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
Little Sister
Nico Lyrics
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(John Cale, Lou Reed)
Don't call me home, little sister
Before the night is done
My love and I are fleeing
Running into the sun.
Turn to fly, go away
Fare thee well.
Take up all your jewels and gold,
Bury them away in the earth.
Let your memory reduce them to dust
But don't forget the knife that was thrust.
Turn to fly, go away
Little bird, please don't stay
Fare thee well.
Frozen kiss by the fountain
Running into the sea
Where shadows choose their horrors
Designed for music.
Turn to fly, go away,
Little bird, please don't stay,
Fare thee well.
The song "Little Sister" by Nico is a melancholic piece that embodies the singer's yearning for freedom and escape from the bonds of society's expectations. The lyrics portray a sense of urgency, as Nico implores her younger sister not to call her home before the night is done. The song's title has a double meaning; it can either represent Nico's affection for her sister, or it can be interpreted as a metaphor for her own youth, which she has left behind.
Nico speaks of running away with her love, into the sun, with a promise of a new beginning. However, amidst the hope for a better future, there is an air of sadness as she bids farewell to her old life. The lyrics suggest a need to leave behind everything, including material possessions like jewels and gold, but not to forget the painful experiences that have led her here. The idea of "the knife that was thrust" is symbolic of a past wound, a hurt that is needed to be remembered, so as not to repeat the mistakes of the past. The image of a "frozen kiss by the fountain" and "shadows choosing their horrors" add to the overall sense of melancholy, making the listener empathize with Nico’s emotions.
Overall, "Little Sister" is a poignant song, that speaks of the need for change and the pain that comes with it. It is a reminder that escaping from the past is not easy, but it is necessary for growth and personal fulfillment. The song is hauntingly beautiful and is a testament to Nico's ability to convey complex emotions through her music.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't call me home, little sister
Don't try to bring me back home yet, younger sister
Before the night is done
Before the night is over
My love and I are fleeing
My partner and I are running away
Running into the sun
Going towards the sun
Turn to fly, go away
Fly away now
Little bird, please don't stay
Please do not linger here, small bird
Fare thee well
Goodbye
Take up all your jewels and gold
Collect all your precious possessions
Bury them away in the earth
Hide them underground
Let your memory reduce them to dust
Let your memories turn them into nothing
But don't forget the knife that was thrust
But remember the betrayal
Frozen kiss by the fountain
A kiss that gave chills by the fountain
Running into the sea
Going towards the sea while running
Where shadows choose their horrors
Where fears are created in the dark
Designed for music
Intended to be a song's lyrics
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE, LOU A. REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind