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)
Heroin
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I'm goin' to try for the kingdom if I can
'cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my vein
Then I tell you things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel just like jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made very big decision
I'm goin' to try to nullify my life
'cause when the blood begins to flow
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
When I'm closing in on death
You can't help me not you guys
All you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess I just don't know
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sailed the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
I put on a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of all the evils in this town
And of himself and those around
Oh, and I guess I just don't know
Oh, and I guess I just don't know
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a mainer to my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I'm better off than dead
When the smack begins to flow
Then I really don't care anymore
About all the jim-jims in this town
And everybody putting everybody else down
And all of the politicians makin' crazy sounds
All the dead bodies piled up in mounds, yeah
Wow, that heroin is in my blood
And the blood is in my head
Yeah, the god's good as dead
Ooohhh, God that I'm not aware
I just don't care
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess I just don't know
Lou Reed's "Heroin" is a song about the disillusionment and addiction that comes with drug use. Throughout the lyrics, Reed expresses his struggle with heroin use and the physical and emotional consequences that come with it. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, where Reed admits to not knowing where he's going but still striving to make it to the promised land, the Kingdom. He mentions that taking heroin makes him feel like a man, an ironic statement given that what he's doing is destroying him. The line "When I put a spike into my vein, then I tell you things aren't quite the same" shows the level of addiction and how taking heroin changes his perspective on life.
The chorus begins with "When I'm rushing on my run and I feel just like Jesus' son," a reference to the feeling of euphoria that comes with heroin use, and is followed by "and I guess I just don't know." This line encapsulates the ambiguity of the song, where Reed is unsure of what he's doing, but he's still doing it anyway. In the second verse, he admits to making a big decision to nullify his life, indicating that he's aware of the damaging consequences of his addiction. Nonetheless, he goes on to describe how the drug makes him feel better than dead and that he doesn't care about anything or anyone else.
The final verse features a wish to have been born a thousand years ago, indicating a desire for a simpler life away from the evils of the present. Reed also mentions the various ills of his society, such as politicians making crazy sounds and dead bodies piled up in mounds, showing his disillusionment with the world around him. In conclusion, "Heroin" is a powerful and introspective song about the struggles and consequences of addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know just where I'm going
I am unsure where my life is headed
But I'm goin' to try for the kingdom if I can
But I will attempt to reach my goals regardless
'cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
Because using drugs makes me feel strong and in control
When I put a spike into my vein
When I inject heroin into my bloodstream
Then I tell you things aren't quite the same
My reality is altered when I use heroin
When I'm rushing on my run
When the heroin is quickly spreading through my bloodstream
And I feel just like jesus' son
I feel godly, powerful, and beyond earthly troubles
And I guess I just don't know
But I am still unsure
I'm goin' to try to nullify my life
I plan to destroy myself with drugs
'cause when the blood begins to flow
When the heroin enters my veins
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
When the heroin is injected quickly and powerfully
When I'm closing in on death
When I'm getting closer to killing myself with drugs
You can't help me not you guys
No one can save me from my addiction
All you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
Even affectionate words from girls won't stop me
You can all go take a walk
You can all leave me in peace
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish I had lived in a simpler, drug-free time
Away from the big city
Leaving the drugs and struggles of city life behind
Where a man cannot be free
Where a man can be free from the constraints of addiction
Of all the evils in this town
All the drug-related problems in this area
And of himself and those around
The negative influence drugs have on himself and others
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin will be the end of my life
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Heroin is my main priority, my reason for living
Because a mainer to my vein
Because heroin is the only thing that provides relief for me
Leads to a center in my head
Heroin stimulates my brain's pleasure center
And then I'm better off than dead
Using heroin is the only way to escape my misery
When the smack begins to flow
When the heroin starts to take effect
Then I really don't care anymore
Then I am completely indifferent to everything
About all the jim-jims in this town
The small-time drug dealers and users no longer bother me
And everybody putting everybody else down
The judgment of society is meaningless when I'm high
All the dead bodies piled up in mounds, yeah
Even the tragic consequences of drug addiction do not deter me
Wow, that heroin is in my blood
I am addicted to heroin; it is a part of my bloodstream
And the blood is in my head
The drug's effects are heavily influencing my thoughts and decision-making
Yeah, the god's good as dead
God and morality no longer matter to me
Ooohhh, God that I'm not aware
I am in a state of ignorance and apathy
I just don't care
I am completely indifferent
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lou Reed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@felipide
Lyrics, since I can't find them
I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
'Cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my vein
And I'll tell ya, things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel just like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made the big decision
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
'Cause when the blood begins to flow
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
When I'm closing in on death
And you can't help me, not you guys
Or all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
On a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of all of the evils of this town
And of himself, and those around
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a mainline to my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I'm better off than dead
Because when the smack begins to flow
I really don't care anymore
About all the Jim-Jim's in this town
And all the politicians makin' crazy sounds
And everybody puttin' everybody else down
And all the dead bodies piled up in mounds
'Cause when the smack begins to flow
Then I really don't care anymore
Ah, when the heroin is in my blood
And that blood is in my head
Then thank God that I'm good as dead
Then thank your God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess I just don't know
@sydneymedley4938
lyrics!!!
I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
'Cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my vein
And I'll tell ya, things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel just like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made the big decision
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
'Cause when the blood begins to flow
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
When I'm closing in on death
And you can't help me now, you guys
And all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
In a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man can not be free
Of all of the evils of this town
And of himself, and those around
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a mainer to my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I'm better off and dead
Because when the smack begins to flow
I really don't care anymore
About all the Jim-Jim's in this town
And all the politicians makin' crazy sounds
And everybody puttin' everybody else down
And all the dead bodies piled up in mounds
'Cause when the smack begins to flow
Then I really don't care anymore
Ah, when the heroin is in my blood
And that blood is in my head
Then thank God that I'm as good as dead
Then thank your God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess I just don't know
@nancyspungen556
"Song only"
Sorry guys, there isn't any actual heroin to be found here.
@Jagethemage
+Nancy Spungen B.Y.O.D.
@Taleton
+Nancy Spungen shiiiit.....
@felipefxD
+Nancy Spungen lol'd so hard. thanks :D
@gamehexwolf
+Nancy Spungen Ahahahaha fucking genius yo! xD
@caganeri
+Nancy Spungen This is what I actually wanted to write haha.
@RickyPisano
I shot dope for over 30 years man. Tried it at 15 years old and loved it from that moment. I got off it at 47 with Suboxone. Came off that at 58 using Kratom and now I'm finally clean. 60 years old. I was a heavy hitter who loved narcotics more than ANYTHING for most of my life. A LOT of dead friends. Looking back at where I've been and the things I did it's unbelievable. I STILL LOVE IT man..... but I know too well where that incredible high always brought me. And it was never good. Take my advice. If you're thinking of trying it..... DON'T. Because if you're anything like me.... you'll be in for the long haul after the first time.
@manojbala6870
Kratom is good I guess. Ayahuasca is better
@taddurrenberger3672
@@mashedpotatoes2593 why?
@carltoeski
Yep. Kratom got me out of it too.