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.
Scotland Yard
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Then came the hungry nights
Holding on to what you've got
Standing in the spotlight
They'll show you mostly
What they want you to see
Walking the city at midnight
And whistling in the dark
Many times you've been down there
And seen the mess they make
Putting on your party face
Occasionally it's fake
Sometime in the future
When you were carefully
Trying to do the right thing
And showing some discipline
Living, knowing you've done nothing wrong
Living, as if you've done something wrong
You knew it could happen
You knew that it would
You knew it could happen
Who's been causing problems
In the neighbourhood
Who's been breaking windows
Generally misunderstood
Living, living in Scotland Yard
Living, living in Scotland Yard
You knew it could happen
You knew that it would
You knew it could happen
You knew that it would
Living in, living in Scotland Yard
Living in, living in Scotland Yard
Living in - did the right thing
Living in Scotland Yard - in the end
Living in - did the right thing
Living in Scotland Yard - in the end
Living in - did the right thing
Living in Scotland Yard - in the end
The lyrics to John Cale's song Scotland Yard introduce a narrative about survival in the urban environment where nights are long and hungry. The singer can only hold on to what they have and stand in the spotlight of the city's dangers. They also acknowledge that what seems visible in the foreground is mostly what is shown to them, without a chance to look behind the facade. The city becomes a metaphor for social expectations and norms that require obedience and discipline, and there is always a risk of being misunderstood, accused of wrongdoing.
The refrain "Living in Scotland Yard" adds a layer of meaning to the song. Scotland Yard, the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police in London, is a place associated with law enforcement, investigation, and control. The name's inclusion in the song suggests that the singer is living under constant surveillance and scrutiny, threatened by the possibility of being caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, the repetition of "Living in - did the right thing" seems to imply that in the end, the singer has managed to navigate the obstacles and stay true to themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
When the hungry days are gone
After a time of struggle and hardship
Then came the hungry nights
Still experiencing difficult times, specifically at night
Holding on to what you've got
Preserving what you have, as it's valuable
Standing in the spotlight
Being in the public eye, vulnerable
They'll show you mostly
Those with control manipulate what is presented
What they want you to see
Tailoring visual representation to a specific agenda
Walking the city at midnight
Navigating the urban landscape during a time of darkness and uncertainty
And whistling in the dark
Putting on a brave face, despite feeling afraid
Many times you've been down there
Having been in challenging situations repeatedly
And seen the mess they make
Observing the negative results of people's actions
Putting on your party face
Putting on a facade to hide true emotions
Occasionally it's fake
Sometimes this pretense is not genuine
Sometime in the future
At some point beyond the present
When you were carefully
Being cautious and meticulous
Trying to do the right thing
Making an effort to act ethically
And showing some discipline
Acting with self-control
Living, knowing you've done nothing wrong
Feeling comfortable and free of guilt
Living, as if you've done something wrong
Despite not being guilty, feeling as if you are
You knew it could happen
Having awareness of the possibility of negative outcomes
You knew that it would
Being sure that negative outcomes would occur
Who's been causing problems
Asking about someone responsible for difficulties
In the neighbourhood
In this specific local area
Who's been breaking windows
Inquiring about someone damaging property
Generally misunderstood
Not understood correctly or sympathetically
Living, living in Scotland Yard
Existing in an oppressive, restrictive environment
You knew it could happen
Being aware that oppression and restriction are possible
You knew that it would
Being certain that oppression and restriction would occur
Living in, living in Scotland Yard
Existing in this oppressive environment
Living in - did the right thing
Living ethically
Living in Scotland Yard - in the end
Despite challenges, living ethically was the right path
Living in - did the right thing
Acting with moral and ethical correctness
Living in Scotland Yard - in the end
Despite adversity, living according to personal values and integrity
Living in - did the right thing
Acting according to personal moral compass
Living in Scotland Yard - in the end
Despite facing obstacles, continuing to act morally and justly
Contributed by Christopher G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.