John Cale reveals video for "If You Were Still Around"

27 October 2014, 10:14 | Written by Gaelle Beri

(News)

(Velvet Underground) (The Velvet Underground) (John Cale) (Lou Reed)

John Cale has released a new video for "If You Were Still Around", an ode to his Velvet Underground bandmate and longtime on again/off again confidante, Lou Reed.

Cale speaks via allegory about the track to introduce it:

"A Moth and a Candle met. They decided to become friends. Everyone enjoyed watching their discourse - especially the risk takers. Then one day a big rain came. The Moth couldn’t fly and the Candle puttered out. Everyone laughed in bitter awe and blamed the rain. Most however knew the deeper truth - the Candle remains lit and the Moth will stay close."

The meaning is never explicitly stated, nor does it need to be.

Abigail Portner directed the clip. It's captioned on Cale's Tumblr page with a telling note to the thematic intentions: "#therealjohncale …thnking of Lou."

Watch below.