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.
Mercenaries
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Unfaithful they have nothing more to keep
Them in a battle other than a meager wage
Which is just about enough to make
Them wanna kill for you
But never enough to make them
Wanna die for ya
I'm just another soldier boy
Looking for work looking for work
Looking for work
My rifle is my friend my rifle is my friend
I clean my rifle everyday
I clean my rifle everyday
That's why my rifle is my friend
Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Did some work in Zaire
The jolly old Belgian Congo
Went back to Geneva to get paid
Back there in Geneva
That's were the money grows
That's were the money grows
That's were the money flows
They didn't wanna pay me
They didn't wanna pay me, but they did
Try to separate me from my money
Is try to separate me from my life
Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Let's go to Moscow, let's go to Moscow
Let's go, let's go, let's go to Moscow
Fight a backdoor to the Kremlin
Push it down and walk on in
5000 feet and closing
Target visibility one nine
4000 feet and closing
Target visibility two six
3000 feet and closing
Target visibility seven nine
2000 feet and closing visibility one ten
1000 feet and closing visibility seven four
500 feet and closing target visibility zero
Ready for war, ready for war
You better be ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
Are you ready for war
Ready for war, ready for war
The lyrics to John Cale's song "Mercenaries" depict the perspective of a hired soldier, highlighting their disillusionment and lack of loyalty. The opening lines convey the perception of mercenaries as disposable and divided, lacking any strong allegiance. They are described as unfaithful and driven solely by meager wages. While they may be motivated to kill for their employers, they do not possess the willingness to die for them.
The repetition of the line "I'm just another soldier boy" emphasizes the anonymity and interchangeable nature of mercenaries. It suggests that they are constantly searching for work, reflecting the transient and mercenary nature of their profession.
The chorus reinforces the soldier's relationship with their rifle, presenting it as their constant companion and symbol of their loyalty. The act of cleaning the rifle daily not only maintains its functionality but also represents the soldier's dedication and readiness for war.
The latter part of the song recounts the soldier's experiences in different locations, including Zaire (the Belgian Congo) and Geneva. The mention of Geneva as a place where money grows and flows signifies the profiteering and financial motivations behind wars and conflicts.
The soldier reflects on the reluctance of employers to pay for their services and the attempt to separate them from both their money and their life. This highlights the exploitative nature of mercenaries, who are often used and discarded by those in power.
The final part of the song takes a more aggressive and confrontational tone, referencing Moscow and the desire to infiltrate the Kremlin. The repeated phrase "ready for war" serves as a call to arms, urging listeners to prepare themselves for conflict. The escalating countdown towards the target visibility adds tension and heightens the sense of imminent danger.
Overall, "Mercenaries" exposes the grim reality and complex motivations of hired soldiers, shedding light on the exploitation, anonymity, and disconnectedness that permeate their existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Mercenaries are useless, disunited
Mercenaries lack value and are divided
Unfaithful they have nothing more to keep
They are unreliable and have nothing to hold onto
Them in a battle other than a meager wage
Their motivation in a battle is solely a small payment
Which is just about enough to make
The wage is barely sufficient to
Them wanna kill for you
encourage them to kill for you
But never enough to make them
However, it is never sufficient to make them
Wanna die for ya
willing to sacrifice their lives for you
I'm just another soldier boy
I am merely a typical soldier
Looking for work looking for work
Searching for job opportunities
My rifle is my friend my rifle is my friend
I trust my rifle and rely on it
I clean my rifle everyday
I diligently maintain my rifle daily
That's why my rifle is my friend
This devotion is the reason my rifle is my companion
Ready for war, ready for war
Prepared for war, fully prepared for war
Did some work in Zaire
Engaged in some tasks in Zaire
The jolly old Belgian Congo
In the cheerful, old Belgian Congo
Went back to Geneva to get paid
Returned to Geneva for payment
Back there in Geneva
In that place, Geneva
That's were the money grows
That's where the wealth accumulates
That's were the money flows
That's where the money circulates
They didn't wanna pay me
They were hesitant to compensate me
They didn't wanna pay me, but they did
Despite their reluctance, they eventually did pay me
Try to separate me from my money
Attempting to take away my money
Is try to separate me from my life
Is essentially trying to separate me from my existence
Let's go to Moscow, let's go to Moscow
We should travel to Moscow, let's go to Moscow
Let's go, let's go, let's go to Moscow
Come on, hurry, let's go to Moscow
Fight a backdoor to the Kremlin
Engage in a covert operation to access the Kremlin
Push it down and walk on in
Overpower resistance and enter confidently
5000 feet and closing
Approaching at a distance of 5000 feet
Target visibility one nine
Visibility of the target is 1.9
4000 feet and closing
Drawing nearer at a distance of 4000 feet
Target visibility two six
Visibility of the target is 2.6
3000 feet and closing
Getting closer at a distance of 3000 feet
Target visibility seven nine
Visibility of the target is 7.9
2000 feet and closing visibility one ten
Approaching at a distance of 2000 feet with visibility at 1.10
1000 feet and closing visibility seven four
Drawing nearer at a distance of 1000 feet with visibility at 7.4
500 feet and closing target visibility zero
Approaching at a distance of 500 feet with no visibility of the target
You better be ready for war
You must be prepared for war
Are you ready for war
Are you fully prepared for war
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mark Nathanson
The guitar on this could win a war all by itself.
tony0000
@Richard Rybinski Yes.
Richard Rybinski
@tony0000 Marc Aaron
tony0000
I saw the show. The guitarist was a rock'n'roll hero.
Dan Bernstein
I was in the audience when this was recorded at CBGB's unforgettable!
Dan Bernstein
@tony0000 yes it was a 2 night gig! Great memory!
Deborah Fenning-Edmonson
Cool!
Deborah Fenning-Edmonson
Cool!
Barry Dixon
YOU LUCKY BASTARD :) WOW WHAT A CONCERT THIS MUST HAVE BEEN LIVE !!!!
Marc Dacey
Saw this tour in a 150-seat bar in Toronto. Doubt I was of legal age to be there, but it was a hell of a show and I still have the LP.