Following Paris 1919's release in 1973, the reviews were mostly favorable. Rolling Stone compares "Paris 1919" to Harry Nilsson's "Mourning Glory Story".
TAKEN FROM WIKIPEDIA
Paris 1919
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Standing there but never ever talking sense
Just a visitor you see
So much wanting to be seen
She'd open up the doors and vaguely carry us away
It's the customary thing to say or do
To a disappointed proud man in his grief
But on Mondays not at all
Just casually appearing from the clock across the hall
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
I'm the church and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la la la la
The Continent's just fallen in disgrace
William, William, William Rogers put it in its place
Blood and tears from old Japan
Caravans and lots of jam
And maids of honor singing, crying, singing tediously
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
Yes, you're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
I'm the bishop and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la la la la
Efficiency, efficiency, they say
Get to know the date and tell the time of day
As the crowds begin complaining
How the Beaujolais is raining
Down on darkened meetings on the Champs-Élysées
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
And I'm the church and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
I'm the church and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
I'm the church and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la la la la
John Cale's "Paris 1919" features a cryptic, surrealistic story that unfolds through a series of disjointed and opaque lyrical fragments. The constant shifts between disconnected scenes create an atmosphere of confusion and disorientation. However, the song seems to revolve around a central theme of loss and longing for a past that cannot be recovered.
The first stanza presents a female character who exerts a powerful but elusive presence over the singer. She never talks sense, and yet she commands attention and exudes an air of mystery. The singer seems desperate to be "seen" by her, but she remains enigmatic and distant. The line "She'd open up the doors and vaguely carry us away" suggests that she has the power to transport the singer to another place or time, but only in a fleeting and insubstantial way. The second stanza continues the theme of unfulfilled desire, as the female character appears intermittently and without explanation. The line "You're a ghost" suggests that she is a figment of the singer's imagination or a memory of a past love. The third stanza introduces new characters and settings, including the fallen continent and the ominous William Rogers. The image of maids of honor singing and crying contrasts sharply with the previous scenes of romantic longing and sets a darker tone. The final stanza mentions Beaujolais and the Champs Élysées, suggesting that the action takes place in France. The singer's repeated claim that he is the church and has come to claim the female character with his iron drum is cryptic and mysterious, leaving the listener to interpret its meaning.
Overall, the song creates a haunting and surreal atmosphere, evoking a bygone era and a sense of loss and disillusionment.
Line by Line Meaning
She makes me so unsure of myself
The woman's presence causes the singer to feel insecure and uncertain.
Standing there but never ever talking sense
Although she is physically present, she doesn't communicate anything meaningful.
Just a visitor you see
The woman is just a temporary guest or outsider.
So much wanting to be seen
She desires attention and recognition.
She'd open up the doors and vaguely carry us away
She would lead people into a dreamlike state or fantasy world.
It's the customary thing to say or do
It is expected to act a certain way in certain situations.
To a disappointed proud man in his grief
To comfort a man who is both saddened and still having an inflated ego.
And on Fridays she'd be there
She only shows up on Fridays.
But on Mondays not at all
But she never shows up on Mondays.
Just casually appearing from the clock across the hall
She appears in a nonchalant way, appearing to come from a clock in the distance.
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
The subject being addressed is like a ghost, intangible and insubstantial.
I'm the church and I've come
The artist represents an institution or organization and has arrived.
To claim you with my iron drum
To assert authority or control over the subject with a strong, powerful approach.
The Continent's just fallen in disgrace
Europe is in a state of disgrace or has lost its status.
William, William, William Rogers put it in its place
Someone named William has restored order or put things right in Europe.
Blood and tears from old Japan
Japan has experienced much pain and suffering.
Caravans and lots of jam
There are groups of people travelling together and plenty of food.
And maids of honor singing, crying, singing tediously
Women of noble birth are singing and crying in a monotonous and tiresome way.
Efficiency, efficiency, they say
People are concerned with being efficient and productive.
Get to know the date and tell the time of day
It's important to be aware of the current date and time.
As the crowds begin complaining
The masses are beginning to express their dissatisfaction.
How the Beaujolais is raining
Wine from the Beaujolais region is flowing or being consumed heavily.
Down on darkened meetings on the Champs-Élysées
Alcohol is being consumed at meetings that take place in dimly lit areas on the Champs-Élysées.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: John Davies Cale
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@marcot7216
She makes me so unsure of myself
Standing there but never ever talking sense
Just a visitor you see
So much wanting to be seen
She'd open up the doors and vaguely carry us away
It's the customary thing to say or do
To a disappointed proud man in his grief
And on Fridays she'd be there
But on Mondays not at all
Just casually appearing from the clock across the hall
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
I'm the church and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la la la la
The Continent's just fallen in disgrace
William, William, William Rogers put it in its place
Blood and tears from old Japan
Caravans and lots of jam
And maids of honor singing, crying, singing tediously
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
Yes, you're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
I'm the bishop and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la la la la
Efficiency, efficiency, they say
Get to know the date and tell the time of day
As the crowds begin complaining
How the Beaujolais is raining
Down on darkened meetings on the Champs-Élysées
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
And I'm the church and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
I'm the church and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
You're a ghost, la la la la la la la la la
I'm the church and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la la la la
@SergioQ-S-80
She makes me so unsure of myself
Standing there but never talking sense
Just a visitor you see
So much wanting to be seen
She'd open up the door and vaguely carry us away
It's the customary thing to say or do
To a disappointed proud man in his grief
And on Fridays she'd be there
And on Wednesday not at all
Just casually appearing from the clock across the hall
You're a ghost la la la
You're a ghost
I'm in the church and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la
The Continent's just fallen in disgrace
William William William Rogers put it in its place
Blood and tears from old Japan
Caravans and lots of jam and maids of honor
Singing crying singing tediously
Efficiency efficiency they say
Get to know the date and tell the time of day
As the crowds begin complaining
How the Beaujolais is raining
Down on darkened meetings on Champs Elysee
@PolishedMonocle
I've got a history degree and while I won't consider myself an "expert," my favorite period to study is around 1880-1930 which includes the period he's writing about here. I heard this song on the radio about a year ago and it became one of my favorites. I'll go line by line to say what my personal interpretation is.
