Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American musicia… Read Full Bio ↴Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American musician, songwriter, and poet. He was the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades. Although not commercially successful during its existence, the Velvet Underground became regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of underground and alternative rock music. Reed's distinctive deadpan voice, poetic and transgressive lyrics, and experimental guitar playing were trademarks throughout his long career.

Having played guitar and sung in doo-wop groups in high school, Reed studied poetry at Syracuse University under Delmore Schwartz, and had served as a radio DJ, hosting a late-night avant garde music program while at college. After graduating from Syracuse, he went to work for Pickwick Records in New York City, a low-budget record company that specialized in sound-alike recordings, as a songwriter and session musician. A fellow session player at Pickwick was John Cale; together with Sterling Morrison and Angus MacLise, they would form the Velvet Underground in 1965. After building a reputation on the avant garde music scene, they gained the attention of Andy Warhol, who became the band's manager; they in turn became something of a fixture at The Factory, Warhol's art studio, and served as his "house band" for various projects. The band released their first album, now with drummer Moe Tucker and featuring German singer Nico, in 1967, and parted ways with Warhol shortly thereafter. Following several lineup changes and three more little-heard albums, Reed quit the band in 1970.

After leaving the band, Reed would go on to a much more commercially successful solo career, releasing twenty solo studio albums. His second, Transformer (1972), was produced by David Bowie and arranged by Mick Ronson, and brought him mainstream recognition. The album is considered an influential landmark of the glam rock genre, anchored by Reed's most successful single, "Walk on the Wild Side". After Transformer, the less commercial but critically acclaimed Berlin peaked at No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart. Rock 'n' Roll Animal (a live album released in 1974) sold strongly, and Sally Can't Dance (1974) peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200; but for a long period after, Reed's work did not translate into sales, leading him deeper into drug addiction and alcoholism. Reed cleaned up in the early 1980s, and gradually returned to prominence with The Blue Mask (1982) and New Sensations (1984), reaching a critical and commercial career peak with his 1989 album New York.

Reed participated in the re-formation of the Velvet Underground in the 1990s, and made several more albums, including a collaboration album with John Cale titled Songs for Drella which was a tribute to their former mentor Andy Warhol. Magic and Loss (1992) would become Reed's highest-charting album on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 6.

He contributed music to two theatrical interpretations of 19th century writers, one of which he developed into an album titled The Raven. He married his third wife Laurie Anderson in 2008, and recorded the collaboration album Lulu with Metallica. He died in 2013 of liver disease. Reed has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; as a member of the Velvet Underground in 1996 and as a solo act in 2015.

Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Reed

Studio albums
Lou Reed (1972)
Transformer (1972)
Berlin (1973)
Rock 'n' Roll Animal (1974)
Sally Can't Dance (1974)
Metal Machine Music (1975)
Coney Island Baby (1975)
Rock and Roll Heart (1976)
Street Hassle (1978)
The Bells (1979)
Growing Up in Public (1980)
The Blue Mask (1982)
Legendary Hearts (1983)
New Sensations (1984)
Mistrial (1986)
New York (1989)
Magic and Loss (1992)
Set the Twilight Reeling (1996)
Ecstasy (2000)
The Raven (2003)
Hudson River Wind Meditations (2007)

Call on Me
Lou Reed Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Caught in the crossbow of ideas and journeys
Sit here reliving the other self's mournings
Caught in the crossbow of ideas and dawnings
Stand I

Reliving the past of the maddening impulse
The violent upheaval
The pure driven instinct

The pure driven murder
The attraction of daring
Stand I

Why didn't you call on me
Why didn't you call on me
Why didn't you call on me
Why didn't you call

A wild being from birth
My spirit spurns control
Wandering the wide earth
Searching for my soul
Dimly peering
I would surely find
What could there be more purely bright
In truth's day-star

Why didn't you call on me
Why didn't you call on me
Why didn't you call on me
Why didn't you call

Why didn't you call on me
Why didn't you call on me

Why didn't you call on me
Why didn't you call

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lou Reed's song "Call on Me" seem to speak of a person who is caught up in conflicting ideas and experiences while trying to navigate their own life's journey. The repeated line, "Caught in the crossbow of ideas and journeys," suggests a sense of being overwhelmed and uncertain, as if caught in the middle of opposing forces. The lyrics then describe the act of reliving past experiences and impulses, particularly those that are violent or dangerous. The singer seems to be standing in defiance, perhaps trying to resist the pull of these impulses or ideas.

The chorus of the song repeatedly asks the question, "Why didn't you call on me?" This could be interpreted in different ways, but one possibility is that the singer is addressing someone who they feel could have offered help or support during difficult times. The repetition of this question suggests a sense of longing or regret, as if the singer is looking for validation or connection that they feel has been withheld.

In the second half of the song, the lyrics shift to a more introspective tone. The singer describes themselves as a "wild being," searching for their soul and defying attempts at control. The final lines of the song express a sense of wonder or awe, as the singer contemplates the possibility of finding something "purely bright" in the world.

Overall, the lyrics to "Call on Me" suggest a sense of struggle and uncertainty, as well as a longing for validation or connection from others.

Line by Line Meaning

Caught in the crossbow of ideas and journeys
Trapped between conflicting ideas and potential paths

Sit here reliving the other self's mournings
Reflecting on the pain and suffering of a different version of oneself

Caught in the crossbow of ideas and dawnings
Torn between opposing thoughts and new beginnings

Stand I
Despite the inner turmoil, I remain standing and resilient

Reliving the past of the maddening impulse
Revisiting the crazed and frenzied moments of the past

The violent upheaval
The intense disruption and chaos

The pure driven instinct
The unyielding and primal urge

The pure driven murder
The uncontrollable desire to kill

The attraction of daring
The pull of taking risks and living boldly

Why didn't you call on me
Questioning why the one person who could have helped didn't reach out