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)
High In The City
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let's go hit the street
High in the city, high in the city
I got my mace and you got your knife
You gotta protect your own life
High in the city, high in the city
I want to get high high in the city
I want to stay high high in the city
High in the city, high in the city
Let's not walk down Sutton Place
You know everybody there got an Akitas
High in the city, high in the city
Don't want to talk politics today
I feel too good let me have my way
High in the city, high in the city
Let's grap a pie, let's hit the park
I'll kiss and hug you till it gets dark
Here in the city, getting high in the city
High in the city and you're looking so pretty
Feelin' pretty witty, gettin' high off of the city
High in the city
Watch out for that guy on your right
Seen him on the news last Saturday night
He was high in the city
Hey, look they're setting fire to that jeep
There's not much you can keep
High in the city, high in the city
I want to get high high in the city
I want to stay alive alive in the city
I want to stay high high in the city
High in the city, high in the city
So many people feeling low
And there's only one way to go to
Get high in the city, high in the city
Lou Reed's song "High In The City" is a fast-paced song about a couple exploring the city streets while trying to stay alert and high. The lyrics are about wanting to stay alive and high in the city, using mace and a knife for protection, and avoiding certain areas like Sutton Place. The song's upbeat tempo and the use of a saxophone captures the essence of the city in the late '80s and creates an almost ominous atmosphere.
Reed's use of mace and a knife shows the danger of the city, and the constant threat of violence. The lyric "Watch out for that guy on your right, seen him on the news last Saturday night" further reinforces the idea of how easy it is to become a victim in the city. The song's use of humor, particularly in the lyric "let's grab a pie, let's hit the park, I'll kiss and hug you till it gets dark," shows how people in the city still manage to enjoy the little things despite the danger that surrounds them.
Line by Line Meaning
I got the time I got my feet
I have spare time and I am ready to go out
Let's go hit the street
Let's go out into the city
High in the city, high in the city
Enjoying oneself while being in the city
I got my mace and you got your knife
We both have tools to protect ourselves while being in the city
You gotta protect your own life
It is necessary to always be aware of one's surroundings and take necessary precautions
I want to get high high in the city
The singer desires to experience a high while being in the city
I want to stay alive here in the city
The singer wishes to stay safe and alive while being in the city
Let's not walk down Sutton Place
Let's avoid a certain area in the city
You know everybody there got an Akitas
The area is known for having wealthy residents
Don't want to talk politics today
The artist doesn't want to discuss political issues
I feel too good let me have my way
The singer wants to enjoy their time without having to conform to societal norms or expectations
Let's grab a pie, let's hit the park
Let's go get food and spend time in the park
I'll kiss and hug you till it gets dark
The singer wants to show affection towards their companion
Here in the city, getting high in the city
Enjoying oneself while being in the city
High in the city and you're looking so pretty
The singer thinks their companion looks beautiful while being in the city
Feelin' pretty witty, gettin' high off of the city
The artist feels clever and is enjoying their time in the city
Watch out for that guy on your right
Be aware of the person to the right
Seen him on the news last Saturday night
The person has been involved in some kind of news-worthy incident
He was high in the city
The person in question was under the influence of drugs while being in the city
Hey, look they're setting fire to that jeep
There is a chaotic situation unfolding
There's not much you can keep
In situations like these, material possessions aren't important
So many people feeling low
There are a lot of people who are unhappy
And there's only one way to go to
The only solution to this unhappiness is to get high
Get high in the city, high in the city
One can find temporary happiness by getting high while being in the city
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GARY MOORE, LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind