One Of Us Can't be Wrong - interpretations please

[John Etherington]

Hi Jack,

I have no problem in understanding that many of Leonard's songs can be heard in two ways, and have often drawn people's attention to this (i.e. - in my post on the "Hallelujah Meaning" thread, yesterday). Indeed, as I have often said, romantic/sexual love and spiritual yearning are often interwoven in Leonard's work - most noticeably perhaps on "Recent Songs" and "Various Positions". I also have no problem in accepting that "Ain't No Cure For Love" can be interpreted this way. However, I still believe that "One of Us Cannnot Be Wrong" is primarily about Nico (I have always assumed that the line about tarnishing the golden rule means that lovers seem destined to hurt one another). Leonard has mentioned in interviews that he lit the green candles in a ritualistic way with the intention of attracting her. In 1995, he said "I walked into a club called The Dom and I saw someone singing there who looked like she inhabited a Nazi poster. It was Nico, the pefect Aryan ice queen . I just stood there and said forget the new society, this is the woman I've been looking for. I followed her all round New York. Nico eventually told me "Look, I like young boys. You're just too old for me". On his first album, Leonard pays tribute in song to the great loves of his life. "Marianne" is there of course, and the album opens with Suzanne and ends with Nico. It is widely known that Suzanne and Nico were women that Leonard wanted, but were not lovers. Therefore, it seems appropriate that poetically, Leonard aims to raise his relationships with them to a metaphysical level.

All good things, John E

[UrPal]

A random thought occurs which supports your idea that the song is about Nico, JohnE.

In Lou Reed's speech inducting LC into the R'n'R Hall of Fame he makes a point of quoting and guffawing at almost unseemly length over the following lines from this song:

"I showed my heart to the doctor: he said I just have to quit.
Then he wrote himself a prescription, and your name was mentioned in it!"

It is a funny line, but I wouldn't have immediately drawn it out of a hat as a prime example of Lenny's genius. Lou's enthusiasm for the lines seemed a little overegged at the ceremony if you watch it. Given that both Lou and Leonard supposedly had the hots for Nico at one time or another though, might the particular hilarity for Lou come from a shared understanding of the subject matter of the song?

And might the doctor's prescription have been Nicotine? Both Lou and Lenny have been smokers in their day too, and understand the consolation derived from that particular "heart" therapy too.

[John Etherington]

Hi Urpal,

That's very interesting. I saw a youtube clip of Lou's induction speech at the time, but didn't make the connection. I seem to remember Lou being somewhat pissed and/or slightly embarrasing! If my memory serves me well, both Lou Reed and John Cale had scenes with Nico, during her involvement with the Velvet Underground. A 30 minute programme about Nico was broadcast on BBC Radio earlier this week (I haven't played it, yet). The link is - http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0 ... y_of_Nico/

All the best, John E

[brokenhill]

As a 15 year old who knew nothing of Nico, Buddhism, Nietzsche, Socrates, or much else, I heard a wonderful song all about the terrible, wonderful, tragic and delicious mess a boy can get into over a girl.

40 years on, all the above insights into the inspiration behind individual words and phrases, while interesting, do nothing to change that view.

[John Etherington]

Hi Brokenhill,

That's actually a very valid point. The song was just as effective, when some of us knew virtually nothing about Leonard. When I first heard "Sisters of Mercy" in December 1968, I had no idea what Leonard even looked like. On a topical note, I imagined he looked something like Patrick McGoohan, the actor (don't ask me why)! I quickly found out, though when I bought his albums, soon after.

All good things, John E

[imaginary friend]

Hi John,

Did you know that Patrick McGoohan died yesterday? He was in his 80's...

[John Etherington]

Hi if,

I did hear the news...that's what reminded me of this. I have to confess that I never saw "The Prisoner", but hopefully they'll repeat it, now.

All the best, John E

[lazariuk]

A random thought occurs which supports your idea that the song is about Nico, JohnE.

In Lou Reed's speech inducting LC into the R'n'R Hall of Fame he makes a point of quoting and guffawing at almost unseemly length over the following lines from this song:

"I showed my heart to the doctor: he said I just have to quit.
Then he wrote himself a prescription, and your name was mentioned in it!"

It is a funny line, but I wouldn't have immediately drawn it out of a hat as a prime example of Lenny's genius. Lou's enthusiasm for the lines seemed a little overegged at the ceremony if you watch it. Given that both Lou and Leonard supposedly had the hots for Nico at one time or another though, might the particular hilarity for Lou come from a shared understanding of the subject matter of the song?

And might the doctor's prescription have been Nicotine? Both Lou and Lenny have been smokers in their day too, and understand the consolation derived from that particular "heart" therapy too.

that was fascinating.
It reminded me of of something that Thomas Paine once said about how the ridiculous and the sublime are so easy to be confused.

jack