Nico started a successful career as a model in Berlin and Paris, studied acting at Lee Strasberg's New York Actor Studio. She then became part of the Swinging London scene, and had a short relationship with The Rolling Stones' Brian Jones and she recorded her first record in London in 1965, the single I'm Not Saying/The Last Mile, produced by Jimmy Page, for Rolling Stones manager Andrew Loog Oldham's label Immediate Records. Thanks to Jones she met Andy Warhol in New York City and became part of Warhol's Factory, and Warhol introduced her to the Rock band The Velvet Underground, with whom she recorded the album "The Velvet Underground & Nico", featuring the legendary banana cover designed by Andy Warhol. The album has been named by numerous publications as one of the top 100 albums of all time, and is often considered one of history's 10 most influential albums by critics.
Nico later recorded several solo albums, including the folksy Chelsea Girl in 1967, followed by original albums such as The Marble Index and Desertshore, which were much darker and avant garde in style. She released several more albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including The End..., but died in 1988 from a cerebral hemorrhage after falling from her bike in Ibiza, Spain. She is buried in Berlin, next to her mother.
Solo studio discography:
1967 - Chelsea Girl
1969 - The Marble Index
1970 - Desertshore
1974 - The End...
1981 - Drama of Exile
1985 - Camera Obscura
Live discography:
1974 - June 1, 1974 (with Kevin Ayers, John Cale, and Brian Eno)
1986 - Behind the Iron Curtain
1986 - Live Heroes
1986 - Nico in Tokyo
1989 - Hanging Gardens
1993 - Do or Die!
1994 - Heroine
1994 - Fata Morgana
1994 - Live in Pécs 1985
2000 - In Europe: Do or Die, Diary 1982
2001 - Janitor of Lunacy
2003 - 1972-01-29: Le Bataclan, Paris, France (with Lou Reed and John Cale)
2007 - All Tomorrow's Parties: Live
Innocent And Vain
Nico Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cannot understand them
A wanted series printed over
Words are his defences
The battle bracelets do not fit
My favourite gladiator
A fanatic hero piously Has to be a faker
He is a dangerous creator
A master in his mortal cave
I am a savage violator
A valet innocent and vain
The lyrics to Nico's song Innocent And Vain depict a sense of confusion and mystery. The singer seems to be referring to some secrets that she is not aware of and cannot understand. These secrets are protected by words, which serve as a defence. The use of words indicates the importance of language in human communication and how it can be used to conceal the truth. The fact that the singer refers to it as a "wanted series" suggests that there is some sort of demand or interest in these secrets, but they remain elusive.
The next lines of the song introduce a new character, a gladiator. The singer talks about "battle bracelets" that do not fit, indicating that the gladiator may not be as strong or invincible as he appears to be. She calls him a "fanatic hero" who has to be a "faker," suggesting that he may be putting on a façade to maintain a certain image. This could be interpreted as commentary on the societal pressure to be successful and idolized.
The last two lines of the song contrast the gladiator with the singer herself. She sees herself as a "savage violator," hinting at a sense of rebellion or rejection of societal norms. She describes herself as an "innocent and vain valet," suggesting that she may be naive or inexperienced but still has a certain pride or vanity.
Line by Line Meaning
The secrets that I do not know
There are things that are unknown to me
I cannot understand them
But even if I knew them, I wouldn't comprehend
A wanted series printed over
The story that I have heard is well-known
Words are his defences
But the person who told it used language to protect themselves
The battle bracelets do not fit
I cannot wear these symbols of strength and power
My favourite gladiator
The person I admire for their fighting spirit
A fanatic hero piously
Seems to be a person with strong beliefs and values
Has to be a faker
But may in fact be a fraud
He is a dangerous creator
This person is a force to be reckoned with
A master in his mortal cave
In their own domain, they are untouchable
I am a savage violator
In contrast, I am rough and untamed
A valet innocent and vain
But ultimately, compared to them, I am a simple and naive servant
Contributed by Mia I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.