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.

Living With You
John Cale Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I've got four walls and a roof
Gonna put the roof on top
I've got glass for the windows
We'll have windows to look through

'Cause this is living
This is living with you
'Cause this is living

This is living with you

I've got a sea in my front
And a mountain at my back
Everyone thinks it's so fun
But they couldn't be more wrong
And I know

This is living
This is living
With you

You wanna be living
You wanna be living like me with you

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of John Cale's song Living With You depict a very simple scene of four walls and a roof without windows. The singer's intention is to put a roof on top and install glass windows. These words may suggest an idea of creating a safe and secure place to live in, a place where the singer can feel comfortable and protected. The decision to mention the glass for the windows suggests that the singer wants to create a view and an opportunity to look outwards. While these are materialistic things, they are often associated with emotional and psychological comfort as well. The chorus "This is living with you" emphasizes the fact that the singer finds joy in creating a home with the person they love.

The second verse of the song takes the listener to a different kind of place. The singer sings about having a sea in front and a mountain behind. This idyllic setting is what most people wouldn't want to leave. The next line of the verse "everyone thinks it's so fun, but they couldn't be more wrong" suggests a sense of unease in this perfect setting. The singer knows that there is no absolute happiness and despite the beauty around, they know there is something much deeper that one must experience in life. The song repeats the importance of the singer's partner by saying: "This is living, This is living with you". It highlights the desire to create a life together and the importance of the partnership in the process.

Line by Line Meaning

I've got four walls and a roof
I have a basic shelter structure on this land

Gonna put the roof on top
I plan on finishing the shelter by installing the roof

I've got glass for the windows
I have the material required to create windows

We'll have windows to look through
Upon completion, we will have functional windows with which to observe the outside world

'Cause this is living
The act of creating a home is what makes life most worthwhile

This is living with you
I value the companionship of the person I'm creating this home with

I've got a sea in my front
There is a large body of water situated nearby

And a mountain at my back
A significant geographical feature is present behind me

Everyone thinks it's so fun
Others seem to believe that my life is inherently exciting

But they couldn't be more wrong
It is very far from true that my life is particularly thrilling

And I know
I remain intimately aware of this on a daily basis