Slip Away
John Cale & Lou Reed/John Cale & Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴
And have an open house no more
The said the Factory must change
And slowly slip away
But if I have to live in fear
Where will I get my ideas
With all those crazy people gone
Still there's no more Billy Name
And Ondine is not the same
Wonton and the Turtle gone
Slowly slip away
Slowly slip away
If I close the Factory door
And don't see those people anymore
If I give in to infamy
I'll slowly slip away
I know it seems that friends are right
Hello daylight, goodbye night
But starlight is so quiet here
Think I'll slowly slip away
What can I do by myself
It's good to here from someone else
It's good to hear a crazy voice
That will not slip away
Will not slip away
If I have to live in fear
My ideas will slowly slip away
If I have to live in fear
I'm afraid my life will slip away
If you can't see me past my door
Why your thoughts could slowly slip away
If I have to lock the door
Another life exists no more slip away
Friends have said to lock the door
Watch out for who comes through the door
The said the Factory must change
But I don't
want to slip away
In "Slip Away," Lou Reed expresses his concerns about the changing times and the fear of losing his creative inspiration. He contemplates locking the doors of The Factory, where he and fellow artists like Andy Warhol created some of their most iconic works, but he worries that shutting out the outside world will stifle his ideas. He also mourns the loss of some of his friends and collaborators who have passed away or moved on from The Factory, signaling the end of an era. Ultimately, he realizes that he needs the energy and eccentricity of the people around him to keep his creative spark alive and prevent himself from slipping away.
The song has a melancholy, reflective tone that speaks to the fragility of creativity and the fear of losing touch with the things that make us unique. Reed's lyrics are poignant and insightful, capturing the subtle emotions that come with facing change and uncertainty. The Factory was a symbol of free expression and rebellion in the '60s, and Reed's words reflect the bittersweet realization that those times are gone and that it's hard to recapture that sense of excitement and possibility.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOHN CALE, LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind