The album is the pair's first collaboration since 1972, and is dedicated to the memory of Andy Warhol, their mentor, who had died unexpectedly in 1987. Drella was a nickname for Warhol, a portmanteau of Dracula and Cinderella, used by Warhol's crowd.
Songs for Drella offers a kind of vie romancée of Warhol, focusing on his interpersonal relations. The songs fall roughly into three categories: Warhol's (semi-fictitious) first-person perspective, third-person narratives chronicling events and affairs, and first-person feelings towards and commentaries on Warhol by Reed and Cale themselves.
The pair had been playing the songs live in 1989 as a song cycle before committing them to tape. By the end of recording Cale vowed never to work with Reed again due to personal differences; nevertheless, Songs for Drella would prove to be the overture to a full-blown Velvet Underground reunion: a one-off performance of "Heroin" in 1990, and a tour in 1993.
Although the album was conceived as an indivisible whole, a single was released off it, "Nobody But You".
Starlight
Lou Reed & John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is New York calling with movies from the street
Movies with real people, what you get is what you see
Starlight open wide, Andy's Cecil B. DeMille
Come on L. A. give us a call
We've got superstars who talk, they'll do anything at all
Ingrid, Viva, Little Joe, Baby Jane, and Edie S.
But you better call us soon before we talk ourselves to death
Split screen 8-hour movies
We've got color we've got sound
Won't you recognize us, we're everything you hate
Andy loves old Hollywood movies, he'll scare you hypocrites
to death
You know that shooting up's for real
That person who's screaming, that's the way he really feels
We're all improvising, five movies in a week
If Hollywood doesn't call us - we'll be sick
Starlight open wide
Do to movies what you did to art
Can you see beauty in ugliness, or is it playing in the dirt
There are stars out on the New York streets
We want to capture them on film
But if no one wants to see them
We'll make another and another
Starlight let us in that magic room
We've all dreamt of Hollywood, it can't happen too soon
Won't you give us a million dollars the rent is due
Andy will give you 2 movies and a painting
Starlight open wide!
The song "Starlight" by Lou Reed and John Cale is a commentary on the New York City art scene in the 1960s. The song is an invitation to Hollywood to take notice of the artistic talent that exists in New York. The opening line, "Starlight open wide, starlight open up your door" is an invitation to Hollywood to take notice of what is going on in New York.
The song then goes on to reference Andy Warhol and his love of old Hollywood movies. Warhol is described as the "Cecil B. DeMille" of the New York art scene. The song then names several members of the Warhol Factory, including Ingrid, Viva, Little Joe, Baby Jane, and Edie Sedgwick. These were all Warhol "superstars" who appeared in his films and were part of his inner circle.
The lyrics also reference drug use and improvisation, both of which were common in the Warhol scene. The song is ultimately a plea for recognition from Hollywood and the mainstream art world. It is a call to recognize the talent and creativity that exists in places like New York, even if it may not conform to traditional notions of beauty or art.
Line by Line Meaning
Starlight open wide, starlight open up your door
New York is calling out to Hollywood to let them in and give them a chance
This is New York calling with movies from the street
New York has real stories to tell and wants to share them through movies
Movies with real people, what you get is what you see
These movies will show the true, raw stories of everyday people
Starlight open wide, Andy's Cecil B. DeMille
Andy Warhol is the mastermind behind this project, and he wants it to be big like a blockbuster movie
Come on L. A. give us a call
Hollywood, give New York the opportunity to show their stories
We've got superstars who talk, they'll do anything at all
New York has unconventional stars who will do whatever it takes to make it in Hollywood
Ingrid, Viva, Little Joe, Baby Jane, and Edie S.
These are the names of some of the unconventional stars that New York wants to introduce to Hollywood
But you better call us soon before we talk ourselves to death
New York is eager to get started and want Hollywood to not waste this opportunity
Starlight open wide everybody is a star
Everyone has a story to tell, and everyone is capable of being a star
Split screen 8-hour movies
These movies will be unconventional and experimental, breaking the traditional movie format
We've got color we've got sound
These movies will be modern and innovative with the latest technology
Won't you recognize us, we're everything you hate
New York is fully aware that Hollywood may not be receptive to their unconventional movies
Andy loves old Hollywood movies, he'll scare you hypocrites
to death
Andy Warhol loves traditional Hollywood movies but also wants to challenge and subvert them
You know that shooting up's for real
Drug use is a reality and will be portrayed in these movies
That person who's screaming, that's the way he really feels
These movies will show real, unfiltered emotions and experiences
We're all improvising, five movies in a week
These movies will be made quickly and on a low budget, utilizing improvisation and creativity
If Hollywood doesn't call us - we'll be sick
New York is eager to break into Hollywood and will be devastated if they don't get the chance
Do to movies what you did to art
New York wants to revolutionize and challenge the conventions of the movie industry like they did with art
Can you see beauty in ugliness, or is it playing in the dirt
These movies will portray the beauty and realness of everyday life, even in its ugliest moments
There are stars out on the New York streets
New York has unconventional and raw stars that Hollywood hasn't seen before
We want to capture them on film
New York wants to showcase these stars and their stories to the world through movies
But if no one wants to see them
We'll make another and another
New York is determined to tell their stories, regardless of whether or not Hollywood accepts them
Starlight let us in that magic room
New York wants to break into Hollywood and become a part of the movie magic
We've all dreamt of Hollywood, it can't happen too soon
New York is eager to achieve their dreams by breaking into Hollywood
Won't you give us a million dollars the rent is due
New York needs funding to continue creating these unconventional movies
Andy will give you 2 movies and a painting
Andy Warhol is willing to use his own resources to get these movies made
Starlight open wide!
New York is eager for Hollywood to give them the opportunity to showcase their stories and stars
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE, LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind