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.
Antarctica Starts Here
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sits idly fully armed
The powder and mascara there
A warning light for charm
We see her every movie night
The strong against the weak
The lines come out and struggle with
The empty voice that speaks
Her heart is oh so tired now
Of kindnesses gone by
Like broken glasses in a drain
Gone down but not well spent
The road from Barbary to here
She sold then stole right back
The vanity, insanity her hungry heart forgave
The fading bride's dull beauty grows
Just begging to be seen
Beneath the magic lights that reach from
Barbary to here
Her schoolhouse mind has windows now
Where handsome creatures come to watch
The anaesthetic wearing off
Antarctica starts here
John Cale's song "Antarctica Starts Here" is a haunting ballad that seems to describe a woman who is a "paranoid great movie queen." The lyrics paint a picture of a woman who is both powerful and vulnerable, with her powder and mascara serving as a warning light for charm. We see her every movie night, and she seems to be a symbol of strength against weakness. However, the lines that come out of her mouth struggle with the empty voice that speaks, suggesting that perhaps her power is an illusion.
The woman's heart is tired of kindnesses gone by, and the broken glasses in a drain represent things that have gone down but not been well-spent. The road from Barbary, which she sold and then stole right back, seems to be a metaphor for her life. Her vanity and insanity are forgiven by her hungry heart, and the fading bride's dull beauty grows just begging to be seen. Beneath the magic lights that reach from Barbary to here, she feels both exposed and protected.
Line by Line Meaning
The paranoid great movie queen
A famous actress who is constantly worried and fearful
Sits idly fully armed
Despite not moving, she is prepared for any potential danger
The powder and mascara there
Her makeup is always present, even in moments of danger
A warning light for charm
Her outward beauty hides a dangerous side to her personality
We see her every movie night
She is always performing and entertaining the masses
The strong against the weak
Her roles often involve power dynamics between characters
The lines come out and struggle with
Her characters have difficulty expressing themselves truthfully
The empty voice that speaks
Despite fame, she feels unfulfilled and unheard
Her heart is oh so tired now
She is emotionally worn out
Of kindnesses gone by
She has experienced love and compassion in the past, but not anymore
Like broken glasses in a drain
Her past experiences were valuable, but now they are lost and forgotten
Gone down but not well spent
Her past experiences were wasted and meaningless
The road from Barbary to here
Her journey from her hometown to her current position of fame
She sold then stole right back
She may have had to compromise her morals to get where she is, but she still controls her own destiny
The vanity, insanity her hungry heart forgave
She has sacrificed her mental health and self-respect for success
The fading bride's dull beauty grows
Her physical beauty is diminishing, but it is still a source of pride for her
Just begging to be seen
She craves attention and admiration
Beneath the magic lights that reach from Barbary to here
Her fame has spread far beyond her hometown
Her schoolhouse mind has windows now
She has expanded her intellectual horizons
Where handsome creatures come to watch
She is surrounded by attractive and wealthy people
The anaesthetic wearing off
She is starting to feel the pain and disillusionment that comes with fame
Antarctica starts here
The metaphorical coldness and emptiness in her life begins at this point, despite having achieved so much success
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cultureclashmusicvideo4545
As a young teenager in 1973, I found this album lying around the house. I asked my mum where it came from, and she told me she had bought it. My mum didn't buy many records, and I am pretty sure she did not know that John Cale had been a member of the Velvet Underground. I just assumed that she was attracted by the cover. Anyway, she didn't mind me borrowing it, and thus began a special chapter in my musical education. Thanks mum!
@SFCBenny57
Every song on this album is a classic. Cale was working as an A&R man in Hollywood when he wrote and recorded these songs. He missed being in Europe (except for Wales) and every song, except Antarctica Starts Here touches on something about the old country socially, geographically or just emotionally. I think I appreciate it now more than I did before my good fortune of having spent a few fleeting moments in the continent of my ancestors. When I am feeling all Europey (Yeah I know that it isn't a word) I listen to this and Hamburger Concerto by Focus.
@dn6442
Some say it's inspired from Sunset Boulevard; but there are many hints in the lyrics that this really is about being in the grip of heroin and the withdrawal symptoms.
@tonybates7870
@dn6442
Yeah, you could be right. I had struggles with certain addictive substances in my youth; whenever the stuff started to wear off and I had no more of it I always thought "Antarctica starts here".
@WKaliberr
This album taught me more about early 1900s European history than my school
@filmguy3d
I never tire of this album. It sparks such memories and is so beautifully sculpted. John Cale is still with us and is forever amazing. Thank you!
@leehoven5687
Whenever i hear this song i can perfectly imagine it as an ending credits song of a very sad movie.
@tristramshandy5299
This song can make shiver my backspine every damn time I listen it.
@andymorphic67
this song makes me so sad...because of the end of the most perfect album ever made.
@elrobertoreal
Gänsehautnummer, auch noch nach x-maligem Anhören, eine seiner genialsten Nummern!