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.
Drone
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I think the journey did her well
Her face has lost it's touch
The tell tale signs of loneliness inside
But I love her still
And need her company still more
Come down, come down once more
She says she fell in love
With men who knew the way to treat a lady
Her life has settled for the best of things
That I couldn't give her
And it's not her fault, she's not the one to blame
Come down, come down, come down once more
And I do believe the journey did her well
Yes I do believe the journey did her well.
The song "Drone" by John Cale appears to be about a woman who has returned from a trip to Amsterdam, which seems to have done her some good. Her face has lost its tell-tale signs of loneliness, suggesting that she was feeling isolated prior to the trip. The singer expresses his love for her and his need for her company. He wants her to come down once more, suggesting that she may have been on some sort of emotional high while in Amsterdam.
The woman tells the singer that she fell in love with men who knew how to treat a lady. She has settled for the best things in life, things that the singer couldn't give her. The singer appears to feel guilty about this and reassures the woman that it's not her fault and she's not to blame. The song ends with the singer stating that he believes the journey did her well.
Overall, "Drone" seems to be a melancholic song about love and regret. The singer loves the woman but is unable to give her what she wants or needs. He appears to be resigned to the fact that she has found what she's looking for elsewhere, but still values her and wants her company.
Line by Line Meaning
She's back from Amsterdam
She has returned from Amsterdam
And I think the journey did her well
The journey seems to have done her good
Her face has lost it's touch
Her face appears to lack its usual vibrancy
The tell tale signs of loneliness inside
The physical signs suggest she has been lonely
But I love her still
Despite everything, he still loves her
And need her company still more
He desires her company even more now
Come down, come down once more
He is asking her to join him once again
And I think, the journey, did her well
He believes that her journey has improved her state of being
She says she fell in love
She claims to have fallen in love
With men who knew the way to treat a lady
She was attracted to men who treated her well
Her life has settled for the best of things
She has found contentment in her current situation
That I couldn't give her
He recognizes that there are things he cannot provide for her
And it's not her fault, she's not the one to blame
He believes that she is not at fault for their situation
Yes I do believe the journey did her well.
He reiterates that he thinks her journey improved her condition
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind