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.
Hush
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Put your lips on mine
Put your lips on mine
Hush, hush hush goodnight
Hush, hush hush goodnight
Hush, hush hush goodnight
Hush
Put your lips on mine
Put your lips on mine
Give it up
Let it go
Hush, hush hush goodnight
Hush, hush hush goodnight
I can feel your body
(give it up)
I can feel your mine
(let it go)
Take me up to heaven
(give it up)
Never go home again
Hush hush goodnight (repeat)
The lyrics of John Cale's song "Hush" talk about a moment of intimacy between two people who are saying goodnight. The repetition of the phrase "hush, hush, hush" serves as a way to keep their actions and words secret, urging the other person to put their lips on the singer's as a sign of mutual desire. The lines "give it up, let it go" imply that the two individuals should give in to their feelings and indulge in passion, surrendering to the moment with all their energy. The fact that the singer mentions feeling the other person's body and mind indicates that this moment of intimacy goes beyond physical pleasure, suggesting an emotional connection between them. The last two lines, "Take me up to heaven, never go home again" evoke a sense of euphoria and the desire to leave behind everything else and escape reality to find a place of pure joy.
Line by Line Meaning
Hush, hush hush
Be quiet, keep it a secret
Put your lips on mine
Kiss me
Put your lips on mine
Kiss me
Hush, hush hush goodnight
Be quiet, it's time to sleep
Hush, hush hush goodnight
Be quiet, it's time to sleep
Hush, hush hush goodnight
Be quiet, it's time to sleep
Hush
Be quiet
Put your lips on mine
Kiss me
And don't tell a soul
Keep it a secret
Put your lips on mine
Kiss me
Give it up
Let it happen
Let it go
Release your inhibitions
Hush, hush hush goodnight
Be quiet, it's time to sleep
Hush, hush hush goodnight
Be quiet, it's time to sleep
I can feel your body
I sense your physical presence
(give it up)
(let it happen)
I can feel your mine
I am connected to your consciousness
(let it go)
(release your inhibitions)
Take me up to heaven
Elevate me to a state of ecstasy
(give it up)
(let it happen)
Never go home again
Stay with me forever
Hush hush goodnight (repeat)
Be quiet, it's time to sleep
Contributed by Julian J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.