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.
Ship Of Fools
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Take me off I've got to eat
Same old stories same old thing
Letting out and pulling in
Mister, there's a caravan parked out back
Restless hoping for a Christian rider
The black book, a grappling hook
Guess we must be getting close to Tombstone
The last time we had eaten
Was when the flies were going for free
You could count the hardships by the open doors
But sandwiched in between
Were the fishermen who still
Wished they could sail from Tenessee to Arizona
So hold on, won't be long
The call is on the line
Hold on, Sister's gone
South to give the sign
We picked up Dracula in Memphis
It was just about the break of day
And then hastily prayed for out souls to be saved
There was something in the air that made us kind of weary
By the time we got to Swansea it was getting dark
Tumble, jungles, bugles and the prize
The tides turned west at Amerforth
As if they didn't know what to do
But Garnant stood its ground and asked for more
All the people seemed quite glad to see us
Shaking hands and smiling like the clock
Well we gave them all the message then
That the Ship of Fools was in
Make sure they get home for Christmas
So hold on, won't be long
The call is on the line
So hold on, Sister's gone
South to give the sign
"Ship of Fools" by John Cale is a surrealistic trip brought to life through vivid imagery and an infectiously catchy melody. The song's title is a reference to a medieval allegory where a group of people set sail on a ship, each with their own delusions of grandeur, and end up lost at sea, representing the human condition of being lost and directionless. The song itself is a series of disjointed, almost nonsensical vignettes, linked together by the recurring refrain, "So hold on, won't be long, the call is on the line, hold on, sister's gone south to give the sign."
The first verse sets up the scene of the ship coming in, but the urgency to get off the ship is palpable as the singer says they need to eat. The "same old stories" and "letting out and pulling in" could represent the monotony and unpredictability of life. The caravan and "restless hoping for a Christian rider" could be interpreted as a metaphor for seeking salvation or guidance in a chaotic world. The "black book, a grappling hook, a hangman's noose on a burnt-out tree" paints a vivid image of danger and fear, while the mention of Tombstone adds a sense of uncertainty and mortality.
Line by Line Meaning
The Ship of Fools is coming in
The foolish and ignorant are arriving
Take me off I've got to eat
I'm hungry and need to be taken to food
Same old stories same old thing
Repetitive, unoriginal narratives
Letting out and pulling in
Allowing people and things to leave or enter
Mister, there's a caravan parked out back
Man, there is a group of travelers nearby
Restless hoping for a Christian rider
Eagerly awaiting a devout leader
The black book, a grappling hook
The Bible, a tool to control and manipulate
A hangman's noose on a burnt out tree
A symbol of violent judgment on a dead plant
Guess we must be getting close to Tombstone
Assuming we will soon reach a place of death and decay
The last time we had eaten
The previous time we had a meal
Was when the flies were going for free
Referring to a time of poverty and scarcity
You could count the hardships by the open doors
The difficulties were obvious and numerous
But sandwiched in between
However, in the midst of these struggles
Were the fishermen who still
There were still those holding onto hope
Wished they could sail from Tenessee to Arizona
Dreaming of a better life elsewhere
So hold on, won't be long
Be patient, it won't take much longer
The call is on the line
A message or opportunity is coming
Hold on, Sister's gone
Wait, the female leader has left
South to give the sign
Going in the direction of giving a signal or convey a message
We picked up Dracula in Memphis
We encountered someone sinister in Memphis
It was just about the break of day
The early morning was approaching
And then hastily prayed for out souls to be saved
Then, we quickly asked for our salvation
There was something in the air that made us kind of weary
There was an ominous feeling causing us to feel uneasy
By the time we got to Swansea it was getting dark
When we reached Swansea, nightfall had begun
Tumble, jungles, bugles and the prize
Chaos, confusion, and noise with something to gain
The tides turned west at Amerforth
The situation changed dramatically at Amerforth
As if they didn't know what to do
Seeming clueless on how to proceed
But Garnant stood its ground and asked for more
Garnant remained steadfast and demanded better
All the people seemed quite glad to see us
Everyone appeared enthusiastic to have us there
Shaking hands and smiling like the clock
Greeting us with friendly gestures and expressions
Well we gave them all the message then
We communicated what needed to be shared
That the Ship of Fools was in
Letting them know that foolishness and ignorance had arrived
Make sure they get home for Christmas
Ensure they can return home for the holiday
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind