Berlin
Nico/John Cale/Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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 ...
The song Berlin by Nico/John Cale/Lou Reed is quite enigmatic in nature. It tells the story of two individuals who spent time together in Berlin. The opening lines describe how the couple spent time by the wall, which could be a reference to the Berlin Wall, and the man was about five foot ten inches tall. The setting is quite romantic, with candlelight and Dubonnet on ice. In the small cafe where they spent time together, the couple could hear guitars play, and it was described as paradise.
The chorus, "You're right, and I'm wrong. Hey babe, I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone. One sweet day," hints at a disagreement between the two individuals. The lyrics are a little vague, and it's hard to know precisely what the disagreement is about or why the woman is leaving. The second verse talks about hiring a vet who hasn't had much fun yet, but again, it is unclear who or what is being referred to. The final chorus repeats the earlier chorus, with slight variations, and ends the song on a bittersweet and somewhat sorrowful note.
Line by Line Meaning
In Berlin, by the wall
Berlin, where the wall was standing tall
You were five foot ten inches tall
You were quite tall, standing five foot and ten inches
It was very nice
The situation felt good and pleasing
Candlelight and Dubonnet on ice
We had candlelight and ice-cold Dubonnet to drink
We were in a small cafe
We were in a cozy, small cafe
You could hear the guitars play
The guitars were being played and you could hear them
It was paradise
The atmosphere was perfect and felt like paradise
You're right and I'm wrong
You're correct and I'm not in agreement
Hey babe, I'm gonna miss you now that you're gone
I'll miss you dearly now that you're no longer here, my love
One sweet day
Someday in the future, one sweet day
Don't forget, hire the vet
Remember to hire the veteran
He hasn't had much fun yet
He hasn't experienced much fun so far
Hey honey, it was paradise
It was paradise, my dear honey
One sweet day, one sweet day
Someday in the future, one sweet day
One sweet day, baby, baby, one sweet day...
Someday in the future, one sweet day, my dear baby
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@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.
@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!