The meaning of John Cale's song "Risé, Sam And Rimsky-Korsakov" is open to interpretation, as with many of his songs. However, from the given lyrics, it seems to tell the story of a guitar player who has a deep connection with the radio. The guitar player sees the radio not just as a source of music, but also as a voice and a gateway to a distant world. The guitar player feels a kinship with the synthetic quality of the radio and the way it can transmit the illusion of people being far away. He becomes so obsessed with the radio that he sleeps with it, talks to it, and even disagrees with it. He believes in a mystical place called "four way radio land" where he feels he is banned from. Despite his longing for radio land, the guitar player accepts that he can only listen to the radio and has resigned himself to vaulting the airwaves forever. He searches for a special channel that could bring him back to his lost heritage, but it seems elusive. The overall meaning of the song could be interpreted as a reflection on the power of radio and its ability to connect people and evoke emotions. It also touches on themes of longing, isolation, and the search for a sense of belonging.
