting!!

[aiabunaibaka]

no problem

[smlostluv]

pretty

[bazel5]

She can really take you there. Can't she?

Brilliant person with a voice and musical talent to match that exceptional mind. It is irrelevant what others may think, if you can experience beauty don't turn to the person next to you and shake them, asking "dont you see it!?". just enjoy it, embrace it, bathe in it as long as you can. Thanks for reminding me.

[aiabunaibaka]

your welcome.

This is one of the best comments I've ever had.

T3T

[akshroomie]

ditto

[MetalSpeakers]

It sounds like she says "faced again", not "fist again"

[aiabunaibaka]

that wouldnt make sense.

Look at the lyrics before it.

Tyrents voice is softend now but just for one forgiving hour before the rise of his iron fist again.

It wouldnt make sense if it said 'before the rise of his iron faced again.'

[MetalSpeakers]

You win.

[doglover7972]

She is really popular. Tigerlili (don't know how to spell it) had several really big hits (1) jealousy (2) wonder and (3) carnival.

[devin2001100]

ty for posting this as a male celtic son if eire i appreciate the form of woman alot ty for posting this

[GraemeMDBSc]

I could point out that "disgusting" is spelt with a "g" and there is no extra "e" in "writing".

I was writing in chat speak because I kept running out of space in the comments! Haha!

[aiabunaibaka]

X3 I know isnt she amazing.

[metalxcel]

natalie is truely outstandig. i fell in love with her since the first time i heard her voice

[GraemeMDBSc]

I find it odd that sum women wnt 2b lookd upon as sex objects now...

[aiabunaibaka]

I know its discusting I'll see if my library has that author....why are you writeing in chat speak?

puting a d infront of that I find really annoying, sorry.

[GraemeMDBSc]

Haha... I have a lot of pet peeves too

[GraemeMDBSc]

Levy wrote a bk calld "Female Chauvinist Pigs" about how "sexual freedoms" in 00s culture hav left feminism wif a long way 2go and in some ways nullified the fight dats already bn fought!

It may b dat its opressin to women to make them dress a crtn way 4example, but equally harmful is da idea dat they can jst display demselvs whateva way dey wnt... if it was jst about dem I wud have moral objection to it only,but its not,it affects da way men fink about women in a -ve way...

[doglover7972]

uh oh. Against porno?  Then you aren't a good little feminist.

[GraemeMDBSc]

With regard to Thick as Thieves itself... I think it speaks about how some ppl (in America mainly) tend to exploit Christianity for their own political agendas and thus cater to their own selfish fallen nature, which the bible says we are fighting a spiritual war against! I've never heard a better line than "The wicked king of Parody is kissing all his enemies"... the Parody being of Jesus...

[aiabunaibaka]

X3 very good.

[doglover7972]

Did you read this somewhere? If not, I don't think it is true. The words are indeceipherable.

[GraemeMDBSc]

It's been refreshing to talk to you... and don't just think you're going through a phase... keep the feminist flag flying! Just try not to lose your temper, it doesn't do you any favours...

The thinkn that you know better than your parents might go away, but I still think that I'm 22! Lol!

[aiabunaibaka]

-^^- thankyou.

I will.

XP I know I try to keep it under controle but some times it just sortof bursts out, especialy during an argument.

XD well in a way we do know alittle more than them but most ofthe time (this is the sad part) they know more than us. T-T

[GraemeMDBSc]

Natalie Merchant on the other hand has spoken out against the pressure to be thin etc. in songs like "Tell Yourself".

"Tell yourself that you're not pretty, look at you you're beautiful"

Which is more than just sentimentality I think...

[GraemeMDBSc]

I agree with yer point about rap... thing is there are an equal number of girls that listen to it, which could be seen as perpetuating a social problem (ie. this music is being sold to them and they eventually start to think of themselves that way, thus lowering their self esteem and self-respect). And for guys who listen to that stuff it definitely distorts their view of women! Have you read Ariel Levy by the way??

[aiabunaibaka]

I think its disgusting when the girls I know at school are 'dropping it like its hot' and 'popping their booties' and dressing like dirty nasties.

I want to slap guys who listen to that shit, because when they do they are usually those assholes who randomly spank girls asses and harass them at school (you know what the sad part is, a lot of the girls let them)

No I haven't is Ariel Levy good? He/she (I'm assuming its a she but...) sounds vaguely familiar.

[GraemeMDBSc]

You are a very angry young girl aren't you?! Lol!

When you say "Half of them don't know what the lyrics are saying" are you referring to their music or Natalie Merchant?

Plus, in fairness, some of Natalie Merchant's lyrics are quite difficult to interpret... what do you think Thick of Thieves is about?

Well, gotta go, Kanye West just came on TV! Lol, kidding!

[aiabunaibaka]

I'm talking about the rap, its sexist and discusting its like "I HUMP THE GIRL IN THE CLUB ALL NIGHT LONG AND DICH HER FOR ANOTHER ONE UUUGHHH CHECK OUT MY GRILLS G!" and shit like that.

Yes but hers are like....logical.

XD I think I'm going threw my emotional "I know everything" teenager faze.

god I hate that whinny brat Kanye, XP He was such a brat about the VMA's I wanted to strangle him.

[GraemeMDBSc]

One more thing, there's no reason to get angry that ppl listen to RnB, that's their prerogative, I think, rather, they are to be pitied and possibly patienty and gently educated! Lol!

