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.
Vampire Cafe
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're dimming the lights
They're leaving the priesthood
It's all over tonight
Cuz somebody's missing somebody's cold
You better clean all your windows
And sell all your gold
The memberships crowded
They're cleaning the list
The menu is different everybody's pissed
The chef is breaking down
Burning to the ground
We haven't got far to go
Riding through the show
Someone keeps on knocking
Knocking on your door
Cool rain, cool rain, cool rain, cool rain
The chef is breaking down
Burning to the ground
We haven't got far to go
Riding through the show
Someone keeps on knocking
Knocking on your door
Cool rain
In the song "Vampire Cafe," John Cale provides us with evocative lyrics that can be open to interpretation. The tone of the song seems dark and mysterious, with a sense of impending doom.
In the first verse, the lines "They're setting the tables, They're dimming the lights" create an atmosphere of preparation, setting the stage for something significant to occur. The mention of "leaving the priesthood" suggests a departure from conventional or traditional beliefs or values. This could signify a turning point or a moment of revelation.
The following lines, "Cuz somebody's missing somebody's cold, You better clean all your windows, And sell all your gold," imply an absence or loss, emphasizing a sense of longing or emptiness. The advice to clean windows and sell gold could symbolize a desire to let go of material possessions and focus on clarity and simplicity.
The second verse introduces the idea of a crowded membership and a different menu, implying a disturbance or dissatisfaction among the participants. The phrase "everybody's pissed" suggests a general mood of frustration or anger. The mention of the chef breaking down and the place burning to the ground adds to the sense of chaos and impending destruction.
The repetition of the lines "We haven't got far to go, Riding through the show" creates a feeling of movement or progression, as if the events in the song are part of a larger journey. The repeated knocking on the door implies someone or something persistently trying to enter or disrupt the current state.
The chorus, consisting of the phrase "Cool rain" repeated four times, adds to the dark and mysterious atmosphere of the song. Rain, often associated with cleansing or renewal, could represent a sense of relief or release in the face of the chaos and turmoil described throughout the lyrics.
Overall, "Vampire Cafe" presents a cryptic and enigmatic narrative, painting a picture of a place on the brink of collapse or transformation. The lyrics offer a glimpse into a world filled with tension, longing, and a feeling of impending change.
Line by Line Meaning
They're setting the tables
The staff is preparing the tables for the customers.
They're dimming the lights
The lights are being lowered to create a certain atmosphere.
They're leaving the priesthood
The priests are abandoning their religious commitments.
It's all over tonight
The situation or event is coming to an end this evening.
Cuz somebody's missing somebody's cold
Due to someone's absence, another person feels lonely and distant.
You better clean all your windows
It is advised to thoroughly clean all the windows you have.
And sell all your gold
It's recommended to sell all your gold possessions.
The memberships crowded
The membership list or group is filled with a large number of people.
They're cleaning the list
The list is being thoroughly checked and organized.
The menu is different everybody's pissed
The changed menu has upset everyone.
The chef is breaking down
The chef is experiencing a mental or emotional breakdown.
Burning to the ground
The place or situation is rapidly deteriorating.
We haven't got far to go
We don't have much distance left to cover.
Riding through the show
Moving along with the events or circumstances like riding through a performance.
Someone keeps on knocking
There is persistent knocking on the door by someone.
Knocking on your door
The action of repeatedly hitting your door with a knocking sound.
Cool rain, cool rain, cool rain, cool rain
Repeatedly mentioning the presence or effect of refreshing rain.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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