Up until March 1990, Nick Cave was best known for fierce and uncompromising music. There had been the occasional ballad but never an all-out soppy love song. His new 45 was as far removed from the goth-rock, dark- as-night singles such as Tupelo, The Mercy Seat and Deanna as you could imagine. It was the first sign of a singer-songwriter maturing as he aged and not being afraid to put his feelings down on paper.
mp3 : Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – The Ship Song
It’s still, all these years on, seen as one one his finest ever moments, always getting a huge cheer and prolonged applause whenever he plays it in the live setting.
The b-side also had a mode of transport referenced:-
mp3 : Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – The Train Song
Another stripped-back effort that took long-standing fans by surprise. It’s maybe not one of Nick’s greatest lyrics or tunes but it is still a sign of him looking to do things a bit differently than in the past.
THE NEW VINYL VILLAIN 
Boo hewerdine does a good cover of this one
This has become something of a national anthem in Oz. Nearly every Australian artist of note will have played it at some point. Amazing song.