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John Cale – Sudden Death (1975) | Track profile | Dork

Tracks
John Cale
Helen of Troy
Sudden Death

TRACK

Sudden Death

Release date: 14th November 1975

From Helen of Troy

More on John Cale

About This Track

"Sudden Death" is a track by John Cale, from the album Helen of Troy, released 14th November 1975. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 1 article about John Cale.

About the Artist

John Cale

John Cale

Lyrics

Sudden Death

[Verse 1]

The conference is over and they're calling out the guard

The Minister of Justice looks so tired

The gunman on the roof picks his target carefully

The last thing they expected to see was sudden death

[Verse 2]

The army was on full alert, watching everything

Trying hard not to look you in the eye

If what you saw wasn't what you knew and ignorance was bliss

It could happen anywhere at all

[Verse 3]

UPI and Reuters were the first ones to the phone

Full of information on the dead

Frontpage rumours, man they were just, just doing their job

Nothing much they could do about sudden death

[Instrumental Break]

[Verse 4]

Somebody was talking much too loud in the village bar

They pulled him out and put him down

Then stood around and bragged about the way he'd died

Didn't know a thing about sudden death

[Verse 5]

Then the ships were leaving port full of tourists in disguise

They said they'd seen quite enough

Didn't matter who was dead or who was alive or who'd done what

They just wanted to get away from sudden death

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Helen of Troy

1975

Listen

Album

Release year

1975

—China Sea
—Cable Hogue
—Engine
—Pablo Picasso
—Leaving It Up to You
—Helen of Troy
—I Keep a Close Watch
—My Maria
—Sudden Death
—Baby, What You Want Me to Do?
—Save Us

Watch the music video

John Cale — Sudden Death

John Cale — Sudden Death

Sudden Death

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Albums & EPs

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POPtical Illusion

Mercy

Music for a New Society/M:FANS

Music for a New Society/M:FANS

Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood

Shifty Adventures in Nookie Wood

Extra Playful: Transitions

Extra Playful

EP: Extra Playful

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

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

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Shark - SharkPOPtical Illusion

All to the GoodPOPtical Illusion

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Company CommanderPOPtical Illusion

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Calling You OutPOPtical Illusion

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There Will Be No RiverPOPtical Illusion

TIME STANDS STILL (feat. Sylvan Esso)Mercy

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MARILYN MONROE'S LEGS (Beauty Elsewhere) [feat. Actress]Mercy

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MARILYN MONROE'S LEGS (Beauty Elsewhere)Mercy

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NOISE OF YOUMercy

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THE LEGAL STATUS OF ICEMercy

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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
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5:14
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5:31
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4:54
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5:16
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6:17
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5:14
Risé, Sam and Rimsky Korsakov (Music For a New Society)Music for a New Society/M:FANS
2:23
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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

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer: John Cale
Producer: John Cale