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.
Mothra
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In comes the cloud
Reaching around my neck
Looked in the mirror, nobody there
What's gonna happen next
Mothra, Mothra, give it a whirl
Try something new today
Try it again, try something new today
Maybe I was jealous
Maybe I was a fool
Maybe I've been telling you
Everything I wanted you to do, to do, to do, to do
Everything I wanted you to do
To do, to do, to do, to do
Everything I wanted you to do
Mothra, Mothra, give it a whirl
Try something new today
Mothra, Mothra, try it again
What have you got to lose
To do, to do, to do, to do
Everything I wanted you to do
To do, to do, to do, to do
Everything I wanted you to do
Somebody there is helping
Somebody there's got time
Somebody there's been holding on
Before, before, before it's time
You see me running
You see me climb
Reading my books I'm always trying
Laughing and teasing
I love to play
Dreaming my dreams I'm never far away
Mothra, Mothra, give it a whirl
Try something new today
Mothra, Mothra, give it a whirl
What have you got to lose
Mothra, Mothra, Mothra, Mothra
Mothra, Mothra, Mothra, Mothra
The lyrics to John Cale's "Mothra" are poetic and enigmatic, as is typical of Cale's experimental style. The song seems to convey a sense of restlessness and uncertainty, both lyrically and musically. The opening lines "Open the window, in comes the cloud, reaching around my neck" creates a sense of suffocation and claustrophobia before moving to a self-reflexive line, "Looked in the mirror, nobody there, what's gonna happen next." This line becomes a refrain, repeated several times throughout the song, as if the singer is questioning their existence and their future.
The chorus, "Mothra, Mothra, give it a whirl, try something new today" suggests a desire for change, to break out of a rut or cycle. The repetition of the line "everything I wanted you to do" suggests that this desire for change may be directed at someone specific or a particular situation. The mention of jealousy and foolishness further highlights the singer's internal conflict.
The final verse introduces a new perspective, "somebody there is helping, somebody there's got time, somebody there's been holding on before, before, before, it's time." This change in tone suggests hope and the possibility of finding help or guidance. The final lines of "Mothra, Mothra, Mothra, Mothra" add an element of mysticism and intrigue to the song, inviting the listener to interpret and explore its meaning.
Overall, "Mothra" is an introspective and poetic song that invites the listener to interpret its meaning through its enigmatic lyrics and experimental musical style.
Line by Line Meaning
Open the window
Starting afresh by opening up to new things, ideas and experiences.
In comes the cloud
Mixed feelings of uncertainty and excitement that arise when trying out something new.
Reaching around my neck
The new thing may challenge the norms and the person might feel agitated.
Looked in the mirror, nobody there
Finding oneself in an unfamiliar space, with no clue on what to do next.
What's gonna happen next
The excitement of unpredictability, at the same time a sense of uncertainty of the future.
Mothra, Mothra, give it a whirl
The call to embrace change and to give it a try.
Try something new today
The urgency to try something new - Today as time waits for none.
Try it again, try something new today
A reminder to try again if one fails on the first attempt, and to continue to explore new opportunities.
Maybe I was jealous
The realization of having been wrong and making mistakes.
Maybe I was a fool
Acceptance of one's foolishness.
Everything I wanted you to do, to do, to do, to do
The realization of one's bossy and unrealistic expectations on someone.
Everything I wanted you to do
Taking ownership of one's wrongs and apologizing for unrealistic expectations.
Somebody there is helping
The realization of having support and help in times of difficulty.
Somebody there's got time
Appreciation of someone who takes their time to understand and support.
Somebody there's been holding on
The realization of having emotional support in difficult situations.
Before, before, before it's time
The thought of personal growth and enlightenment being a lifelong journey and not following a strict timetable.
You see me running
The excitement of exploring new things and travelling through life at a fast pace.
You see me climb
The willingness to take risks and challenge oneself to reach higher goals.
Reading my books I'm always trying
The eagerness to learn and understand new concepts to broaden one's perspective.
Laughing and teasing
The joy of life and sharing that joy with others.
I love to play
The acknowledgement of the importance of leisure activities to recharge and enjoy life.
Dreaming my dreams I'm never far away
The power of imagination, and holding onto one’s goals and aspirations.
What have you got to lose
The importance of taking risks and not fretting over losses or setbacks.
Mothra, Mothra, Mothra, Mothra
A chant and reminder to give in and embrace the newness of life.
Contributed by Joshua L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.