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)
Harry's Circumcision
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The cheeks of his mother, the eyes of his father
As each day crashed around him, the future stood revealed
He was turning into his parents
The final disappointment
Stepping out of the shower, Harry stared at himself
His hairline receding, the slight overbite
And thought: "oh, I wish I was different."
I wish I was stronger; I wish I was thinner
I wish I didn't have this nose
These ears that stick out remind me of my father
And I don't want to be reminded at all
The final disappointment
Harry looked into the mirror, thinking of Vincent Van Gogh
And with a quick swipe lopped off his nose
And happy with that he made a slice where his chin was
He's always wanted a dimple
The end of all illusion
Then peering down straight between his legs
Harry thought of the range of possibilities
A new face, a new life, no memories of the past
And slit his throat from ear to ear
Harry woke up with a cough; the stitches made his wince
A doctor smiled at him from somewhere across the room
Son, we saved your life, but you'll never look the same
And when he heard that, Harry had to laugh
Although it hurt, Harry had to laugh
The final disappointment
The song Harry's Circumcision by Lou Reed is a bleak and contemplative look at personal identity and disappointment with oneself. The singer, Harry, is struggling with his physical appearance, particularly noticing features that remind him of his parents. He becomes disheartened by the idea that he is becoming like his parents and wishes he were different. He contemplates drastic actions to change his appearance, even wondering what it would be like to have a new face and a new life with no memories of his past. The final lines deliver the title of the song in a dark and ironic manner, as Harry wakes up in a hospital bed with mutilated features, realizing that he has undergone a circumcision of sorts, but in a way that wasn't expected.
The overall meaning of the song can be interpreted in different ways, but one main theme is the pressure of conforming to societal norms and expectations, leading to self-hatred and dissatisfaction. Harry's desire to change his appearance and forget his past suggests a need for escape from the inevitability of becoming like his parents and the limited identity that is imposed on him. However, the ultimate result of his actions is a failure to escape his identity and a realization that he cannot change what he is.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking in the mirror, Harry didn't like what he saw
Harry wasn't satisfied with who he had become and felt disappointed with himself.
The cheeks of his mother, the eyes of his father
Harry was seeing aspects of his parents within himself that he didn't want to accept or inherit.
As each day crashed around him, the future stood revealed
Harry was becoming more aware of his future and he didn't like what he saw.
He was turning into his parents
Harry was seeing himself becoming more like his parents as he aged and this realization was disappointing.
The final disappointment
Harry's dissatisfaction with who he had become is the ultimate letdown.
Stepping out of the shower, Harry stared at himself
Harry was introspective and reflective in moments alone with himself.
His hairline receding, the slight overbite
Harry was self-conscious of his appearance and how it was changing as he got older.
He picked up the razor to begin his shaving
Harry was contemplating change and ways he could alter his appearance to be more satisfied with himself.
And thought: "oh, I wish I was different."
Harry desired to be someone other than himself because he didn't like who he had become.
I wish I was stronger; I wish I was thinner
Harry desired physical traits that he saw as more desirable to society than his own.
I wish I didn't have this nose
Harry wished he had a different physical feature that was more acceptable to society.
These ears that stick out remind me of my father
Harry saw features of his parents in himself that he didn't want to inherit because he didn't like them.
And I don't want to be reminded at all
Harry desired to forget his past and the people he inherited his traits from.
Harry looked into the mirror, thinking of Vincent Van Gogh
Harry thought of Van Gogh's painting 'Self Portrait with Bandaged Ear' and saw himself becoming like Van Gogh as someone who desired to alter their appearance.
And with a quick swipe lopped off his nose
Harry took drastic measures to alter his appearance so that he would no longer see features of his parents in himself.
And happy with that he made a slice where his chin was
Harry became addicted to altering his appearance and took further steps to be the person he dreamed of becoming.
He's always wanted a dimple
Harry had desires and wants for his appearance that he wasn't able to fulfill any other way than by altering it.
The end of all illusion
Harry saw through the illusion of appearances and realized that his desires would not truly fulfill him.
Then peering down straight between his legs
Harry was seeking to make drastic changes to his life in other ways, including his gender or sexual identity.
Harry thought of the range of possibilities
Harry was looking forward to a future that held endless opportunities for change.
A new face, a new life, no memories of the past
Harry desired to create an entirely new existence for himself, cutting ties with his past and becoming an entirely different person.
And slit his throat from ear to ear
Harry became so desperate for change that he was willing to risk everything, including his life.
Harry woke up with a cough; the stitches made his wince
Harry's desire for change had led to self-harm or mutilation and he was experiencing pain and discomfort in the aftermath of his actions.
A doctor smiled at him from somewhere across the room
Harry had received medical attention but the consequences of his actions would be permanent.
Son, we saved your life, but you'll never look the same
The medical professionals informed Harry that his extreme actions had led to permanent changes and he would never be the same again.
And when he heard that, Harry had to laugh
Harry realized the futility of his actions and was able to laugh at himself and his delusional desires for change.
Although it hurt, Harry had to laugh
Despite the pain and damage he had inflicted on himself, Harry found humor in his choices and the fact that he could not change who he truly was.
The final disappointment
Ultimately, Harry's journey to change himself came to an end as he realized that true happiness and fulfillment could not be found through altering his appearance or identity and he was disappointed with the person he had become.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shane Mac
Been listening to this hauntingly beautiful song for thirty years. Wanted it played at my funeral after my suicide. Like Harry, I tried. 68 now. There's still time.
Klatsch und Tratsch
love to you bud - hauntingly beautiful
jose angel santana garcia
En la edición española de este impresionante disco de Lou, la discográfica tuvo el maravilloso acierto de publicar la letra original de cada canción y a su lado la traducción al castellano... El responsable sabía que era imprescindible en este caso que todos tuviéramos la oportunidad de empaparnos con la poesía de Lou Reed.
jake b
This is 1 of the best things Lou Reed did post-Berlin era.
It has always haunted me. I don't know why. really. It's one of those things that digs in the more you think about it
finnmacool
totally agree ....this song has raw power...the notes are so sad... and that last line.. the final disappointment ... i think harrys circimcision kind of sums up the pain of life itself
Dave Hibbard
What a brilliant and thought provoking chapter of the great American novel.
Najib JELILA
Do you think that a relation can be made with the "soliloque " of Vladomir the character of Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett and this so deeply sad compilation of regrets about one's life.. (Samuel Beckett suggested once that .. is to be prefered to ... (thoses of Celine).. Najib
johnnycockatoo100
such a beautiful song
Dieter Margenburg
Super Gitarrenriff..und der Sprechgesang..einfach toll
Ana A S
Majstor.