"She makes me so unsure of myself
Standing there but never ever talking sense
Just a visitor you see
So much wanting to be seen
She'd open up the doors and vaguely carry us away."
-I'm not really sure what this is supposed to mean
"It's the customary thing to say or do
To a disappointed proud man in his grief"
-I interpret the "disappointed proud man" to be Europe itself, the nations of Europe directly before WWI considered themselves to be the most civilized nations in the world, but the extreme barbarism and cruelty of the war shook that belief within the European conscience. The most disappointed proud man would be Germany I suppose, who lost their overseas empire and had to pay reparations as a result of the war.
"And on Fridays she'd be there
But on Mondays not at all
Just casually appearing from the clock across the hall"
-Not sure what he's meaning here.
[Chorus]
You're a ghost la la la la la la la la la
You're a ghost la la la la la la la la la
I'm the church/bishop and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la la la la la la la la
-To me this is referencing how a lost or dead "ghost" of European identity was "claimed" in many nations by extremist political ideologies such as fascism. The references to "church" and "bishop" give a sense of something being dogmatic and authoritarian, and the "iron drum" is to me a reference to war, or militant philosophy. I.e. "drums of war," "iron" tools of war. Europe's identity and pride was shattered after WWI, and in many nations fascism arose to "claim" a sense of identity and history in those nations. For instance, Mussolini's Italy had the idea that they would reclaim the glory of ancient Rome, and Nazi Germany claimed itself as the successor of the Holy Roman Empire and the German Empire (Third Reich). A "bishop" claimed Europe's identity and pride with his "iron drum."
"The Continent's just fallen in disgrace
William William William Rogers put it in its place"
-"The Continent" obviously refers to Europe, which fell into disgrace during the war. "William(x3) Rogers" I think refers to both Captain William Wendell Rogers, a Canadian flying ace during WWI, and perhaps Buck Rogers, an American science fiction character who was an American veteran of WWI. Both refer to men from overseas who came to Europe to "put it in it's place." Many of the current and former colonies of European countries believed Europe to be the most civilized place in the world, but had that belief shaken or shattered when they came to Europe to fight and saw the sheer brutality of the war that Europeans had created and waged against each-other. People from French and British colonies in Africa and India were shipped to Europe to fight, and saw the nations they had been told all their lives were a superior civilization engaged in horrific bloodshed. This revelation was the cause of many anti-colonial sentiments back in European colonies, as colonial soldiers who came back from Europe no longer believed Europeans were as civilized as they had been told.
"Blood and tears from old Japan"
-Dignitaries from Japan were present at the 1919 treaty meeting, an "old" nation whose role in the war was very remote to Europeans. It was perhaps a sign of how small the world was becoming.
"Caravans and lots of jam
and maids of honor
Singing crying singing tediously"
-I know jam was a prized commodity among British soldiers during the war, and being able to have lots of it and go on vacations in caravans after the war was a sign of the prosperity to come. Maids of honor crying could represent women who lost sons and husbands in the war?
(Musical Break)
-Represents the peace and tranquility after the war has ended
"Efficiency efficiency they say
Get to know the date and tell the time of day"
-Could represent how efficient and industrial the world had become by this point in time, and how past ways of life were rapidly transitioning.
"As the crowds begin complaining
How the Beaujolais is raining
Down on darkened meetings on the Champs Elysées"
-Might reference how the average person complains about trivial matters such as wine, while "darkened meetings" (of radical political activists) are taking place that will change Europe's fate.
Anyway that's my personal take on it. It's a great song no matter how you interpret the lyrics!
@wongnaichungrd
I heard this song for the first time yesterday and cannot stop playing it. Brilliant!
@eruption257
I'm in the exact same situation today. I can't get over it.
@lyonslaforet
Ditto for me except that I've been listening to John Cale for several years but I discovered this gem again only recently.
@claremccarron3058
And I heard it for the first time today. I also think .... brilliant!
@mickandelisa
It's on my personal shortlist of truly perfect songs.
@majabl
Snap - I heard it on BBC Radio 6 yesterday and I'm hooked! CD album looks to be out of print though :-(
@captikus78
I always get a shiver down my spine when he sings the lines "As the crowds begin complaining / how the Beaujolais is raining / down on darkened meetings on the Champs-Élysées..."
@dreamtransmissions
I want to live in this song for a month or so
@marivg8948
sounds good to me
@eriktorres7895
Rian johnsson brought me here