White Light/White Heat
Lou Reed/Metallica Lyrics
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Don't you know, it's gonna make me go blind
White heat, goin' down to my toes
Lord have mercy, white light had it, goodness knows
White light goin' down to my brain
Hey, don't you know it's gonna make me insane
White heat, down to my toes
Forget it
White light
Ohh, white light
Ahhh, white heat
Ohh, yeah, white light
White light goin' messin' up my mind
Don't you know, it's gonna make me go blind
White light, goin' down to my toes
Lord have mercy, white light had it, goodness knows
White light goin' messin' up my brain
Don't you know it's gonna make me insane
White heat, goin' down to my toes
Lord have mercy, white light had it, goodness knows
Forget it
Ohh, white light
Yeah, aaah, white light
White heat
Oh, baby, white light
White light, now, now, now
White light goin' messin' up my mind
Don't you know, it's gonna make me go blind
White heat, goin' down to my toes
Lord have mercy, white light had it, goodness knows
White light goin' down to my brain, ooohhh
Oh, don't you know it's gonna make me insane
White heat, goin' down to my toes
Lord have mercy, white light had it, goodness knows
Forget it
White light
Ohh, white light
Ohh, baby, white heat
Yeah, white light
Lou Reed’s song “White Light/White Heat” is a tribute to the effects of drugs like speed, cocaine, and heroin on the mind and the body. The song is full of energy and intensity, with a driving rhythm, urgent vocals, and dissonant guitar riffs. The lyrics describe the experience of being overwhelmed by the rush of a drug, represented by the “white light” and “white heat” that messes up the singer’s mind and body.
The repeated refrain of “white light, white heat” is like a mantra that captures the hypnotic and addictive nature of drug use. The lyrics also convey a sense of danger and risk, as the singer acknowledges that the drug is “gonna make me go blind” and “gonna make me insane.” Despite these warnings, the singer seems unable to resist the powerful allure of the drug and the intense sensory experience it brings.
Overall, “White Light/White Heat” is a raw and uncompromising portrayal of the highs and lows of drug addiction, as well as a testament to Lou Reed’s skill as a songwriter and performer.
Line by Line Meaning
White light goin' messin' up my mind
The bright light is affecting my state of mind
Don't you know, it's gonna make me go blind
The light is so bright it will cause blindness
White heat, goin' down to my toes
The heat from the light is making me feel it all over my body
Lord have mercy, white light had it, goodness knows
I can't handle this intense light anymore
White light goin' down to my brain
The light is having an impact on my brain
Hey, don't you know it's gonna make me insane
This light is driving me crazy
Forget it
I can't deal with this anymore
White light
Intense and blinding light
Ohh, white light
Exclamation to emphasize the brightness of the light
Ahhh, white heat
Exclamation to emphasize the heat from the light
Ohh, yeah, white light
acknowledging how bright the light is
White light goin' down to my toes
The light is so intense that I can even feel it in my toes
White light goin' messin' up my brain
The light is having an impact on my state of mind
White heat, down to my toes
The heat from the light is making me feel physically uncomfortable
Lord have mercy, white light had it, goodness knows
I am struggling to handle the brightness and heat of the light
White light goin' messin' up my mind
The bright light is affecting my state of mind
White light, goin' down to my toes
The light is so intense that I can even feel it in my toes
White light goin' down to my brain, ooohhh
The intensity of the light is impacting my brain even more
Oh, don't you know it's gonna make me insane
The light is driving me even more crazy
White light
Intense and blinding light
Ohh, baby, white heat
Exclamation to emphasize the intense heat from the light
Yeah, white light
The light is so intense and overpowering
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
HELLYEAH 1313
Incredible performance, everyone sounds great here. R.I.P. Lou Reed.
David Stewart
At 4:19 you can see, Lou wipes a tear away... This show really did mean the world to him... I'm sure it did to the Metallica boys as well.
A. T.
@Zawmbbeh I liked Lulu. I think there are a few appteciators in the met family.
fede018
It's sweat
Zawmbbeh
as much as i think Lulu was a bit too avant garde for any of the metallica family, i do really think this was a fun album for the guys, seemed like lots of fun to me
Tippi Gordon
Not all of Lulu worked, but man, there were some great moments on it, none better than "Junior Dad" which made me weep the first time I heard it. Gotta give Metallica props for trying something different, especially choosing to work with someone as brilliant yet irascible as Lou Reed.
Yazid Knopfler
if they let james sing this it would be a killer album
Ryan Bazail
this is a song from the album white light white heat by the velvet underground
Ulrich Will
Unglaublich gut!!! ❤️🇨🇭
Luca Toledo
You can say whatever you want about lou reed, but you cannot say that they aren’t liking it.