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.
Dirty Ass Rock And Roll
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
From the vicious bottle the night before
And the last thing you need is a nicety-nice
And small talk crawls out your ears
Maybe it makes you feel just like an undercover Sigmund Freud
I hear it makes you feel just like an undercover Sigmund Freud
Well, you can make a pacemaker blink, yeah, easy thing
Make a man's heart go bibbity-bom, bippity-bom, bippity-bom
Like a gentle drum and knowing you, it ain't ever done
So go on, go on, go on, darling, go on
Yeah, go on, go on darling, go on, go on
Yeah, the secretaries and typewriters chattering away
Chatter-chatter-chatter-chatter
Chatter-chatter-chatter, chatter away
It ought to make you sick when you hear a woman cry
When she don't get just whatever she wants
But not my woman, she just keeps on keeping on
That's my woman, my woman
That moving on shuffle side to side
That sure can turn me on
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
Hey now, hey now, hey now, hey now
And the beach is a thing and the bees don't sting
Like complaining from a downtown whore
I got my plasma patches and my hypodermic
In hermetically sealed kid gloves
Yeah, tell me
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Tell me
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
The song "Dirty Ass Rock 'N' Roll" by John Cale is a satirical commentary on the superficiality and phoniness of modern society, particularly in terms of social interactions and relationships. The opening lines describe the aftermath of a night of heavy drinking and partying, suggesting that the singer is hungover and disoriented. The chorus references the idea of feeling like an "undercover Sigmund Freud," which could be interpreted to mean that people often try to psychoanalyze others or themselves in order to understand their behavior, but ultimately fail to grasp the complexities of human nature.
The second verse takes on the topic of seduction and manipulation, with the singer claiming to be able to control a pacemaker and a man's heart with ease. However, the use of the word "knowing" suggests that this is not a genuine connection, but rather a calculated move. The third verse shifts to the idea of women and their struggles in a male-dominated world, with the singer expressing admiration for a woman who is able to persevere despite adversity. The repetition of "my woman" emphasizes the possessive nature of the relationship and suggests a certain level of ownership or control.
The chorus repeats the phrase "dirty-ass rock 'n' roll" several times, which can be interpreted in a number of ways. It could be a reference to the raw, rebellious nature of rock music or a nod to the stereotypes surrounding rock stars and their lifestyles. It could also be a commentary on the darker aspects of human behavior and society as a whole, with the "dirtiness" representing the hidden, unsavory elements that exist beneath the surface.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, it's too damn early and your eyes are bleeding
You're tired and hungover, and your eyes hurt from drinking too much.
From the vicious bottle the night before
You drank too much last night, and now you're paying the price.
And the last thing you need is a nicety-nice
You don't want anyone being too polite or cheerful with you.
And small talk crawls out your ears
You find small talk annoying and pointless.
Maybe it makes you feel just like an undercover Sigmund Freud
You think you're really good at analyzing people and their behavior.
I hear it makes you feel just like an undercover Sigmund Freud
Other people have told you that you're good at reading people.
Hey there, hey now, hey there, hey now
A greeting or expression of excitement or anticipation.
Well, you can make a pacemaker blink, yeah, easy thing
You have a great sense of rhythm and can make people dance easily.
Make a man's heart go bibbity-bom, bippity-bom, bippity-bom
Your music has a strong beat that can get hearts racing.
Like a gentle drum and knowing you, it ain't ever done
Your music has a steady, persistent beat that can go on for hours.
So go on, go on, go on, darling, go on
Encouragement to keep doing what you're doing and playing your music.
Yeah, go on, go on darling, go on, go on
More encouragement to keep playing your music and entertaining people.
Yeah, the secretaries and typewriters chattering away
The noise of an office filled with people talking and working.
Chatter-chatter-chatter-chatter
The sound made by people talking or typing incessantly.
Chatter-chatter-chatter, chatter away
The continuous sound of people talking or working in an office environment.
It ought to make you sick when you hear a woman cry
The sound of a woman crying or begging for something can be unpleasant to hear.
When she don't get just whatever she wants
Sometimes women can be demanding and expect to get whatever they want.
But not my woman, she just keeps on keeping on
Your woman is strong and resilient, and doesn't give up easily.
That's my woman, my woman
Proud declaration of your love for your woman.
That moving on shuffle side to side
Dancing or swaying in rhythm to the music.
That sure can turn me on
Your woman's dancing is attractive and exciting to you.
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
Your music is rough, edgy and raw, and that's what people love about it.
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
Your music is dirty and rebellious, but that's what makes it so appealing.
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
Your music is gritty and unpolished, and that's what sets it apart from other genres.
Dirty-ass rock 'n' roll
Your music is authentic and real, and it speaks to people who feel the same way.
And the beach is a thing and the bees don't sting
A reference to carefree, idyllic times at the beach with no worries or troubles.
Like complaining from a downtown whore
Something that's annoying or irrelevant, like a prostitute complaining about their work.
I got my plasma patches and my hypodermic
A reference to drug use or addiction.
In hermetically sealed kid gloves
Drug use is often something people try to keep hidden or secret.
Tell me
An expression of interest or curiosity.
Tell me, tell me, tell me, tell me
More emphasis on asking someone to share information or their thoughts on something.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind