Mary
John Cale Lyrics


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You want to call me Sam
You want to call me Freddy
If you call me anything - it's fine, it's fine

You want to call me Manuel
You don't know why
You don't know why
You don't have to call me Mary
I'll be fine with that
I wanted to say
We don't go into that

There's a window in my mind
You can see in
Just look and you'll want to sigh
It inspires you to look away

You don't have to call me Mary
You don't have to wonder why
You don't even know what you're after
The same as me, I bet

Don't you worry
Don't you worry
The future will come back soon
Shouting at the teacher
From the back of the classroom

You can call me Sam
You can call me things
You can call me anything
But you don't have to call me Mary

You can call me Sam
But you don't have to call me Mary
I'm fine with that
But you'd be better safe than sorry

Safer than sorry
Safer than sorry
Safer than sorry
Safer than sorry

Safer than sorry
Safer than sorry




Safer than sorry
Safer than sorry

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Mary" by John Cale carry a sense of confusion and frustration about identity and labels. The singer seems to be accustomed to people calling them different names, as if none of them truly matter. They are fine with any name, but Mary shouldn't be the one. It's unclear why Mary is a name that the singer wants to avoid, but it's clear that they don't want to be bound by it.


The verse "There's a window in my mind, you can see in / Just look and you'll want to sigh / It inspires you to look away" suggests that the singer is vulnerable and open, but also that others cannot handle the truth and the depth of the singer's mind. The chorus repeats the idea that the singer can be called anything but Mary, and there is a melancholic tone to it, almost as if the singer wishes to be understood but cannot find the right words to explain their emotions.


The song's ambiguity can be interpreted in various ways, but it's clear that it deals with the theme of identity and the tension between individuality and belonging. It's a reminder that names and labels carry weight, and that sometimes people need to be seen and heard beyond what they are called. The song ends with a repeated chorus that emphasizes the need to be safe rather than sorry, and it's up to the listener to decide what that means.


Line by Line Meaning

You want to call me Sam
The singer is open to different names, indicating a lack of concern for his/her identity


You want to call me Freddy
Different names do not affect the singer's sense of identity


If you call me anything - it's fine, it's fine
The singer is indifferent to what he/she is called as none of the names have any significant meaning


You want to call me Manuel
The artist presents himself with an open mind and welcomes any name that is given


You don't know why
The artist neither attaches significance to his/her name nor does he/she understand why it matters


You don't have to call me Mary
The singer emphasizes that he/she doesn't care what he/she is called and there are more important things to discuss


I'll be fine with that
No matter how the singer is addressed, he/she will be okay with it


I wanted to say
The artist has a thought to convey


We don't go into that
The artist implies that discussing a person's name is insignificant and there are more meaningful things to ponder


There's a window in my mind
The artist has a vivid imagination and deep thoughts


You can see in
The singer sees no problem with being transparent and authentic


Just look and you'll want to sigh
The artist's thoughts and emotions can be overwhelming for others


It inspires you to look away
The singer's mind can make people feel uneasy and they would rather avoid it


You don't have to wonder why
The singer continues to reassure that names hold no importance and are irrelevant


You don't even know what you're after
The singer believes that people do not understand themselves or their desires


The same as me, I bet
The artist feels they are not alone in their uncertainty about life


Don't you worry
The artist tells the listener not to fret


The future will come back soon
The singer implies that the future is cyclical and is bound to repeat itself


Shouting at the teacher
The singer suggests something disruptive happening in their past


From the back of the classroom
The artist was simply an observer, removed from that situation


You can call me things
The artist reiterates his/her flexibility


But you'd be better safe than sorry
The artist suggests that it is best to avoid using specific names to prevent any misunderstandings


Safer than sorry
The singer repeats that it is better to be cautious




Contributed by Brody A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@sergiozuniga4230

Beautiful song..lovely guitar..great John Cale

@spurtfather

Guitar

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