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.
December Rains
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's gonna be hell to pay
Somewhere south of meridian 5
We're gonna start again
December, December, December rains
December, December, December rains
Condition Red the planet says
We're up to our knees in grief
If you come 'round to Samarkand
You can talk us down
Talk us down
I'm trying to keep the noise down
With your knife in my gut
I suppose we've got things to say
We better keep it shut
With Google getting on your nerves
And politics left and right
Kiss your private life goodbye
Lights out say goodnight
Whenever I get to feeling good
You're always on my mind
You can satisfy your thirst for life
Some December rain would be
Enough for us tonight
Condition Red the planet says
We're up to our knees in grief
If you come 'round to Samarkand
You can talk us down
Talk us down
December, December, December rains
December, December, December rains
December, December, December rains
December, December, December rains
December, December, December rains
December, December, December rains
The song December Rains by John Cale is a commentary on the current state of the world and the technological advancements that have led to a loss of privacy and a general sense of unease. The first verse mentions “soft porn rioting… online,” highlighting how the internet has made these kinds of things more accessible and ubiquitous. The lines “there’s gonna be hell to pay” suggest that there will be consequences for these developments. The second verse includes the lyrics “with Google getting on your nerves/and politics left and right/kiss your private life goodbye/lights out say goodnight,” which further emphasize the loss of privacy and the overwhelming nature of modern technology and politics.
The repeated refrain of “December rains” serves as a metaphor for a sense of purification or renewal. The lines “if you come ‘round to Samarkand/you can talk us down/talk us down” suggest that the singer is looking for someone to help guide them through this uncertain time. The final verse includes the lines “whenever I get to feeling good/you’re always on my mind/you can satisfy your thirst for life/some December rain would be/enough for us tonight,” which suggest that even in the midst of uncertainty and chaos, there is still a desire for connection and a sense of renewal.
Overall, December Rains explores themes of privacy, technology, and the human desire for connection and renewal in a world that can be overwhelming and chaotic.
Line by Line Meaning
Soft porn rioting is now online
The internet is now filled with explicit content and obscenity.
There's gonna be hell to pay
Society is likely to face the consequences of this trend.
Somewhere south of meridian 5
In an unspecified location near the equator.
We're gonna start again
A fresh new start is necessary to address societal ills.
December, December, December rains
Repeated references to rain in December, possibly indicating emotional mettle during dark times.
Condition Red the planet says
The world is in a state of emergency.
We're up to our knees in grief
Humanity is dealing with overwhelming sorrow.
If you come 'round to Samarkand
A location that embodies this sense of despair.
You can talk us down
A plea for someone or something to help alleviate this situation.
I'm trying to keep the noise down
Attempting to stay quiet and avoid drawing attention to oneself.
With your knife in my gut
Feeling threatened by an external force.
I suppose we've got things to say
Acknowledging the existence of unsaid thoughts.
We better keep it shut
Anxiety about expressing oneself out of fear of retaliation.
With Google getting on your nerves
The omnipresence and annoyance of technology.
And politics left and right
Constant political unrest and division.
Kiss your private life goodbye
The loss of privacy in a digital age.
Lights out say goodnight
A declaration that things are about to get worse.
Whenever I get to feeling good
Moments of happiness are fleeting and often interrupted.
You're always on my mind
The presence of anxiety and fear that cannot be escaped.
You can satisfy your thirst for life
A sense of longing and hope for something that can make life feel more meaningful.
Some December rain would be
A metaphorical thirst quencher that may bring solace in dark times.
Enough for us tonight
Satisfaction with the small moments of relief in life.
Contributed by Kylie P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.