Paris 1919 Lyrics
Standing there but never ever talking sense
Just a visitor you see
So much wanting to be seen
She'd open up the door and vaguely carry us away
To a disappointed proud man in his grief
And on Fridays she'd be there
But on Mondays not at all
Just casually appearing from the clock across the hall
Here it goes (la la la)
I'm the church and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la
William, William, William Rogers put it in its place
Blood and tears from old Japan
Caravans and lots of jam and maids of honor
Singing, crying, singing tediously
Here it goes (la la la)
I'm the bishop and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la
Get to know the date and tell the time of day
As the crowds begin complaining
How the Beaujolais is raining
Down on darkened meetings on the Champs Elysee
Here it goes (la la la)
I'm the church and I've come
To claim you with my iron drum
La la la
The song is about a failed wedding in the wake of WWI, as such using the runaway bride as a metaphor for Europe's tentative peace.
I was missing the obvious. The Paris Peace Talks of 1919 led to the Treaty of Versailles. In which the contemporary political and intellectual giants of Europe utterly failed to make The War to End All Wars live up to its billing in any shape or form. Thus inadvertently laying the groundwork for the second Great War.
I think William William etc. refers to the famous American journalist, humorist, and performing artist "Will" Rogers, who wrote a short collectiom titled "The Cowboy Philosopher on the Peace Conference" at about this same time.
the third verse and the choruses seem to hint at the idea of crusades/driving people out of their land.
or maybe it's about being stood up at a wedding?
Key phrase: "The continent's just fallen in disgrace." Everyone was relieved WWI was over, but also aware nothing had been resolved (and the situation had in fact become worse, as is clear in hindsight).
The title of the album refers obliquely to diplomatic meetings which took place after the war. Though in exactly what way, I can't explicate. Perhaps it was more of a jumping-off point, as opposed to a theme. Most of the songs seem more personal, with occasional political or cultural references.
"William William" etc. could be Leighton William Rogers. I don't know. My knowledge of world history is poor (as is typical of Americans).
A wonderful phrase, isn't it: "...open up the door and vaguely carry us away," somewhat reminiscent of "seducing down the door" from Paris 1919's lead-off track "A Child's Christmas in Wales".
Though my favorite here has to be "maids of honor singing crying singing tediously," Cale's brilliant phrasing maintaining the same tone of melancholy whimsy as elsewhere, avoiding lapsing into silliness. Not an easy trick; compare Robyn Hitchcock's "My Wife and My Dead Wife" (also a great song but definitely silly).
I’m fairly certain that “William William William Rogers” has to be Capt. WIlliam Wendell Rogers, the British WWI flying ace: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wendell_Rogers
I’m fairly certain that “William William William Rogers” has to be Capt. WIlliam Wendell Rogers, the British WWI flying ace: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Wendell_Rogers
A great song.
I was just listening to it and had the thought that perhaps Cale is using the metaphor of Paris in 1919 to comment on his own times?
What made me think that is that the line "William, William, William Rogers" might be a reference to President Richard M. Nixon's Secretary of State from 1969-1973 William Rogers. That William Rogers was deeply involved in the Paris Peace Talks which eventually ended the Vietnam War.
As for the chorus and its "drum." two ghostly possibilities come to mind: a reference to either the Drummer of Tedworth, or the Drummer of Cortachy?
I just read in an interview with Cale that William Rogers is the American humorist etc, who he said was one who foresaw the disaster of the Versailles Treaty and spoke of it. The song was influenced by the time of it's writing during the Cold War , Vietnam etc.. He saw analogies between the post WW1 era and the 70's.
this song is so great.