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
The Falconer
Nico Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
His summersand at dawn
Unlocking flooded silvercages
And with a silverdin arise
All the lovely faces
And the lovely silvertraces erase
My empty pages
His summersand at dawn
Beside his singing silverwaves
And his dancing rebelrace
That compose ahead of timeless time
A sound inside my candle light
Father child
Angels of the night
Silverframe my candlelight
Father child
Angels of the night
Silverframe my candlelight
The falconer is sitting on
His summersand at dawn
Unlocking flooded silvercages
And with a silverdin arise
All the lovely faces
And the lovely silvertraces erase
My empty pages
In Nico's song "The Falconer," the titular character is depicted as sitting on his summer sand at dawn, unlocking flooded silver cages. As he does so, a silverdin, or a ringing sound, arises, accompanied by lovely faces and silvertraces that erase the singer's empty pages. Through this imagery, the song paints a picture of a man who holds the key to unlocking essential truths that are hidden away, buried beneath the surface.
The second verse further emphasizes the importance of the falconer's power, as he is joined by singing silver waves and a dancing rebel race that create a timeless sound inside the singer's candlelight. The refrain of "Father child / Angels of the night / Silverframe my candlelight" drives home the idea that there is a higher power at work here, one that provides protection and guidance.
The lyrics of "The Falconer" are open to interpretation, and while there is no definitive meaning, many listeners have taken it as an exploration of spirituality, mysticism, and the search for transcendence.
Line by Line Meaning
The falconer is sitting on
The person controlling the falcon is relaxing on the sand during a summer morning.
His summersand at dawn
He is on a sandy beach during the early morning.
Unlocking flooded silvercages
The falcon has been locked up in cages that are now being opened by the falconer.
And with a silverdin arise
The ringing sound of the metal cages is heard as they are opened.
All the lovely faces
The falconer brings out a group of beautiful and well-trained falcons.
And the lovely silvertraces erase
The falconer's actions and the presence of the falcons erase any emptiness or negativity in the surroundings.
My empty pages
The falconer's presence and actions help to fill the singer's empty pages with inspiration.
Beside his singing silverwaves
The falconer is sitting next to the ocean, listening to the sounds of the water and waves.
And his dancing rebelrace
The artist observes the falconer's free spirit and rebellious nature, reflected in his movements and attitude.
That compose ahead of timeless time
The falconer seems to be producing something that transcends time itself.
A sound inside my candle light
The singer is reminded of the falconer's sounds and movements, in the flickering of a candle.
Father child
A reference to a father and child relationship, with the falconer as the father figure.
Angels of the night
Perhaps referring to the falcons as guardian angels of the night.
Silverframe my candlelight
The presence and sounds of the falconer and his falcons frame the singer's surroundings, like a silver frame around a picture.
Contributed by Tristan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@seraphinas.c.5490
The falconer is sitting on
His summersand at dawn
Unlocking flooded silvercages
And with a silverdin arise
All the lovely faces
And the lovely silvertraces erase
My empty pages
The falconer is sitting on
His summersand at dawn
Beside his singing silverwaves
And his dancing rebelrace
That compose ahead of timeless time
A sound inside my candle light
Father, child
Angels of the night
Silver frame
My candlelight
The falconer is sitting on
His summersand at dawn
Unlocking flooded silvercages
And with a silverdin arise
All the lovely faces
And the lovely silvertraces erase
My empty pages
@ryanfreerealms
nico’s embrace of pure ancient darkness must be admired..imagine singing these songs on tour every night
@craiglove
I was fortunate enough to see her at Mabuhay Gardens in SF in the mid 70's. Small venue. Incredible. When the album first came out we would smoke very fine Afghani 'elephant ear' hash. I can taste it just listening today. Sublime.
@magnusloven2041
Man the way she flips it from gothic nightmare to an idyllic piano bagatell
@BoneMach1ne2
the piano part always gives me chills
@bonemach1ne
same
@mistery-ed7900
This was the finest album produced by any Velvet Underground member in their solo careers.
@duncansearle4506
Yes
@albertorossi8332
Although I love some of Lou Reed's and almost all of John Cale's, I cannot but agree with you.
@nickhyder9141
Why was Nico hated so much then. It's a bit unfair isn't it
@renias8965
@@nickhyder9141 She was thought to have been racist and chauvinist.There were certain rumors of her being a solid buff of nazism.