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)
Caroline Says I
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She wants a man, not just a boy
Oh, Caroline says, ooh Caroline says
Caroline says she can't help but be mean
Or cruel, or oh so it seems
Oh, Caroline says, Caroline says
Still she is my Germanic Queen
Yeah, she's my Queen
The things she does, the things she says
People shouldn't treat others that way
But at first I thought I could take it all
Just like poison in a vial, hey she was often very vile
But of course, I thought I could take it all
Caroline says that I'm not a man
So she'll go get it catch as catch can
Oh, Caroline says, yeah, Caroline says
Caroline says moments in time
Can't continue to be only mine
Oh, Caroline says, yeah, Caroline says
She treats me like I am a fool
But to me she's still a German Queen
Ooh, she's my Queen
Queen ...
In Lou Reed's song "Caroline Says I", the lyrics paint a picture of an abusive and manipulative relationship between the singer and Caroline. The song begins with Caroline referring to the singer as a toy and stating that she wants a proper man, not just a boy. The next verse explores Caroline's cruelty and the fact that she admits to being mean. Despite her harshness, the singer still sees her as a queen and wishes to be with her.
The chorus of the song features Caroline stating that she doesn't want a man who leans, meaning she doesn't want someone who is emotionally dependent on her. It seems that Caroline enjoys having power over the singer and enjoys being somewhat of a sadist towards him. The lyrics continue to describe Caroline's cruel behavior, and the singer admits that at first, he thought he could handle it all. However, he eventually realizes that Caroline is like poison in a vial and that her behavior towards him is unacceptable.
In the final verse, Caroline tells the singer that he is not a man and that she will go and find someone else. She also states that their moments together can't continue to be only his, indicating that she wants to move on. Despite all of this, the singer still sees her as his German queen and is seemingly unable to let go of her abusive behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
Caroline says that I'm just a toy
Caroline sees me as a mere plaything without any emotions or feelings.
She wants a man, not just a boy
Caroline is looking for a mature and responsible adult, not a child-like person.
Caroline says she can't help but be mean
Caroline claims that it's in her nature to be rude and unkind to other people.
Or cruel, or oh so it seems
Her actions seem rather vicious and brutal to the observer.
She say she doesn't want a man who leans
Caroline dislikes having to rely on someone else for emotional support.
Still she is my Germanic Queen
Despite her behaviour towards me, I still consider her to be my lover and companion.
The things she does, the things she says
Her behaviour and speech is considered inappropriate and unacceptable.
People shouldn't treat others that way
It is unjust to treat someone with such lack of empathy and disrespect.
But at first I thought I could take it all
Initially, I believed that I could handle her actions and overcome her negative demeanor.
Just like poison in a vial, hey she was often very vile
Her negative actions were similar to poison that could have detrimental effect.
Caroline says that I'm not a man
Caroline thinks that I am not masculine enough for her taste.
So she'll go get it catch as catch can
She will look for someone else that fits her standards without any hesitation.
Caroline says moments in time
Caroline believes that moments are fleeting and change over time.
Can't continue to be only mine
She implies that relationships are not exclusive and that they can be shared with others.
She treats me like I am a fool
Caroline belittles me and makes me feel inadequate.
But to me she's still a German Queen
Despite her negative treatment, I still have affection for her and view her as my companion.
Ooh, she's my Queen
Queen ...
I have intense feelings of love and admiration for Caroline despite her unkind behaviour toward me.
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC
Written by: LEWIS ALLEN REED, LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
MB
Caroline says that I'm just a toy
She wants a man, not just a boy
Oh, Caroline says, ooh Caroline says
Caroline says she can't help but be mean
Or cruel, or oh so it seems
Oh, Caroline says, Caroline says
She say she doesn't want a man who leans
Still she is my Germanic Queen
Yeah, she's my Queen
The things she does, the things she says
People shouldn't treat others that way
But at first I thought I could take it all
Just like poison in a vial, hey she was often very vile
But of course, I thought I could take it all
Caroline says that I'm not a man
So she'll go get it catch as catch can
Oh, Caroline says, yeah, Caroline says
Caroline says moments in time
Can't continue to be only mine
Oh, Caroline says, yeah, Caroline says
She treats me like I am a fool
But to me she's still a German Queen
Ooh, she's my Queen
Queen ...
JGRODRIGUEZ
This is Lou's best for me. Albums other people find depressing are just an everyday listen for me. It's the only thing that's real.
Puss In Boots
Compared to Joy Division or some Nick Cave songs this is a cheerful album:) Even some Radiohead is more depressing than this.
I I
@Puss In Boots Do not confuse depression with feigned tearfulness
Or you're just not able to understand the words🙃
Puss In Boots
@I I whatever you say, my friend:)
Peter Gates
This album is sooo good❤️❤️❤️
Vera Rizzi
Iniziai ad ascoltare, e conoscere la musica, itesti di Lou Reed e dei Velvet Underground quando avevo 10 o 11 anni, grazie a mia sorella, oggi ho quasi 53 anni e lo ascolto sempre. I suoi testi raccontano realtà che molti non conoscono, non capiscono, e la musica è unica e meravigliosa
mweb9
True life. Lou nailed it long ago. RIP.
Peter Elliott
What an intellect , the Shakespeare of the music scene . Love ya Lou
KissOff
What about eno(;
Dante Juarez
@KissOff valid point