John Cale, OBE (born 9 March 1942) is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-so… Read Full Bio ↴John Cale, OBE (born 9 March 1942) is a Welsh musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He was a founding member of the experimental rock band The Velvet Underground in early 1965. Though best known for his work in rock music, Cale has worked in various genres including drone and classical. Since departing from the Velvet Underground in 1968 he has released over thirty albums. Of his solo work, he is perhaps best known for his 1973 album 'Paris 1919' and the song of the same name, art rock works reminiscent of film scores and tuneful pop music being perhaps the most accessible of his pieces.

Born on 9th March 1942 in Garnant, Wales, Cale spoke only Welsh until the age of seven, when he began to learn English at school. He went on to study viola at Goldsmiths College, University of London, where he became involved in avant garde music. He traveled to the U.S. to continue his studies, thanks to the help and influence of Aaron Copland, and met and worked with various avant-garde composers, including John Cage, while becoming fascinated with the new Anglo-American art movements.

In 1965, he co-founded the Velvet Underground with Lou Reed. Though best known for his work with the band, Cale has produced a massive body of work that ranges from tastefully arranged strings and piano over Dylan Thomas poetry to barely-suppressed, nigh-psychotic aggression set to high-energy avant-garde rock. Cale's style is almost impossible to pin down, as almost every album contains new experiments and influences. He is also well known as the producer of such works as the debuts of The Stooges, The Modern Lovers, and Patti Smith (the critically acclaimed 'Horses'). He also played a major role in Nico's 'The Marble Index'.

He's released some compilation works such as 'Seducing Down the Door: A Collection 1970-1990' that attempt to show the range and depth of his music. Cale was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as member of the Velvet Underground in 1996, and he was also appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 2010. As the years have gone by, he's had a wide variety of tours, additionally dealing with his own personal demons.

All I Want Is You
John Cale Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Summer days are gone
And winter nights are closing fast
And no-one knows how long they'll last
Until daylight comes again

Summer days are gone
And all we've got to show is tears
To last us all down the years

'Til we go home again

'Cause all I want is you now, honey
All I want is you now, baby
All I want is you now, baby
All I want is you
All I want is you

Summer days are gone
And everybody's in the dark
And no-one seems to want what you and
I have anymore

And when those summer days
Were covering us all up with tears
And the nighttime without darkness
Left us all for lost

'Cause all I want is you now, baby
All I want is you now, honey
All I want is you now, baby
All I want is you
All I want is you

Oh, oh, all I want is you now, baby
All I want is you now, baby
All I want is you now, honey
All I want is you now, baby
All I want is you now, honey
All I want is you now, baby

All I want is you now, honey
All I want is you now, baby

Overall Meaning

John Cale's song "All I Want Is You" is a melancholic ballad. The opening verse refers to the passage of time, the season changing, and the uncertainty that comes with it. The metaphor of the winter night symbolizes the unknown and the fear of what could happen in the future. The tears referred to in this verse represent the sadness and pain that the passing of summer has brought. The chorus, "all I want is you now, honey," shows that the singer is seeking comfort and solace in the presence of their loved one. The repetition of this line in the chorus emphasizes the simple but powerful message of the song: that being with the one you love is all that really matters.

The second verse continues the theme of the passing of time and how it affects relationships. The singer acknowledges that what they have with their loved one is unique, but they feel that nobody else seems to want it anymore. The phrase "nighttime without darkness" is a poetic line that contrasts with the earlier metaphor of the winter night. It suggests that even when it seems like there is no hope, the light of love can still shine through. The chorus repeats again, expressing the idea that love is the most important thing, even in difficult times.

Line by Line Meaning

Summer days are gone
The happy times have passed.

And winter nights are closing fast
Sadness is enveloping us.

And no-one knows how long they'll last
We don't know how long the sadness will continue.

Until daylight comes again
Until we find happiness again.

And all we've got to show is tears
All we have left are memories of crying.

To last us all down the years
Memories that will last a lifetime.

'Til we go home again
Until we find solace and happiness again.

'Cause all I want is you now, honey
Having you is the only thing that will make me happy.

All I want is you now, baby
Being with you is all that matters to me.

Summer days are gone
We can't go back to the happy times.

And everybody's in the dark
Everyone around us is unhappy.