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
My Only Child
Nico Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
See what you hold
There are no words no ears no eyes
To show them what you know
Their hands are old
Their faces cold
Their bodies close to freezing
The morning small
Too small to fill their ways with breathing
The evening tall
My only child remember well
The words that you are told
For some of them it is only
Easy to survive
Their hands are old
Their faces cold
Their bodies close to freezing
Their feelings find
The morning small
The evening tall
Man and wife are feasting the time
The time that lies behind
At home in sweetness and delight
Drinking the bitter wine
Their hands are old
Their faces cold
Their bodies close to freezing
Their feelings find
The morning small
The evening tall
The lyrics of Nico's song "My Only Child" convey a sense of wisdom and guidance, encouraging the listener to open their eyes and see what they hold, even if there are no words, ears or eyes to show others what they know. The singer then reflects on the elderly, reminding the listener that their bodies are close to freezing, as if suggesting that life is fleeting and should be cherished. Despite their physical limitations, the elderly still feel, finding meaning in both the small morning and the tall evening.
The second half of the song shifts focus to man and wife, with the listener being told that they are feasting on the time that lies behind them, reminiscing about their past together while drinking bitter wine. The lyrics again highlight the physical condition of the singers, with their old hands, cold faces, and bodies close to freezing. The overall message here seems to be one of seizing the moment, treasuring the small moments in the present and reflecting on the past, but not allowing oneself to be consumed by nostalgia.
Line by Line Meaning
My only child be not so blind
Don't overlook what is in front of you, my child.
See what you hold
Recognize the value of what you possess.
There are no words no ears no eyes
It is difficult to convey your knowledge and understanding to others.
To show them what you know
Expressing what you know is a challenging task.
Their hands are old
The people around you have aged and experienced much in their lives.
Their faces cold
Their facial expressions reveal that they have gone through many hardships and challenges in life.
Their bodies close to freezing
Their physical bodies are weak and frail, as they have aged significantly.
Their feelings find
Their emotions are hard to comprehend and evaluate.
The morning small
The start of their day seems insignificant and uneventful.
Too small to fill their ways with breathing
Their day seems relatively unimportant and insignificant to them.
The evening tall
As their day progresses, the end of it seems like an enormous, daunting task.
My only child remember well
My child, make sure to remember what I'm telling you.
The words that you are told
Listen to the advice and wisdom of others around you.
For some of them it is only
For some individuals, life is only about survival and basic needs.
Easy to survive
However, some people find it easier to merely survive than to live.
Man and wife are feasting the time
Married couples often spend their time celebrating and enjoying their lives together.
The time that lies behind
They reflect on their past and cherish their memories together.
At home in sweetness and delight
Their home is a comforting and happy place for them.
Drinking the bitter wine
They sometimes experience hardships and painful moments in their lives, yet they still find joy in it.
Contributed by Sebastian E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
bunyonrun
This is truly the voice of an angel. This album captures a mood that generations of imitators have tried and failed to even brush against.
Luciano Lopes fernandes
Música linda, vós única,,, melancolia pura!
Kåge Klang
I sang this to honour my dead daughter 2004 in church, with children blowing claybirds inbetween
Ham Food
So sad! I'm sorry to hear about your loss :(
future peace
Rômulo D.
Heartbreaking. I'm really sorry for your loss.
This is a wound a father will carry for a lifetime.
nostalgia
All my prayers and good vibrations for you man.
Chris Smith
Oh so very sorry
Kristopher Bernard
Gorgeous song....
mediascribble
Hearing this for first time after a lou reed investigation for several days. This sounds like church hymn music. Surprised there's no booming organ music. Sounds a little like what Sinead O'Connor does.
thawthepast
wonderful!