Eulogy to Lenny Bruce
Nico Lyrics
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And I don't know why
But never again
Will we get together to die.
And why after every last shot
Was there always another ?
Why after all you hadn't got
Did you leave your life to your mother ?
And Honey Harlow
The singer burlesque queen
How did she know
You needed morphine ?
Why didn't you listen
To the warning words of your friends
While they told you so ?
I know you couldn't listen
To people talk about
What they didn't know.
I've lost a friend
And I don't know why
But never again
Will we get together to die.
And why after every last shot
Was there always another ?
Why after all you hadn't got
Did you leave your life to your mother ?
Nico's song "Eulogy to Lenny Bruce" is a melancholic tribute to the American comedian who faced controversy, censorship, and drug addiction during his career in the 1950s and 1960s. The song starts with Nico grieving the loss of a friend, referring to Lenny Bruce's premature death at the age of 40 due to a drug overdose. Nico ponders why they will never get together to die again, implying that Lenny's self-destructive behavior and addiction prevented them from enjoying each other's company.
The chorus repeats the lines "why after every last shot was there always another?" and "why after all you hadn't got did you leave your life to your mother?" The former refers to Lenny Bruce's addiction to morphine and heroin, and the latter to his decision to sign over his estate to his mother before he died. Nico also mentions another friend, Honey Harlow, a burlesque singer with whom Lenny had a relationship and who allegedly introduced him to drugs. Nico questions why neither Lenny nor Honey heeded the warning words of their friends and why he couldn't listen to people talk about what they didn't know.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of sadness, frustration, and regret. Nico remembers Lenny Bruce and his tragic fate, as well as the difficulty of coping with addiction and the social stigma associated with non-conformist behavior. The song suggests that Lenny was a victim of his own demons and the narrow-mindedness of society.
Line by Line Meaning
I've lost a friend
I am mourning the loss of a friend
And I don't know why
I am confused about the reason for my friend's death
But never again
I know that we can never meet again because you're gone
Will we get together to die.
We cannot indulge in self-destructive behavior anymore
And why after every last shot
I wonder why you kept drinking even after finishing one
Was there always another ?
Did you keep drinking to escape your problems?
Why after all you hadn't got
Even after achieving great success, why were you still unhappy?
Did you leave your life to your mother ?
Did you feel like there was no other way out but to die and burden your mother by leaving her behind?
And Honey Harlow
You were also close friends with Honey Harlow
The singer burlesque queen
She was a burlesque queen and a talented singer
How did she know
How did she find out that you were addicted to morphine?
You needed morphine ?
Did you turn to morphine to cope with your emotional pain?
Why didn't you listen
Your friends tried to warn you about the dangers of drugs
To the warning words of your friends
But you chose not to listen to their good advice
While they told you so ?
Did you ignore them because you thought they didn't understand your problems?
I know you couldn't listen
Perhaps your personal demons were too loud and you couldn't hear your friends
To people talk about
You didn't like others speaking about your personal life
What they didn't know.
Especially gossipers who didn't even have the right information about you.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TIM HARDIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Edwin Williamson
Some of my favourite songs with a creepy ass vibe
The Cure - A Forest
Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead
The Doors - The End
The Birthday Party - Nick the Stripper
Syd Barrett - Golden Hair
Q Lazarus - Goodbye Horses
Boards of Canada - Devil is in the Details
Fleetwood Mac - The Green Manalishi
Nico - Eulogy to Lenny
Aphex Twin - Windowlicker
PJ Harvey - Bring you my Love
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Joy Division - Dead Souls
Nirvana - Something in the Way
Paul Giovanni - Willow's Song
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Israel
The Sound - I Can't Escape Myself
The Pop Group - We are all Prostitutes
Marianne Faithfull - Sister Morphine (1969 version)
Sisters of Mercy - Marianne
Velvet Underground - Venus in Furs
Edwin Williamson
Some of my favourite songs with a creepy ass vibe
The Cure - A Forest
Bauhaus - Bela Lugosi's Dead
The Doors - The End
The Birthday Party - Nick the Stripper
Syd Barrett - Golden Hair
Q Lazarus - Goodbye Horses
Boards of Canada - Devil is in the Details
Fleetwood Mac - The Green Manalishi
Nico - Eulogy to Lenny
Aphex Twin - Windowlicker
PJ Harvey - Bring you my Love
Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
Joy Division - Dead Souls
Nirvana - Something in the Way
Paul Giovanni - Willow's Song
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Israel
The Sound - I Can't Escape Myself
The Pop Group - We are all Prostitutes
Marianne Faithfull - Sister Morphine (1969 version)
Sisters of Mercy - Marianne
Velvet Underground - Venus in Furs
Jonathan Cruz
This playlist is so good!!! Thanks 🙏🏽
femme-mirage
🖤
Edwin Williamson
Cassandre Eris merci pour votre message, je suis ravi que vous ayez aimé découvrir ces chansons. X
Edwin Williamson
@Jonathan Cruz 👍
Adrian Cooke
Atomic Rooster: Death Walks Behind You
Siouxsie and The Banshees: Mother
Paula Veevers
This woman is just a amazing individual who is sadly missed, x
micky a
Perhaps she's right here once again:) her soul is surely eternal.
Franco
@micky a Yep, perhaps she's been here always.
Jeff Travis
Remarkable, still to this day. Hardin's lyrics and Nico's voice- it's as if they were meant to go together.