Page type: lyric reference
Artist: John Cale
Canonical path: /john-cale/pastoral-angst
Related lyric paths: 6
Lyric guide
Pastoral Angst
Read Pastoral Angst lyrics by John Cale on LyroVerse, with linked artist context and related song paths.
person
Curated by Ethan Walker
LyroVerse team
Reference snapshot
The page facts to cite before the commentary
Use this page for the lyric text, linked artist context, and any LyroVerse editor's note attached to the song. Listener comments remain user-generated and should not be treated as the primary source.
Lyrics
Pastoral Angst
The lyric stays readable and compact here; the note and related paths sit nearby so you do not lose the song while looking for context.
Welcome to the goldrush, ladies and gentlemen, where California begins and maybe ends.
California is the last stop on the great hitchhike west and now it's getting a little full. Too many thumbs.
Well, when you get too many people in one place, you get intolerance and contempt and rigidity and tension and sarcasm, distrust, anxiety, envy, hate, cynicism, discontent, self-pity, malice, suspicion, jealousy and snobbishness. And this leads right into poetry, painting, sculpture, dance, music and literature, photography. These are known as the arts. And art will break your heart. So what? So will a good meal. Art is not the spiritual side of business-as-usual.
And art is not for everyone. Never has been and it never will be. Now me, I don't know much about art, but I do like what I know. You know in these days when everybody is mistaking celebrity for talent, ambition for genius, self-pity for humility, style for content and loathing for love, they spend a lot of time getting in touch with themself. And then they find self-justification, self-righteousness, self-obsession, self-pity, self-loathing, self-concern, self-centredness, self-reliance, and self-serving gratification.
Quick answers
What this page can answer fast
Who performs "Pastoral Angst"?
John Cale performs "Pastoral Angst", and this lyric page sits inside the John Cale catalog on LyroVerse.
Are there related songs to explore after "Pastoral Angst"?
Yes. The related section below points to Adelaide and Bring It On Up with a short reason for opening each page next.
Where can I find more songs by John Cale?
Use the artist link near the top of the page or the related paths section below to keep moving through John Cale's lyric pages.
Song Room
Open Song Room
Interpretations, questions, and corrections for this song
Interpretations, questions, memories, and correction notes live together here. The room stays noindex while the best insights are reviewed.
Listener comments
What people are saying
No listener comments on Pastoral Angst yet.
A strong comment here is specific: the phrase you keep hearing, the mood you come back for, or the reason this song stays in rotation.
Sign in to post the first listener note. Reporting stays open to everyone.