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.

I Wanna Talk 2 U
John Cale Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Into the city on the night
I felt that something's wrong

Building were empty lights were on
And we were running lost

I heard you whisper in my ear
That you were coming back this year

Looking to make an exception this time
We know what's coming down

Hey up, wake up
I wanna talk to you
Hey up, wait up
I wanna talk to you

Taking me down from anything else
You meant to help me out
Blending the sights and sounds around
In one unholy mess

If it was subtle it was wrong
It's very clear but not for long

Hey up, wake up
I wanna talk to you
Hey up, wait up
I wanna talk to you

If as like we were undecided
There's plenty left to say

But the combination sounded
Wrong again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in John Cale's song "I Wanna Talk 2 U" describe a sense of unease and confusion as the singer navigates the city at night. The buildings are empty but the lights are on, suggesting a kind of emptiness or absence. The singer hears a whisper in their ear from someone who is coming back this year, implying a sense of anticipation or expectation. The verses have a feeling of urgency and restlessness, culminating in the repeated chorus of "Hey up, wake up / I wanna talk to you / Hey up, wait up / I wanna talk to you."

The second verse brings in the idea of being taken down from "anything else" and the expectation of being helped out. However, the sights and sounds around them are described as an "unholy mess," suggesting that things are not as they seem. The verse continues with a sense of confusion and uncertainty, with the line "If it was subtle, it was wrong / It's very clear but not for long." The chorus is repeated again, and the final lines of the song suggest that there is still more to be said but that the "combination sounded / wrong again."

Overall, the lyrics of "I Wanna Talk 2 U" seem to be about a sense of disorientation and longing for connection or understanding. The urgency and repetition in the chorus suggest a desire to communicate and make sense of things, but the confusion and uncertainty in the verses suggest that this may not be possible.

Line by Line Meaning

Into the city on the night
We began our journey at night, going into the city.

I felt that something's wrong
I had a sense that something was not right.

Building were empty lights were on
The buildings were vacant, but the lights were still on.

And we were running lost
We were lost and trying to find our way.

I heard you whisper in my ear
You whispered something in my ear.

That you were coming back this year
You said that you would be returning this year.

Looking to make an exception this time
You were hoping to do something different this time around.

We know what's coming down
We are aware of what is coming our way.

Hey up, wake up
Hey, pay attention.

I wanna talk to you
I want to have a conversation with you.

Hey up, wait up
Hey, wait a moment.