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Tracks
John Cale
Music for a New Society
Chinese Envoy

TRACK

Chinese Envoy

Release date: 1st September 1982

From Music for a New Society

More on John Cale

About This Track

"Chinese Envoy" is a track by John Cale, from the album Music for a New Society, released 1st September 1982. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about John Cale.

About the Artist

John Cale

John Cale

Lyrics

Chinese Envoy

[Verse 1]

She was a princess, lower than people thought

A master of nothing, a mistress of something she thought

[Verse 2]

She could talk about things that never mattered ever

From one person's miserable life after another

Talk to the French and Germans at will

They never listen, they never will

[Chorus]

The Chinese envoy was here

The Chinese еnvoy was here

The Chinеse envoy was here but left

Yes, the Chinese envoy was here

The Chinese envoy was here but left

[Bridge]

Calling out her name you'd be surprised at what came

Galloping out of the darkness just like furniture

To forgive all if it hadn't been for Cardinal Richelieu and all his courtiers

[Chorus]

But the Chinese envoy was here

The Chinese envoy was here but left

Yes, the Chinese envoy was here

The Chinese envoy was here but left

In his broken hearted pagoda

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Music for a New Society

1982

Listen

Album

Music for a New Society

Release year

1982

—Chinese Envoy
—Changes Made
—Close Watch
—Risé, Sam and Rimsky-Korsakov
—If You Were Still Around
—Taking Your Life in Your Hands
—Damn Life
—In the Library of Force (Music for a New Society)
—Sanctus (Sanities)
—Broken Bird
—Thoughtless Kind

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Mercy

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Extra Playful: Transitions

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EP: Extra Playful

Live At Rockpalast (Live at Zeche Bochum 06.03.1983 & at Grugahalle Essen 13./14.10.1984)

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Sanctus (Sanities) [Music For a New Society]Music for a New Society/M:FANS

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View all tracks by John Cale →

Broken Bird (Music For a New Society)Music for a New Society/M:FANS
4:46
Close Watch (Music For a New Society)Music for a New Society/M:FANS
3:07
Damn Life (Music For a New Society)Music for a New Society/M:FANS
5:14
MOONSTRUCK (Nico's Song)Mercy
5:31
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4:54
NOISE OF YOUMercy
5:16
NOT THE END OF THE WORLDMercy
6:17
OUT YOUR WINDOWMercy
5:14
Risé, Sam and Rimsky Korsakov (Music For a New Society)Music for a New Society/M:FANS
2:23
Sanctus (Sanities) [Music For a New Society]Music for a New Society/M:FANS
6:07

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Charli XCX has collaborated with John Cale on new track 'House' for the 'Wuthering Heights' soundtrack - and there's an entire album coming

Charli XCX has collaborated with John Cale on new track 'House' for the 'Wuthering Heights' soundtrack - and there's an entire album coming

It's part of a whole album set for release in early December.

7 Nov 2025 • 11:18 am