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
Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams
Nico Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle and
Across the seas they'll stay
Speak not of misfortunes
Speak not of your woes
Just steal yourself a holiday
Ride and sway to music's pain
Searing with the sides
Caress it with a lover's touch
For it shall be your bride
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle
And across the seas they'll stay
Slash the golden whip, it slaps
Across the lover's sides
The earth trembles without remorse
Preparing for to die
Salty ocean waves and sprays
Come crashing to the shore
Bullies kick and kill young loves
Down on barroom floors
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle
And across the seas they'll stay
Violence echoes through the land
In heart of every man
The knife stabs existent wounds
Pulse runs through matted hair
The gleaming knife cuts early
Through the midnight air
Cutting entrails in its path
Blood runs without care
Excrement filters through the brain
Hatred bends the spine
Filth covers the body pores
To be cleansed by dying time
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle
And across the seas they'll stay
The opening line "wrap your troubles in dreams, send them all away" is a simple yet profound message. It advises listeners to not dwell on their misfortunes, but to put them in a metaphorical bottle and send them far away. This is a call to find solace in dreams and imagination, instead of succumbing to the bleakness of reality.
The second verse speaks of stealing oneself a holiday and crouching by the door. This line seems to suggest that occasional bouts of escapism can help alleviate the hardships of everyday life. The subsequent verses paint the picture of a world that is tainted with violence and misery. This bleak imagery serves to reinforce the importance of finding hope in one's dreams, and transcending the harsh realities of life.
In essence, the song suggests that our dreams and imagination can serve as a refuge from the chaos and brutality of the world. It reminds us that even when facing the darkest of times, we can still find solace within ourselves.
Line by Line Meaning
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Don't dwell on your problems, imagine they don't exist and wrap them up in something pleasant, like a dream.
Send them all away
Forget about your problems, send them away from your conscious thought.
Put them in a bottle and
Imagine containing your problems, isolating them from yourself.
Across the seas they'll stay
Keep your problems distant, far away, where they can't affect your life.
Speak not of misfortunes
Don't let your problems define you, don't talk about them constantly.
Speak not of your woes
Avoid negativity, talk about positive things instead.
Just steal yourself a holiday
Take a break and focus on something enjoyable, don't let your problems consume you.
Crouching by the door
Position yourself for safety, be prepared for the worst.
Ride and sway to music's pain
Find solace in music that expresses pain and emotion.
Searing with the sides
Experience pain and connect with it, rather than ignoring or numbing it.
Caress it with a lover's touch
Embrace your pain and let it become a part of you, like a lover.
For it shall be your bride
Pain will become a part of you, but you can learn to love it and let it make you stronger.
Slash the golden whip, it slaps
Experience intense pain and suffering, embrace it as part of life.
Across the lover's sides
Pain and suffering are inevitable parts of life, and affect everyone, including those in love.
The earth trembles without remorse
Life is unpredictable and uncontrollable, and can bring pain and destruction without regard for anyone's feelings.
Preparing for to die
Life is temporary and death is inevitable, so we should live in the present and not let our problems consume us.
Salty ocean waves and sprays
Nature is powerful and can bring danger and destruction.
Come crashing to the shore
Nature's power can be unexpected and destructive, and bring suffering and pain.
Bullies kick and kill young loves
People can be cruel and cause great suffering, especially to those who are vulnerable.
Down on barroom floors
Violence and cruelty can occur anywhere, even in seemingly safe places like bars.
Violence echoes through the land
Violent behavior is ingrained in human nature and society, and can cause great suffering.
In heart of every man
Everyone is capable of violence and cruelty, and it is important to control those impulses.
The knife stabs existent wounds
Violence can open up old wounds and cause more pain and suffering.
Pulse runs through matted hair
Violence can be intense and physical, and cause physical reactions in the body.
The gleaming knife cuts early
Violence can strike suddenly and without warning, causing great pain and suffering.
Through the midnight air
Violence can occur at any time and in any place, even when it seems like everything should be peaceful.
Cutting entrails in its path
Violence can cause horrific physical damage to the body and internal organs.
Blood runs without care
Violence can cause serious injury and death, without regard for anyone's feelings or welfare.
Excrement filters through the brain
Violence can cause deep psychological damage and trauma.
Hatred bends the spine
Hate and negativity can cause physical pain and discomfort.
Filth covers the body pores
Negativity and hate can affect every part of a person, inside and out.
To be cleansed by dying time
Negative feelings will eventually be forgotten and disappear with time and death.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Fintage House Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rhysbalmer
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle and
Across the seas they'll stay
Speak not of misfortunes
Speak not of your woes
Just steal yourself a holiday
Crouching by the door
Ride and sway to music's pain
Searing with the sides
Caress it with a lover's touch
For it shall be your bride
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle
And across the seas they'll stay
Slash the golden whip, it slaps
Across the lover's sides
The earth trembles without remorse
Preparing for to die
Salty ocean waves and sprays
Come crashing to the shore
Bullies kick and kill young loves
Down on barroom floors
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle
And across the seas they'll stay
Violence echoes through the land
In heart of every man
The knife stabs existent wounds
Pulse runs through matted hair
The gleaming knife cuts early
Through the midnight air
Cutting entrails in its path
Blood runs without care
Excrement filters through the brain
Hatred bends the spine
Filth covers the body pores
To be cleansed by dying time
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle
And across the seas they'll stay
@the_neutral_container
I can't believe she hated the flute so much. It pushes the whole thing from great to absolutely stellar.
@ninakoscioek4194
This is my song now, since I've moved to another country to make my troubles stay across the seas... Makes me dance and sing even when the memories of the shattered, painful life I've led in my homeland are coming back.
@Riatzi
She is so hard to listen to on some songs, but this one is simply beautiful.
@jorgeespinosa3179
Nico always sounded sad. I hope she is in a better place. RIP, my dear.
@CarlBrutanana
Let’s be honest she’s burning in hell with Lou reed
@justingreen575
@Spurdo Ranch Hand hell isn’t real lol
@rhysbalmer
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle and
Across the seas they'll stay
Speak not of misfortunes
Speak not of your woes
Just steal yourself a holiday
Crouching by the door
Ride and sway to music's pain
Searing with the sides
Caress it with a lover's touch
For it shall be your bride
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle
And across the seas they'll stay
Slash the golden whip, it slaps
Across the lover's sides
The earth trembles without remorse
Preparing for to die
Salty ocean waves and sprays
Come crashing to the shore
Bullies kick and kill young loves
Down on barroom floors
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle
And across the seas they'll stay
Violence echoes through the land
In heart of every man
The knife stabs existent wounds
Pulse runs through matted hair
The gleaming knife cuts early
Through the midnight air
Cutting entrails in its path
Blood runs without care
Excrement filters through the brain
Hatred bends the spine
Filth covers the body pores
To be cleansed by dying time
Wrap your troubles in dreams
Send them all away
Put them in a bottle
And across the seas they'll stay
@emilyhiscock
*holy death, not holiday
@Wellaware234
Absolutely love this song! the lyrics are so profound are the musicianship is very impressive.
@desolationangel5136
Those "profound" lyrics are Lou's.