John Cale - A Dream lyrics

Words and music: Lou Reed & John Cale

It was a very cold clear fall night

I had a terrible dream

Billy Name and Brigid were playing under my stair case on the second floor about two o'clock in the morning

I woke up because Amos and Archie had started barking

That made me very angry because I wasn't feeling well and I told them I was very cross the real me that they just better remember what happened to Sam the bad cat that was left at home and got sick and went pussy heaven

It was a very cold clear fall night

Some snowflakes were falling

Gee, it was so beautiful

and so I went to get my camera to take some pictures

And then I was taking the pictures

but the exposure thing wasn't right

and I was going to call Fred or Gerry

to find out how to get set it

I was too late

and then I remembered they were still probably at dinner

and anyway

I felt really bad and didn't want to talk to anybody

but the snowflakes were so beautiful and real looking

and I really wanted to hold them

And that's when I heard the voices

from down the hall near the stairs

So I got a flashlight

and I was scared and I went out into the hallway

There's been all kinds of troubles

lately in the neighborhood

and someone's got to bring home the bacon and anyway

there were Brigid and Billy playing

And under the stair case

was a little meadow sort of like the park at 23rd street

where all the young kids go and play frisbee

Gee, that must be fun

maybe we should do an article on that in the magazine

but they'll just tell me I'm stupid and it won't sell

but I'll just hold my ground this time, I mean

it's my magazine, isn't it?

So I was thinking that as the snowflakes fell

and I heard those voices having so much fun

Gee, it would be so great to have some fun

So I called Billy

but either he didn't hear me or he didn't want to answer

which was so strange

because

even if I don't like reunions I've always loved Billy

I'm so glad he's working

I mean it's different than Ondine

He keeps touring with those movies

and he doesn't even pay us and the film

I mean the film's just going to disintegrate and then what

I mean he's so normal off of drugs

I just don't get it

And then I saw John Cale

he's been looking really great

He's been coming by the office to exercise with me

Ronnie said I have a muscle

but he's been really mean since he went to AA

I mean what does it mean

when you give up drinking and then you're still so mean

He says I'm being lazy but I'm not

I'm just can't find any ideas

I mean I'm just not

let's face it

going to get any ideas up at the office

And seeing John made me think of the Velvets

and I had been thinking about them

when I was on St. Marks Place

going to that new gallery those sweet new kids have opened

but the thought I was old

and then I saw the old DOM

the old club where we did our first shows

It was so great

And I don't understand about that Velvet's first album

I mean I did the cover

I was the producer

and I always see it repackaged

and I've never gotten a penny from it

How could that be

I should call Henry

but it was good seeing John

I did a cover for him

but I did in black and white and he change it to color

It would have been worth more if he'd left it my way

but you can never tell any body anything I've leaned that

I tried calling again to Billy and John

they wouldn't recognize me it was like I wasn't there

Why won't they let me in

And then I saw Lou

I'm so mad at him

Lou Reed got married and didn't invite me

I mean is it because he thought I'd bring too many people

I don't get it

could have at least called

I mean he's doing so great

Why doesn't he call me?

I saw him at the MTV show

and he was one row away and he didn't even say hello

I don't get it

You know I hate Lou

I really do

He won't even hire us for his videos

And I was proud of him

I was so scared today

There was blood leaking thought my shirt

from those old scars from being shot

And the corset I wear to keep my insides in was hurting

And I did three sets of fifteen pushups

and four sets of ten setups

But then my insides hurt

and I saw drops of blood on my shirt and I remember

the doctors saying I was dead

And then later they had to take blood out of my hand

'couse they ran out or veins

but then

all this thinking was making me an old grouch

and you can't do anything anyway so

if they wouldn't let me play with them in my own dream

I was just going to have to make another

and another

and another

Gee, wouldn't it be funny if I died in this dream

before I could make another one up

And nobody called

And nobody came