Big White Cloud
John Cale Lyrics
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A big white cloud, looking right down on me
Sound of sun, missing my eyes
Everything's clear, everything's bright
Big white cloud, big white cloud
Big white cloud on me
Big white cloud, big white cloud
Big white cloud on me.
Time to kill on the hill
Looking at bees, licking the trees
Looking for signs ....................
Oh how I love you,
Yes how I love you
Oh how I love you so.
Oh how I love you,
Yes how I love you
Oh how I love you so.
After all is said and done
Everything, is just like it began
Days that came, years again
Came in here once again
Oh how I love you,
Yes how I love you
Oh how I love you so.
Oh how I love you,
Yes how I love you
Oh how I love you so.
The opening lines of John Cale's song "Big White Cloud" evoke a sense of isolation and introspection. When he stands with his back to the sea, all he can see is the big white cloud above him, looking down. It seems like a metaphor for how one's own thoughts and feelings can sometimes cloud everything else out. The sound of the sun is missing his eyes, leaving him with a clear and bright view of everything around him. It's as if he's peeking through a gap in his own thoughts and anxieties and seeing the world for what it truly is.
The middle section of the song is more opaque, with Cale describing a scene of being on a hill and looking at bees and trees. He's looking for signs, but it's unclear what he's looking for. It could be a reference to the idea of finding meaning in nature, or it could be something more personal to Cale himself. The repetition of the line "Oh how I love you, yes how I love you, oh how I love you so" suggests that there's someone or something he's deeply connected to, but it's not clear who or what that is.
The final verse brings the song full circle, with Cale saying that after all is said and done, everything is just like it began. Time may pass, but things eventually come back around again. The final repetition of "Oh how I love you" suggests that whatever or whoever he was referring to earlier is still a constant source of love and comfort for him.
Line by Line Meaning
When I stand, my back to the sea
Standing facing away from the sea
A big white cloud, looking right down on me
A large, white cloud positioned directly above me
Sound of sun, missing my eyes
The warmth of the sun not reaching my eyes
Everything's clear, everything's bright
The world seems illuminated and unobscured
Big white cloud, big white cloud
Repeating the mention of the white cloud
Big white cloud on me
Emphasis on the cloud being directly above
Time to kill on the hill
Passing time while being situated on a hill
Looking at bees, licking the trees
Observing bees flying and touching trees with my tongue
Looking for signs ....................
Searching for clues or indicators, but unspecified
Oh how I love you,
Expressing passionate affection to someone or something
Yes how I love you
Reiterating the intensity of the love
Oh how I love you so.
Stating the depth of the love again
After all is said and done
In conclusion or summary
Everything, is just like it began
The status is identical to the starting point
Days that came, years again
Time passing by
Came in here once again
Returning to a certain place
Oh how I love you,
Repeating previously mentioned intense love
Yes how I love you
Affirming the powerful emotion
Oh how I love you so.
Reiterating the depth of love again
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mae06at
[Verse 1]
When I stand, my back to the sea
A big white cloud looking right down at me
The sound of the sun piercing my eyes
Everything's clear, everything's bright
[Chorus 1]
Big white cloud, big white cloud
Big white cloud on me
Big white cloud, big white cloud
Big white cloud on me
[Bridge]
Time to kill on a hill
Looking at leaves licking the trees
Looking for signs, wind and the rain
[Chorus 2]
Oh I love it, yes I love it
Oh I love it so
Oh I love it, yes I love it
Oh I love it so
[Verse 2]
After all is said and done
Everything is just like it began
Days that came, years again
Came and went once again
[Outro / Chorus 2]
Oh I love it, yes I love it
Oh I love it so
Oh I love it, yes I love it
Oh I love it so
Oh I love it, yes I love it
Oh I love it so
@badgermustelid1203
Lyrics
When I stand, my back to the sea
A big white cloud looking right down at me
The sound of the sun missing my eyes
Everything's clear, everything's bright
[Chorus 1]
Big white cloud, big white cloud
Big white cloud on me
Big white cloud, big white cloud
Big white cloud on me
[Bridge]
Time to kill on a hill
Looking at leaves licking the trees
Looking for signs, wind and the rain
[Chorus 2]
Oh I love it, yes how I love it
Oh how I love it so
Oh I love it, yes how I love it
Oh how I love it so
[Verse 2]
After all is said and done
Everything is just like it began
Days that came, years again
Came and went once again
[Outro / Chorus 2]
Oh I love it, yes how I love it
Oh how I love it so
Oh I love it, yes how I love it
Oh how I love it so
Oh I love it, yes how I love it
Oh how I love it so
@peterwilliams6052
One of the most beautiful songs ever. John Cale is an absolute genius.
@Bonzoandthemadhatter
this was played a few months ago at a friends funeral by members of his band in VT...it was the saddest thing i've ever seen but it exposed me to the wonderful music of john cale and for that i'm forever grateful RIP RUDY
@mfoltz3720
My good taste in music brought me here.
@kaiserrule
Yes...and mine made me, like your comment.
@chadjones3214
Yes....yes it did....cheers good sir!!!
@MrMickthemonster
That piano is just magic
@thebiiiiigman
Smokin Aces...Thank you :)
@blix101112
Same ..just now Sept 2019
@andrewshideler5037
Buddy Aces Israel taught me this one.
@nedd.8479
Not many people realise how accessible John Cale's music is.