Upon first release, the Velvet Underground's self-titled third album must have surprised their fans nearly as much as their first two albums shocked the few mainstream music fans who heard them. After testing the limits of how musically and thematically challenging rock could be on Velvet Underground & Nico and White Light/White Heat, this 1969 release sounded spare, quiet, and contemplative, as if the previous albums documented some manic, speed-fueled party and this was the subdued morning after. (The album's relative calm has often been attributed to the departure of the band's most committed avant-gardist, John Cale, in the fall Read Full BioUpon first release, the Velvet Underground's self-titled third album must have surprised their fans nearly as much as their first two albums shocked the few mainstream music fans who heard them. After testing the limits of how musically and thematically challenging rock could be on Velvet Underground & Nico and White Light/White Heat, this 1969 release sounded spare, quiet, and contemplative, as if the previous albums documented some manic, speed-fueled party and this was the subdued morning after. (The album's relative calm has often been attributed to the departure of the band's most committed avant-gardist, John Cale, in the fall of 1968; the arrival of new bassist Doug Yule; and the theft of the band's amplifiers shortly before they began recording.) But Lou Reed's lyrical exploration of the demimonde is as keen here as on any album he ever made, while displaying a warmth and compassion he sometimes denied his characters. "Candy Says," "Pale Blue Eyes," and "I'm Set Free" may be more muted in approach than what the band had done in the past, but "What Goes On" and "Beginning to See the Light" made it clear the VU still loved rock & roll, and "The Murder Mystery" (which mixes and matches four separate poetic narratives) is as brave and uncompromising as anything on White Light/White Heat. This album sounds less like the Velvet Underground than any of their studio albums, but it's as personal, honest, and moving as anything Lou Reed ever committed to tape.
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Candy Says
The Velvet Underground Lyrics
Candy says (Candy says)
I've come to hate my body
And all that it requires in this world
Candy says (Candy says)
I'd like to know completely
What others so discretely talk about
I'm gonna watch the blue birds fly
Over my shoulder
I'm gonna watch them pass me by
Maybe when I'm older
What do you think I'd see
If I could walk away from me
Candy says (Candy says)
I hate the quiet places
That cause the smallest taste of what will be
Candy says (Candy says)
I hate the big decisions
That cause endless revisions in my mind
I'm gonna watch the blue birds fly
Over my shoulder
I'm gonna watch them pass me by
Maybe when I'm older
What do you think I'd see
If I could walk away from me
Do-do-wah
Do, do-do-wah
Do, do-do-wah
Do, do-do-wah
Do, do-do-wah
Do
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lewis Allen Reed, Lou Reed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Xaveir Rolan
Candy says (Candy says)
I've come to hate my body
And all that it requires in this world
Candy says (Candy says)
I'd like to know completely
What others so discretely talk about
I'm gonna watch the blue birds fly
Over my shoulder
I'm gonna watch them pass me by
Maybe when I'm older
What do you think I'd see
If I could walk away from me
Candy says (Candy says)
I hate the quiet places
That cause the smallest taste of what will be
Candy says (Candy says)
I hate the big decisions
That cause endless revisions in my mind
I'm gonna watch the blue birds fly
Over my shoulder
I'm gonna watch them pass me by
Maybe when I'm older
What do you think I'd see
If I could walk away from me
Do-do-wah
Do, do-do-wah
Do, do-do-wah
Do, do-do-wah
Do, do-do-wah
Do
DirkjeA
Candy says I've come to hate my body
and all that it requires in this world
Candy says I'd like to know completely
what others so discretely talk about
Candy says I hate the quiet places
that cause the smallest taste of what will be
Candy says I hate the big decisions
that cause endless revisions in my mind
I'm gonna watch the blue birds fly over my shoulder
I'm gonna watch them pass me by
Maybe when I'm older
What do you think I'd see
If I could walk away from me
k c
I can't even begin to describe how much this song means to me as a trans person. The first time I heard it I started bawling, it was like someone was reading my mind. So beautiful and heartbreaking.
Angelsfromtheskies
@swiss tony Sure! :)
Angelsfromtheskies
@swiss tony I don't have that. I only use Discord I am afraid
Angelsfromtheskies
@swiss tony Same :)
Angelsfromtheskies
@Candy Yeah totally. I felt the same
Candy
Yeah, this song hit me like a truck, felt very personal especially because the name I've chose for myself is Candy
Alyzz
This is the first time I went back to this song since before I started my transition. It brought many memories and made me realise how far I've come. Everyday I struggle not to internalize my family's hatred towards me, but it's hard and I often question whether the whole transition was a good idea. Hearing this song now tho... I realised a dream so hard to realise. My whole life it seemed like something impossible, out of reach. But here I am now - I walked away from "me" and what I see is that it was worth it!
strawberry pancake
You have become your true self, and that's all that matters, keep on rocking in the free world
Suz
I don't know you, but I'm so proud of you.
Mami
❤️bravo ! it's so hard to become who we really are!