Berlin
Lou Reed John Cale & Nico (Velvet Underground) Lyrics


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In Berlin, by the wall
You were five foot ten inches tall
It was very nice
Candlelight and Dubonnet on ice

We were in a small cafe
You could hear the guitars play
It was very nice
It was paradise

You're right and I'm wrong
Hey babe, I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day

Oh, you're right and I'm wrong
You know I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day
One sweet day

In a small, small cafe
We could hear the guitars play
It was very nice
Candlelight and Dubonnet on ice

Don't forget, hire the vet
He hasn't had much fun yet
It was very nice
Hey honey, it was paradise

You're right and I'm wrong
Hey babe, I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day
You're right, oh, and I'm wrong
You know I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
One sweet day, one sweet day

One sweet day




One sweet day, oh, one sweet day
One sweet day, baby, baby, one sweet day ...

Overall Meaning

The song "Berlin" by Lou Reed John Cale Nico (Velvet Underground) tells the story of a couple who meet in Berlin before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The first verse describes their first meeting, which takes place at a small cafe. The second verse talks about the relationship that they build, which is portrayed as being romantic and idyllic. In the chorus, the singer admits that the woman was right and he was wrong about something, and he expresses sadness about missing her now that she's gone.


The song captures the mood of Berlin during the Cold War era, when the city was divided into East and West by the Berlin Wall. The lyrics paint a picture of a city that is both romantic and politically charged. The small cafe where the couple meets is a refuge from the tension and danger of the outside world. The candlelight and Dubonnet on ice symbolize the seductive and exotic atmosphere of the city.


Overall, the song "Berlin" is a bittersweet love song that captures the spirit of a time and a place that no longer exists. It is a reminder of the power of music to capture the essence of an era and the emotions of the people who lived through it.


Line by Line Meaning

In Berlin, by the wall
In Berlin, near the wall dividing East and West Germany


You were five foot ten inches tall
You had a specific height of 5'10''


It was very nice
The experience was enjoyable


Candlelight and Dubonnet on ice
Drinks were served consisting of Dubonnet on ice along with candle-lit ambiance


We were in a small cafe
The experience took place in a small cafe


You could hear the guitars play
Guitar music was audible in the background


It was very nice
The experience was enjoyable


It was paradise
The experience was enjoyable to the extent of paradise


You're right and I'm wrong
You're correct and I'm incorrect


Hey babe, I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
I'm going to miss you now that you're gone, my love


One sweet day
We'll reunite and spend another enjoyable day together


Oh, you're right and I'm wrong
You're correct and I'm incorrect


You know I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
You're aware that I'll feel your absence now that you're gone


In a small, small cafe
Experience similar to before in a small cafe


We could hear the guitars play
Guitar music was audible in the background


It was very nice
The experience was enjoyable


Candlelight and Dubonnet on ice
Served drinks consisting of Dubonnet on ice along with candle-lit ambiance


Don't forget, hire the vet
Reminder to hire a veterinarian for an unknown reason


He hasn't had much fun yet
The veterinarian hasn't had much joy in life


It was very nice
The experience was enjoyable


Hey honey, it was paradise
The experience was enjoyable to the extent of paradise, as expressed to a loved one


One sweet day
We'll reunite and spend another enjoyable day together


You're right and I'm wrong
You're correct and I'm incorrect


Hey babe, I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
I'm going to miss you now that you're gone, my love


One sweet day
We'll reunite and spend another enjoyable day together


You're right, oh, and I'm wrong
You're correct and I'm incorrect


You know I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
You're aware that I'll feel your absence now that you're gone


One sweet day, one sweet day
We'll reunite and spend another enjoyable day together, and it'll be sweet


One sweet day
We'll reunite and spend another enjoyable day together


One sweet day, oh, one sweet day
Reiteration of the belief that we'll spend another enjoyable day together


One sweet day, baby, baby, one sweet day ...
Last iteration of the belief that we'll spend another enjoyable day together




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@brucemacmillan9581

My dad played piano on the studio recording of Berlin. Also did the string and horn arrangements for the album.

@kanjiwooowooo3202

That's amazing

@kahnlives

You expect us to believe that🤨

@brucemacmillan9581

@@kahnlives My father is Allan Macmillan. Check out the credits on the album and you'll see that he's the pianist on the title track and also did the string and horn arrangements for other tracks on the album. He worked with the producer, Bob Ezrin, on several album projects, including Alice Cooper records. I also worked, for a brief period, at the studio he ran in Toronto - Nimbus 9/Soundstage - with his partners, producer Jack Richardson and Peter Clayton. Whether you choose to believe he's my father is your business. But it won't change the fact that he is.

@kahnlives

@@brucemacmillan9581 The VU a one of a kind band, I’m impressed. You’re father sounds like an amazing guy!

@brucemacmillan9581

@@kahnlives My dad wasn't involved with The VU. He worked with Lou after he went solo. And just on the one album.

11 More Replies...

@kahnlives

John Cales piano playing is phenomenal in this clip, truly amazing.

@CarnivalofLVX

This is the best performance I’ve ever seen. And this version of Berlin is by far the best. Beautiful

@lelandthomosoniii4743

He's reading
Urban Poetry!

@annamonaco5959

amassed by performance but sound too!

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