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.
Tell Me Why
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There's a way of life you knew before
At the end of the day you will have your rest
You'll find a way
You'll find a way
Don't resist the morning calm
It will keep you safe from harm
The time will come when help is found
You leave behind the things form the past
Though the road is long and hard and the path is wide
We climb it still and seize the skies
It's only a matter of time
It's only a matter of time
The landscape has changed and the mood has gone
Along with the rest we carry on
If you take me back in space in time
I'll let the journey begin and keep it with mine
On this coat of many colours there's a lot of room for others
I see in your face the reason why
You fell from grace and you cannot find
The way from here that leads you back
To the place that you know the best
And its distance from the rest
You tell me why there's a saviour looking on with the weak and the strong, taking us to higher ground
The lyrics of John Cale's "Tell Me Why" explores the idea of life being a journey with a final destination or place that we are all trying to find. The opening lines "There's an end to the road that takes you home, there's a way of life you knew before" indicates that there is a place of belonging or familiarity that we all seek. This can be interpreted as the concept of home, both in the physical and emotional sense. In this context, the road can be seen as a metaphorical representation of life itself. It's an invitation to take a journey with him as he describes the different stages of the journey.
The line "Don't resist the morning calm, it will keep you safe from harm" suggests that we should embrace the peace that comes with the start of a new day, that this calmness will give us strength to face what the day might bring. The song also acknowledges that the journey comes with its struggles and obstacles. "Though the road is long and hard and the path is wide, we climb it still and seize the skies" indicates the hardships we go through on the journey of life. However, the song ends on an optimistic note, "You tell me why there's a savior looking on with the weak and the strong, taking us to higher ground," indicating that with faith in something or someone greater, we can conquer the difficulties along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
There's an end to the road that takes you home
The journey of life has a destination - home - and eventually it will come to an end
There's a way of life you knew before
In the past, there was a certain way of life that you were familiar with
At the end of the day you will have your rest
After all is said and done, you can find peace and relaxation at the end of the day
You'll find a way
A solution and a way forward always exist, even in difficult times
Don't resist the morning calm
Embrace the tranquility and peacefulness of the morning, and let it protect you from troubles
It will keep you safe from harm
The morning calm has the power to keep you guarded and out of harm's way
The time will come when help is found
There will be a moment when you receive the assistance and support you need
You leave behind the things from the past
It's important to move on from past events and let go of any baggage that may weigh you down
Though the road is long and hard and the path is wide
The journey may be difficult and arduous, but the possibilities are endless
We climb it still and seize the skies
We still strive and climb towards our dreams, aiming high to achieve success and greatness
It's only a matter of time
Success and realization of goals are only a question of time and effort
The landscape has changed and the mood has gone
Times and situations have changed, the atmosphere is different now
Along with the rest we carry on
Like everybody else, we keep moving and trying, and not giving up
If you take me back in space in time
If we could travel back in time, to the past
I'll let the journey begin and keep it with mine
We will commence the expedition again, and make it a personal experience of ours
On this coat of many colours there's a lot of room for others
People of many different colours and types are welcome to join us, there is space for everyone
I see in your face the reason why
I can see in your face the explanation, the answer behind everything
You fell from grace and you cannot find
You lost your previous standing or reputation, and you cannot retrieve it
The way from here that leads you back
The path that will restore you to your previous state or location
To the place that you know the best
The location that is most familiar and comfortable to you
And its distance from the rest
The distance to that place from everything else can be significant
You tell me why there's a saviour looking on with the weak and the strong, taking us to higher ground
Can you explain why there seems to be a higher power, that watches and cares for both the weak and the strong, helping everyone reach greater heights?
Contributed by Owen M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.