It Was a Pleasure Then
Nico Lyrics


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It was a pleasure then
Could you just be here again
To know what there was to see
When all the Sunday people
Were so quiet in the dark
Afraid to be better the next day

La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la.

It was a pleasure then
When we could sit and stare again
Until the stars fell through
The cloudy trees onto the grass
Stars to smile with us
Until they too had tears in their eyes
You tell us this one tale
Of how much we must not agree.

It was a pleasure then
To see the dying days again
In horror of the nights
Never never never
Never be too bright
We've got no secret
Heart to hide somewhere at last
As long as we could see
The sky confess this crime
0f bitter tasting hatefulness
Above our shattered minds.

It was a pleasure
It was a pleasure

La la la la la la la la la




La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la la la.

Overall Meaning

Nico's It Was a Pleasure Then is a melancholic yet nostalgic song that speaks to the reminiscence of a time where things were simpler and less burdened; a time where watching stars fall and feeling their emotions was possible. The song opens with the singer wishing for the past to be reawakened so that they could understand and experience more of what they couldn't have in the past. The Sunday people mentioned in the lyrics reveal a sense of conformity that the singer and their peers avoided, instead opting for a more distinct characteristic where they could watch the stars and their movement until they disappeared into the distance.


The second stanza focuses on the nostalgia further, reminding listeners of the magic of witnessing dying days that revealed the reality of the eventual darkness that will come over everything. The singer hints at the kind of dullness and pain that is part and parcel of life as they mention a sorrow that comes to the stars’ eyes before perhaps suggesting that there is much to learn from disagreements while staring at the same star-filled sky. Finally, the third stanza speaks to a weary resignation, the shattered minds described hinting at the loss of hope and the pervading bleakness that comes with life. The singer seems to suggest that for a brief moment, they were happy to witness the beauty of starry nights and confess to a taste of bitterness and emotional pain, which is relatable as we all have been moved by the wonder of the sky at some point in our lives.


Overall, this song is an exploration of the longing for a time that has passed and cannot return. Still, it is a powerful reminder of the beauty of simple pleasures that should be cherished and taken advantage of while they are still available.


Line by Line Meaning

It was a pleasure then
I remember a time when everything was enjoyable and rewarding.


Could you just be here again
If only we could go back in time and relive those happy moments.


To know what there was to see
I wish I could have appreciated everything I had at the time.


When all the Sunday people
When everyone was content with their lives.


Were so quiet in the dark
There was peace and tranquility even when there was no light.


Afraid to be better the next day
People were hesitant to improve or change for fear of losing what they had.


La la la la la la la


It was a pleasure then
The past held so many happy memories.


When we could sit and stare again
We could just be together without needing any words.


Until the stars fell through
We sat outside until the end of the night.


The cloudy trees onto the grass
Watching the stars fall through the branches of the trees was beautiful.


Stars to smile with us
The stars seemed to be just as happy as we were.


Until they too had tears in their eyes
But even the stars could shed a tear at the sadness of it ending.


You tell us this one tale
Even if we only have one story, it's enough to hold onto.


Of how much we must not agree
We remember even the disagreements with fondness.


It was a pleasure then
Those times were truly unforgettable and enjoyable.


To see the dying days again
We long to relive even the moments before it ended.


In horror of the nights
Even the darkest nights had their beauty.


Never never never


Never be too bright
The hope was for life to remain stable and reliable.


We've got no secret
There were no unknowns left in life.


Heart to hide somewhere at last
We could finally stop hiding ourselves from the world.


As long as we could see
All we needed was to hold onto the past in our memories.


The sky confess this crime
The sky was the only witness to our happiness and it now reminds us of what we've lost.


Of bitter tasting hatefulness
The sadness of it no longer being the same is a very bitter feeling.


Above our shattered minds.
Our present day selves are not what we once were.


It was a pleasure
All in all, it was a time we will remember forever.


La la la la la la la la la


La la la la la la la la la


La la la la la la la la la la la.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE, CHRISTA PAEFFGEN, LOU A. REED

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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