A live album, Le Bataclan '72, was culled from this performance and officially released in 2004 after circulating for decades as an unauthorized bootleg.
Berlín
John Cale/Lou Reed/Nico Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, thank you
This next song, we're gonna make believe
We're in, uh, Casablanca
And I'm Humphrey Bogart, and this is what I'm gonna sing to Lauren Bacall
And it's called Berlin
By Berlin, by the wall
It was oh-so nice
Hey honey, it was candlelight and Dubonnet on ice
We were in a small cafe
And you could hear the guitars play
It was oh-so nice
Hey baby, it was, uh, paradise
You're right, woah, and I'm wrong
You know I'm going to miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day
You're right, woah, and I'm wrong
You know I'm going to miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day
One sweet day
We were in a small cafe
You could hear the guitars play
It was oh-so nice
Candlelight and Dubonnet on ice
Don't you forget, hire a vet
He hasn't had that much fun yet
It was oh-so nice
Hey honey, it was paradise
You're right and I'm wrong
You know I'm going to miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day
You're right, woah, and I'm wrong
You know I'm going to miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day
Oh, oh, one sweet day
One sweet day, one sweet day
One sweet day, baby, baby, one sweet day
One sweet day, baby, baby, one sweet day
Baby, baby, one sweet day
The song "Berlin" by John Cale, Lou Reed, and Nico tells a story of a romantic evening spent in Berlin by the Wall between two lovers. The opening lines set the scene as the singer and his lover are in a small cafe listening to guitars play while enjoying candlelight and Dubonnet on ice. The mention of Berlin and the Wall adds an air of mystery to the song and also hints at the political climate of the time. The verses paint a picture of a perfect night spent with someone special, but the refrain reminds us that it all came to an end - "You know I'm going to miss you now that you're gone, one sweet day."
The lyrics in the song also touch on important social issues. The line "Don't you forget, hire a vet, he hasn't had that much fun yet" references the Vietnam War and highlights the need for support for veterans returning home from war. It is interesting to note the contrast between the romantic imagery of the song and the reference to war and its impact on the soldiers returning home. Overall, "Berlin" is a layered and intricate song that explores themes of love, loss, and social consciousness.
Line by Line Meaning
By Berlin, by the wall
In Berlin, near the wall
You were five foot, ten inches tall
You were tall with a height of 5'10''
It was oh-so nice
It was really pleasant
Hey honey, it was candlelight and Dubonnet on ice
It was romantic with candlelight and a drink called Dubonnet over ice
We were in a small cafe
We were together in a cozy little coffeehouse
And you could hear the guitars play
The sound of guitars filled the air
Hey baby, it was, uh, paradise
It felt like heaven, darling
You're right, woah, and I'm wrong
You're correct, and I'm in the wrong
You know I'm going to miss you now that you're gone
I'll miss you dearly now that you're away
One sweet day
Someday in the future
Don't you forget, hire a vet
Remember to hire a veteran for a job
He hasn't had that much fun yet
They deserve some fun and enjoyment too
Oh, oh, one sweet day
Oh, someday in the future
One sweet day, one sweet day
Someday, someday in the future
Baby, baby, one sweet day
Darling, someday in the future
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lou Reed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@CarnivalofLVX
This is the best performance I’ve ever seen. And this version of Berlin is by far the best. Beautiful
@lelandthomosoniii4743
He's reading
Urban Poetry!
@annamonaco5959
amassed by performance but sound too!
@ninonr.2728
this is absolutely the best live I never saw in my entire life and i'm still amazed every time I see it
@poopmcstuffins4417
it's so beautiful
@visionaerie
Hey john cale is stil with us. Him and mo tucker...appreciate. Was this post -VU lou reed ...? Either way.....bad ass. They wuz bad ass.
@user-yz9kz6vt9y
Yes, it's amazing! I think it helped Lou to have the subject of his song sitting beside him!
@romulod.9780
@Z Oh yeah, "Berlin" is most definitely a song about Nico. :)
@carltoeski
Half of the views must be me. I've been listening to this for the last couple of months everyday on repeat. Will never get tired of this, it's a gem!
I love lou, john and nico ❤
@slaterslater5944
The other half is me :-)