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.
You & Me
John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a mother-in-law with an (open) look in your face
It's a pain in your heart
That's making it hard
For you to look me straight in the eye
Now I try to make my own hands
But it don't make no sense
And there's nothing to do anymore about you
Cause you can take it and leave it when you want
Ah, we got it made, you and me
Yeah, we got it made, you and me
I got a letter, said I owed her some money
Take a look in the mirror, let's check it out
Whatever you see, it's too much for me
All I got is what you're gettin' right now
But, see, we got it made, you and me (whoah!)
Yeah, we got it made, you and me (alright, get into it)
Hey, you're talking too fast
But the words are warm
Makes it hard to believe that you know
Hard to say what you mean
Or to mean what you say
(In your tea or are you feeling your soul)
Oh, we got it made, you and me
Oh, we got it made, you and me
The lyrics to John Cale's song "You & Me" seem to express the confusion, frustration, and uncertainty that can arise in a relationship. The first stanza suggests that the singer's partner might be withholding something, or perhaps has a hidden agenda. The reference to the "bad bizarre" is vague, but it seems to indicate that there is something off about this person. It could also be interpreted as a reference to the singer's own feelings of unease and discomfort. The simile comparing the partner to a mother-in-law with an "open look" in their face implies that this person may be judgmental or critical. The singer feels pain in their heart, which makes it challenging to maintain eye contact and communicate honestly with their partner.
In the second stanza, the singer speaks of attempting to find their own agency but feeling stuck or powerless. They hear a lot about their partner, but there is nothing they can do to change the situation. The phrase "cause you can take it and leave it when you want" suggests that their partner is unpredictable and hard to pin down. Despite all of this difficulty, the chorus repeats the phrase "we got it made, you and me" multiple times. This repetition could be seen as either a desperate attempt to convince oneself that the relationship is solid, or as a genuine belief that things will work out in the end.
The third stanza returns to the theme of miscommunication, with the singer feeling like their partner talks too fast and struggles to articulate their true feelings. The line "makes it hard to believe that you know" implies that the singer is skeptical of their partner's intentions or motivations. There is also a suggestion that the partner may be superficial or focused on material possessions - the reference to owing someone money and the line "all I got is what you're gettin' right now" could be interpreted as a nod to financial concerns within the relationship. Regardless of all these issues, the chorus once again proclaims that "we got it made."
Line by Line Meaning
You got the bad bizarre
You have strange and troubling behavior
Like a mother-in-law with an (open) look in your face
Your presence is intimidating like that of a mother-in-law staring disapprovingly
It's a pain in your heart
Your actions are fueled by negative emotions
That's making it hard
For you to look me straight in the eye
Your negative emotions and behavior are causing a breakdown in communication
Now I try to make my own hands
I attempt to take control of my own life
But it don't make no sense
My attempts at control are misguided
And I keep hearing lots about you
I continue to hear rumors and gossip about you
And there's nothing to do anymore about you
I have been defeated and there is nothing I can do about the situation
Cause you can take it and leave it when you want
You have the power to come and go as you please
Ah, we got it made, you and me
Despite the difficult circumstances, we have each other and that is enough
I got a letter, said I owed her some money
I received a letter claiming I owed someone money
Take a look in the mirror, let's check it out
Let's take a moment to reflect on ourselves and the situation
Whatever you see, it's too much for me
The truth is hard to accept because it is overwhelming
All I got is what you're gettin' right now
I am giving you everything that I have
But, see, we got it made, you and me (whoah!)
We are able to endure the hardships and come out strong together
Hey, you're talking too fast
You are speaking too quickly
But the words are warm
Your words are comforting
Makes it hard to believe that you know
It is difficult to believe that you truly understand the situation
Hard to say what you mean
Your words are vague and hard to interpret
Or to mean what you say
The words you speak do not align with your true intentions
(In your tea or are you feeling your soul)
I question whether you are being honest with me or hiding the truth
Oh, we got it made, you and me
Despite the confusion and difficulties, we are still together and that is all that matters
Contributed by Jayden G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.