[aiabunaibaka]

but most of them are thick (half of them dont even know what the lyrics are saying they just do the discusting sexual dance moves) so its quite hard to educate them.....

[GraemeMDBSc]

It seems to me that ppl dont listen to her cos Apple/ITunes/Radio Personalities dont tell them to! Cynical I know, but its the only answer I can see...

[aiabunaibaka]

I think thats quite true.

[GraemeMDBSc]

But even when compared to folk such as Tori Amos and Patti Smith... you know, artists in the same vein as Miss Merchant, she is less popular. You'd expect that ppl who listen to them wud listen to Natalie aswell, but sadly not...

Its not like she didnt establish herself... 10000 maniacs were very popular and yet, IMO, Natalie's solo wrk is better.

[aiabunaibaka]

I never really listend to 10,000 maniacs but my parents raised me on Natalie and other awesome artists so I cant really say which is better in my opinion but I see where your coming from.

[GraemeMDBSc]

Can I ask if anyone has any idea why Natalie is not more popular than she is? She's actually a poetic genius!

I love the line "The wicked king of parody is kissing all his enemies"...

[aiabunaibaka]

Probably because of her mellow sound and her metaphoric lyrics. Most teens listen to rap-crap and Rock (I enjoy rock music) and the stuff they hear on those crappy radio stations that only play rap and R&B. I love Natalie, I think she deserves extreme popularity.

[aiabunaibaka]

-continued-

But as most teens my age only have IQ levels below 50 they don't understand the amazing genius of Natalie's poetic lyrics, preferring to listen the music that matches their IQ level the idiotic, sexist, bump and grind lyrics of most of today's popular music.

[yikesmt]

I'm speechless...dumbfounded and in tears. WOW.

[aiabunaibaka]

:D seriously?

Thats great, this is such a great song isnt it?

[GraemeMDBSc]

Stunning!

[aiabunaibaka]

X3 thankyou, Natalie has great songs

[flierumph]

Gulf of Araby is available on her live album... It can also be downloaded from Itunes.

[aiabunaibaka]

ah I see

[samijo1976]

Gives me goosebumps everytime!

[flierumph]

I love it ... but her rendition of Katell Keinig's "Gulf of Araby" is by far her most transcendant and exciting performance ever... I heard it live in NYC and I have never stopped thinking about that haunting song!

[aiabunaibaka]

I'm sorry I'm not sure I have that song on a CD if I did I would have loved to post it for you.

[burningfairy99]

yes, thank you for posting this, it's a beautiful song...

[aiabunaibaka]

your welcome :3

[devin2001100]

i want to thank you for posting this song one of the best written by her, thanks for sharing

[aiabunaibaka]

your welcome

[nothingnewunderthesu]

love the bard, play on as the fire dies

[redly414]

Thanks for sharing. I play Ophelia almost everyday...and this is definitely one of the best songs.

[aiabunaibaka]

your welcome

[Corvidae65]

Thanks for downloading this song! It's one of my favorites :) The world can always use a good song by Natalie!

[NOVAVALIANT]

AIA. I was listening to this on tape as i was adding NATALIE to my channel, and i thought id search for this song. Thanks heaps i really enjoyed reading the lyrics. But i must say CARNIVAL and OPHELIA are my 2 fav's. She used to be my fav vocalist, but i must say i like - AMY LEE - from EVANESCENCE, better also - SHARLENE SPETERI from TEXAS.

[aiabunaibaka]

I like Amy Lee too, I've never heard Sharlene Speteri

would you like me to put Carnival on here? or Ophelia?

[NOVAVALIANT]

I already have them on my channel,thanks. PS; I'll send you a message re - Sharlene Speteri.

[deadwood2]

so beutiful!

[TBV4ever]

i like all her songs she's very good!

[aiabunaibaka]

same here ^^

[Gronad]

Awesome choice of a Natalie song, and great taste you have in music baka.

[aiabunaibaka]

thanks and thanks ^^

but I'd perfer you'd call me aia '^^

[PSchneeman]

Glad to revisit this song....Natalie I think would be pleased with the purity of your version.

[aiabunaibaka]

:D

thats great!

btw do you know if she has anynew CDs coming out?

[PSchneeman]

Natalie has not recorded since 2005 however; has been busy releasing previously recorded material. Go to nataliemerchant dot com web site and, check out the news. 10,000 Maniacs Campfire Songs, The obscure & unknown recordings has been my best Maniac's purchase to date.

[aiabunaibaka]

thanks ^^

[deeroks1]

first time hearing this.

its wonderful.

[aiabunaibaka]

I know right?! The coolest song eva

[wickerpony]

thank you,its my first time hearing this song

[aiabunaibaka]

your welcome ^^

[arfaxax81]

Esta es mi canción favorita de Natalie, es un tema precioso, lleno de sonidos y cargado de tristeza!

[aiabunaibaka]

*goes to Babel Fish Translation*

Sé lo que su hablando ella oscila.

[backgame]

...thank you....love this tune

[aiabunaibaka]

your welcome ^^

[paolobianchi99]

top notch...many thanks

[aiabunaibaka]

your welcome ^^

this was the first time I've done a video like that so I'm glad it has been recived well ^^

[aiabunaibaka]

your welcome, I'm glad your pleased