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.

Macbeth
John Cale Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Welcome home Macbeth
It's been a long long time
And everyone knows you're here
It's easy to see they care

Banquo's been and gone
He's seen it all before
He took it and then he did walk it

He shook it and then he did rock it

And you know it's true
You never saw things quite that way
She knew it all
And made you see things all her way
Somebody knows for sure
It's gotta be me or it's gotta be you
Come on along and tell me it's alright
It's alright by me

Alas for poor Macbeth
He found a shallow grave

But better than a painful death
And quicker than his dying breath

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of John Cale's song "Macbeth" welcome the character of Macbeth back home after a long time. The following lines describe the character Banquo, who has been there before and has experienced what comes with being in Macbeth's position. The lyrics also suggest that Macbeth is not the same as he used to be - he never saw things quite like Banquo did. Someone in the song knows what happened to Macbeth, and it's either the singer or Macbeth himself. However, the song ends on a sorrowful note, stating that Macbeth was buried in a shallow grave, although it was better than a painful death.

One way of interpreting Cale's song is to view it in the context of Shakespeare's play Macbeth. Macbeth returns home after a long struggle for power, which ultimately resulted in his downfall. Banquo, who was once Macbeth's friend, was murdered during the events that followed Macbeth's rise to power. The line "She knew it all and made you see things all her way" could refer to Lady Macbeth, whose manipulation of Macbeth played a significant role in his downfall. The song suggests that Macbeth's fate was inevitable, and even though it ended tragically, it was still better than what he could have experienced had he lived.

Line by Line Meaning

Welcome home Macbeth
The singer greets Macbeth as he returns home.

It's been a long long time
Macbeth has been away for a while.

And everyone knows you're here
People are aware of Macbeth's return.

It's easy to see they care
The people are happy that Macbeth is back.

Banquo's been and gone
Banquo has already experienced what Macbeth is going through.

He's seen it all before
Banquo has already been in Macbeth's shoes.

He took it and then he did walk it
Banquo dealt with the situation and moved on.

He shook it and then he did rock it
Banquo overcame the situation and became stronger.

And you know it's true
Macbeth is aware of the situation.

You never saw things quite that way
Macbeth's perspective on things may not be accurate.

She knew it all
Someone, likely Lady Macbeth, understands the situation.