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.
Woman
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You never learnt to say you're sorry
A woman in my past
is living on pins and needles
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Its all my fault
Oh, oh
What's a fool to do
A woman in my past
A woman in my present
A woman in my past
A woman in my present
I know your style
Smile when you're angry
that's no way
To get my attention
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
Laughing at me
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
All those memories
A woman in my past
A woman in the present
A woman in my past
A woman in the present
(repeat to fade)
The lyrics to John Cale's song "Woman" speak to the complexities of previous and current relationships. The first two lines convey a sense of frustration towards someone who is "cool" and unable to apologize or acknowledge their mistakes. The refrain of "A woman in my past is living on pins and needles" suggests that there is someone from the past who is still affected by the singer's actions or lack thereof.
The repetition of "A woman in my past, a woman in my present" highlights the idea of a connection between past and present relationships. The line "I know your style, smile when you're angry, that's no way to get my attention" speaks to the idea that the singer knows the patterns and behaviors of the person they are addressing but they are not effective in getting their attention. The line "laughing at me, all those memories" suggests that the singer may be struggling with the way their past and present relationships are intertwined and may be causing pain or a sense of inadequacy.
Overall, the lyrics to "Woman" paint a complex picture of a person who is struggling with their past and current relationships. The repeated phrases and sense of frustration communicate a sense of emotional turmoil and a desire for resolution.
Line by Line Meaning
You're ignorant, you're cool
You may seem apathetic, but you are actually ignorant and lack knowledge of others.
You never learnt to say you're sorry
You are unwilling to apologize for your actions.
A woman in my past is living on pins and needles
A woman from my past is very anxious and fearful due to our previous relationship.
Oh, oh
An expression of frustration or regret.
It's all my fault
I am responsible for the negative impact of the past relationship on this woman's life.
What's a fool to do
I don't know what to do in this situation, as I feel like a fool for causing pain to this woman.
A woman in my past
The woman from my past still affects my life and relationships.
A woman in my present
There is currently a woman in my life who is impacted by my past.
I know your style
I know how you behave and react to situations.
Smile when you're angry
You hide your true feelings behind a smile.
That's no way to get my attention
Faking emotions won't get me to engage with you.
Laughing at me
You are making fun of me and my past mistakes.
All those memories
The memories of past relationships still haunt me.
A woman in my past
The woman from my past still impacts my current relationships and emotions.
A woman in my present
There is still a woman in my life that is affected by my past mistakes.
(repeat to fade)
The song ends by repeating the same message that the past continues to affect the present and future relationships of the artist.
Contributed by Sydney G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.