Nico started a successful career as a model in Berlin and Paris, studied acting at Lee Strasberg's New York Actor Studio. She then became part of the Swinging London scene, and had a short relationship with The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones and she recorded her first record in London in 1965, the single I'm Not Saying/The Last Mile, produced by Jimmy Page, for Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham's label Immediate Records. Thanks to Jones she met Andy Warhol in New York City and became part of Warhol's Factory, and Warhol introduced her to the Rock band The Velvet Underground, with whom she recorded the album "The Velvet Underground & Nico", featuring the legendary banana cover designed by Andy Warhol. The album has been named by numerous publications as one of the top 100 albums of all time, and is often considered one of history's 10 most influential albums by critics.
Nico later recorded several solo albums, including the folksy Chelsea Girl in 1967, followed by original albums such as The Marble Index and Desertshore, which were much darker and avant garde in style. She released several more albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including The End..., but died in 1988 from a cerebral hemorrhage after falling from her bike in Ibiza, Spain. She is buried in Berlin, next to her mother.
Solo studio discography:
1967 - Chelsea Girl
1969 - The Marble Index
1970 - Desertshore
1974 - The End...
1981 - Drama of Exile
1985 - Camera Obscura
Live discography:
1974 - June 1, 1974 (with Kevin Ayers, John Cale, and Brian Eno)
1986 - Behind the Iron Curtain
1986 - Live Heroes
1986 - Nico in Tokyo
1989 - Hanging Gardens
1993 - Do or Die!
1994 - Heroine
1994 - Fata Morgana
1994 - Live in Pécs 1985
2000 - In Europe: Do or Die, Diary 1982
2001 - Janitor of Lunacy
2003 - 1972-01-29: Le Bataclan, Paris, France (with Lou Reed and John Cale)
2007 - All Tomorrow's Parties: Live
These Days
Nico Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I don't do too much talking these days
These days
These days I seem to think a lot
About the things that I forgot to do
And all the times I had
A chance to
I've stopped my rambling
I don't do too much gambling these days
These days
These days I seem to think about
How all these changes came about my ways
And I wonder if I'd see another
Highway
I had a lover
I don't think I'd risk another these days
These days
And if I seem to be afraid
To live the life that I have made in song
It's just that I've been losing
So long
La, la, la, la, la
La, la
I've stopped my dreaming
I won't do too much scheming these days
These days
These days I sit on cornerstones
And count the time in quarter tones to ten
Please don't confront me with my failures
I had not forgotten them
Nico's song "These Days" is a melancholic and introspective ballad about a person who is reflecting on their own experiences and mistakes. The first verse describes a person who has been out walking and thinking a lot about the things they forgot to do and the missed opportunities they had. This person seems to have become more introspective and reflective, and does not talk or gamble as much as they used to. They seem to have become more cautious and hesitant.
The second verse describes how the person has stopped dreaming and scheming, and now sits on cornerstones, counting time in quarter tones to ten. They seem to be afraid to live the life they have made in song because they have been losing for so long. The final line "please don't confront me with my failures, I had not forgotten them" suggests that the person is struggling to come to terms with their own shortcomings and mistakes.
The repeated refrain "These days" emphasizes the passing of time and the changes that come with it. The song is a poignant and introspective meditation on the human experience, and the way that we reflect on our own lives as we grow older.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been out walking
I've been taking long walks and enjoying some time to myself
I don't do too much talking these days
I've become quieter and prefer to keep to myself
These days
Recently or lately
These days I seem to think a lot
I've been thinking about things more often than usual
About the things that I forgot to do
I'm reflecting on past actions that I didn't complete
And all the times I had
I'm thinking about past experiences and opportunities I had
A chance to
The opportunity to do something
I've stopped my rambling
I've stopped wandering aimlessly and without purpose
I don't do too much gambling these days
I don't take as many risks or make impulsive decisions
These days I seem to think about
My thoughts have been focused on
How all these changes came about my ways
I'm reflecting on how my life has changed
And I wonder if I'd see another
And I wonder if I'll have another chance
Highway
Opportunity or path in life
I had a lover
I was in a romantic relationship
I don't think I'd risk another these days
I don't think I'm willing to take another chance on love
And if I seem to be afraid
If I come across as scared or hesitant
To live the life that I have made in song
To live the life that I've written about in my music
It's just that I've been losing
I've been experiencing loss or failure
So long
For a while or a long time
La, la, la, la, la
Nonsensical syllables used as a vocalization or melody
La, la
Nonsensical syllables used as a vocalization or melody
I've stopped my dreaming
I've stopped having unrealistic thoughts or hopes
I won't do too much scheming these days
I won't try to come up with elaborate plans or goals
These days I sit on cornerstones
I spend my time sitting and observing everyday life
And count the time in quarter tones to ten
I'm keeping track of time and taking things one step at a time
Please don't confront me with my failures
Please don't make me face my past mistakes or shortcomings
I had not forgotten them
I remember my mistakes but I don't want to be confronted with them
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Jackson Browne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind