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.
Venus In Furs
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whiplash girlchild in the dark
Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Downy sins of streetlight fancies
Choose the costumes she shall wear
Ermine furs adorn the imperious
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
Shiny leather in the dark
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Severin, Severin, speak so slightly
Severin, down on your bended knee
Taste the whip, in love not given lightly
Taste the whip, now plead for me
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girlchild in the dark
Severin, your servant comes in bells
Please don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart.
"Venus in Furs" is a song by John Cale that tells the story of a woman who wears shiny leather boots and ermine furs and a man, Severin, who is willing to be her servant and do her bidding. The song evokes feelings of dominance and submission and the twisted relationship between the two characters. The opening lines set the tone for the whole song, describing the shiny boots of leather and the girlchild who is the mistress of Severin. He is at her mercy and begs for her to cure his heart with a strike.
The second verse talks about the girlchild's streetlight fancies and how she chooses the costumes that Severin will wear, including the ermine furs that adorn him like a king. The chorus reiterates Severin's tiredness and weariness, his desire to sleep for a thousand years and dream of different colors made of tears.
The third verse is addressed to Severin, calling him to come down on bended knee to taste the whip in love not given lightly, and the song ends with a plea for the mistress to strike and cure his heart. Overall, "Venus in Furs" is a haunting and provocative song that explores the themes of power, domination, and submission in a twisted and perverse relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
The boots that shine are leather-made, looking sleek and beautiful.
Whiplash girlchild in the dark
A young girl with a tough exterior and a rebellious attitude.
Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him
The girl is acting as a servant and a follower to her lover and does not want to be abandoned.
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
The mistress should strike the lover to heal his heart.
Downy sins of streetlight fancies
The illicit behavior that takes place under the streetlights.
Choose the costumes she shall wear
She gets to select the clothing to wear.
Ermine furs adorn the imperious
The wealthy and powerful person is covered in luxurious ermine furs.
Severin, Severin awaits you there
The lover Severin is waiting for her.
I am tired, I am weary
The artist is exhausted.
I could sleep for a thousand years
The artist is so tired that they could sleep for a long time.
A thousand dreams that would awake me
The singer has a lot of things they want to dream about.
Different colors made of tears
These dreams elicit different emotions, some of which bring tears.
Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
The singer wants to show their allegiance to the person in control.
Shiny leather in the dark
The boots are still visible, even in low lighting.
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
The singer describes the object that will dominate their partner's desires.
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
The artist is pleading with their mistress to strike their lover to heal them.
Severin, Severin, speak so slightly
The artist calls out to their lover, Severin.
Severin, down on your bended knee
The singer wants to demonstrate their dominance over their lover.
Taste the whip, in love not given lightly
The singer wants their lover to experience love in a way that is both thrilling and painful.
Taste the whip, now plead for me
The artist is asserting their power over their lover.
Severin, your servant comes in bells
The lover speaks to Severin, who serves as their lover's servant.
Please don't forsake him
The lover does not want to be abandoned by Severin.
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
The mistress is again encouraged to strike the lover to heal them.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lou Reed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ForARide
Totally agree! Cale - Godfather of alternative music and yet most underrated musician of our times. Lou Reed once said: "I only hope that one day John will be recognized as ... the Beethoven or something of his day. He knows so much about music, he's such a great musician. He's completely mad - but that's because he's Welsh."
Pulsonar
I’m shocked at how magnificent and ‘finished’ this sounds, like it was always meant to be. Cale sounds darker, even the guitar sounds like a chain saw on a challenging assignment. The original has its unassailable place, but this too has its place, a world of lost masterpieces.
caribman10
..that's because Cale had the original vocal on the VU album, but being him, Lou erased it and replaced him...
andrew J
100%. Cale's version is a masterpiece.
NicoDraak74
this song is so crazy, the whole structure, the lyrics, the whole gloomy sound. I love it.
Nancy Delagrave
I love the recorded Velvet Underground version, but this one is equally good. The mesmerising part of this song has always been Cale's string play and his singing is much more tuned to the melody than Reed's.
Crimson Wolf
Hahaha, you mean... Cale can actually SING!
tsak99
Cale's version is so majestic
MAKARAS MUSIC
Epic sound from 1:25 to 1:45 - and what lyrics!! I am tired, I am weary I could sleep for a thousand years A thousand dreams that would awake me Different colors made of tears
gary smith
John Cale - responsible for most of the cool shit we listen to! We should all be thankful that this man exists, because without him 'alternative music' wouldn't be so 'alternative' at all! and thats a fact! Genius!