Nick Cave's Letter To MTV: 'My Muse Is Not A Horse'

Nick Cave's (Wonderfully) Manic Rejection Letter To MTV

Remember that time Nick Cave said no to an MTV award with a pleasantly hysterical letter? Nope? Well here's the calmer first bit of the Australian singer's response to a 1996 nomination for his ninth studio album with the Bad Seeds, Murder Ballads. Via Letters of Note:

"I feel that it's necessary for me to request that my nomination for best male artist be withdrawn and furthermore any awards or nominations for such awards that may arise in later years be presented to those who feel more comfortable with the competitive nature of these award ceremonies. I myself, do not."

Clear enough, yes? But then there's the really good part, which is best viewed the way it appears on Cave's site, in all caps:

MY RELATIONSHIP WITH MY MUSE IS A DELICATE ONE AT THE BEST OF TIMES AND I FEEL THAT IT IS MY DUTY TO PROTECT HER FROM INFLUENCES THAT MAY OFFEND HER FRAGILE NATURE.

SHE COMES TO ME WITH THE GIFT OF SONG AND IN RETURN I TREAT HER WITH THE RESPECT I FEEL SHE DESERVES - IN THIS CASE THIS MEANS NOT SUBJECTING HER TO THE INDIGNITIES OF JUDGEMENT AND COMPETITION. MY MUSE IS NOT A HORSE AND I AM IN NO HORSE RACE AND IF INDEED SHE WAS, STILL I WOULD NOT HARNESS HER TO THIS TUMBREL - THIS BLOODY CART OF SEVERED HEADS AND GLITTERING PRIZES. MY MUSE MAY SPOOK! MAY BOLT! MAY ABANDON ME COMPLETELY!

Shh. No one tell Nick Cave how today's muses bypass horse altogether and go straight to Chevy.

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