Pastoral Angst
Cale John Lyrics


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Welcome to the goldrush, ladies and gentlemen, where california begins and maybe ends.
California is the last stop on the great hitchhike west and now it's getting a little full. too many thumbs. well, when you get too many people in one place, you get intolerance and contempt and
Dity and tension and sarcasm, distrust, anxiety, envy, hate, cynicism, discontent, self-pity, malice, suspicion, jealousy and snobbishness. and this leads right into poetry, painting, sculpture,
E, music and literature, photography. these are known as the arts. and art will break your heart. so what? so will a good meal. art is not the spiritual side of business-as-usual.
And art is not for everyone. never has been and it never will be. now me, i don't know much about art, but i do like what i know. you know in these days when everybody is mistaking celebrity for
Nt, ambition for genius, self-pity for humility, style for content and loathing for love, they spend a lot of time getting in touch with themself. and then they find self-justification, self-rig
Sness, self-obsession, self-pity, self-loathing, self-concern, self-centredness, self-reliance, and self-serving gratification.




Overall Meaning

In "Pastoral Angst", Cale John provides an incisive commentary on life in California, the land of the American Dream. He notes that California is where the great hitchhiking west ends, and suggests that the golden dream of California might also be its downfall. As too many people come looking for a piece of the dream, intolerance and tension arise, leading to negative emotions like cynicism, envy, and malice. However, out of this atmosphere of tension and distrust arises art, which Cale notes will break your heart. He suggests that art is not the spiritual side of business-as-usual, nor is it for everyone.


Cale is critical of the people who mistake celebrity for talent, self-pity for humility, and style for content. He suggests that many people spend their time getting in touch with themselves, but in doing so, they become obsessed with self-serving gratification and self-justification. The song is a commentary on modern society, which values the individual above all else, and where superficiality trumps substance. Through his lyrics, Cale suggests that art is a way to break free from this superficiality and embrace the complexities of the human experience.


Line by Line Meaning

Welcome to the goldrush, ladies and gentlemen, where california begins and maybe ends.
California represents the end of the road for many people, and a place where people are flocking to for opportunities, but it is also a place of uncertainty where people may not find what they're looking for.


California is the last stop on the great hitchhike west and now it's getting a little full. too many thumbs. well, when you get too many people in one place, you get intolerance and contempt and
The influx of people to California has led to overcrowding, which has resulted in negative feelings such as intolerance, contempt, and a lack of understanding between the diverse groups of people now living there.


Dity and tension and sarcasm, distrust, anxiety, envy, hate, cynicism, discontent, self-pity, malice, suspicion, jealousy and snobbishness. and this leads right into poetry, painting, sculpture,
The negative feelings created by the overcrowding has also given rise to a lot of creative energy, giving people the motivation to express their emotions through various forms of art such as poetry, painting, and sculpture.


E, music and literature, photography. these are known as the arts. and art will break your heart. so what? so will a good meal. art is not the spiritual side of business-as-usual.
The arts can be heartbreaking, but that doesn't mean they're not worth pursuing. Art is not just a way to escape the mundane or to achieve financial success, but rather a way to explore the depths of the human experience.


And art is not for everyone. never has been and it never will be. now me, i don't know much about art, but i do like what i know. you know in these days when everybody is mistaking celebrity for
Art is not something that everyone will appreciate or understand, and that's okay. However, people should take the time to explore different forms of art and find what speaks to them personally, instead of blindly following the popular trends of the day.


Nt, ambition for genius, self-pity for humility, style for content and loathing for love, they spend a lot of time getting in touch with themself. and then they find self-justification, self-rig
In today's culture, people often mistake superficial qualities for deeper ones, and spend a lot of time focusing on themselves. However, this self-exploration can often turn into self-justification, self-righteousness, and a lack of empathy for others.


Sness, self-obsession, self-pity, self-loathing, self-concern, self-centredness, self-reliance, and self-serving gratification.
This inward focus can lead to negative emotions such as self-pity and self-loathing, as well as a selfish outlook on life where the needs of others are often overlooked in favor of one's own desires.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE, BOB NEUWIRTH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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