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.

Emily
John Cale Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh Emily, I'd love to be
Down by the sea with you
Having tea with you
Walking hand in hand
On the shifting sands
Maybe we'll love again
Maybe we'll love again

Soon the time will come
When we must say
Goodbye my dear dear friend
Till we meet again
Though I'm far away
I'll still hear you say
Maybe we'll love again
Maybe we'll love again

Hold my hand
On the sand
And say once more
Like before
Maybe we'll love again
Maybe we'll love again

Maybe we'll love again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of John Cale's "Emily" speak of a desire to reunite with a past love. The singer, Emily, is addressed throughout the song and is someone the singer was once in love with. He dreams of being with her again, walking hand-in-hand on the shifting sands by the sea, enjoying tea and each other's company. He conveys a deep sense of nostalgia and longing as he contemplates the possibility of reigniting their romance, echoing the phrase "Maybe we'll love again" throughout the song.

The melancholic yet romantic tone of the song is intensified by the fact that the couple has to say goodbye again, "Soon the time will come." Emily appears to be someone who is still close to the singer's heart, despite the physical distance between them. He still wants to hold her hand and hear her say "Maybe we'll love again." The song is imbued with a sense of the bittersweet memories of a past love and the hope of a possible future.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh Emily, I'd love to be
The singer desires to be with Emily

Down by the sea with you
The singer wants to be at the beach with Emily

Having tea with you
The singer wants to share a relaxing moment with Emily

Walking hand in hand
The artist wants to walk holding hands with Emily

On the shifting sands
The artist wants to walk on the beach sand

Maybe we'll love again
The singer hopes to rekindle their love with Emily

Maybe we'll love again
The singer reiterates their hope of rekindling their love with Emily

Soon the time will come
The artist knows that their time with Emily is limited

When we must say
The artist is referring to the upcoming moment when they need to say goodbye

Goodbye my dear dear friend
The artist is saying goodbye to a close friend

Till we meet again
The singer hopes to see Emily again