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)
I'm So Free
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I'm the only one
I do what I want and I want what I see
Huh, could only happen to me
I'm so free
I'm so free
I have come this way
Do you remember the shape I was in
I had horns that bent
I'm so free
I'm so free
Do you remember the silver walks
You used to shiver and I used to talk
Then we went down to Times Square
And ever since I've been hanging around there
I'm so free
I'm so free
Yes I am mother nature's son
And I'm the only one
I do what I want and I want what I see
Could only happen to me
I'm so free
I'm so free
Oh, oh, oh, I'm so free
Oh, oh, oh, I'm so free
Oh, oh, oh, I'm so free
Early in the morning, I'm so free
Late in the evening, I'm so free
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm so free
When I feel good, I'm so free
When it's in the morning, I'm so free
When it's in the evening, I'm so free
I'm so free, I'm so free
I'm so free, I'm so free
Feel so good, now, I'm so free
Oh, oh, oh, I'm so free
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm so free
Oh, oh, oh, I'm so free
Feel so good, now, I'm so free
Feel little nice, I'm so free
Feel little down, now, I'm so free
You're so free, I'm so free
I'm so free, I'm so free
I'm so free, I'm so free
I'm so free, I'm so free
The lyrics to Lou Reed’s “I’m So Free” reflect the theme of individualism and freedom. The opening lines, “Yes, I am mother nature's son, and I'm the only one,” suggest uniqueness and self-reliance, as the singer declares himself as an extension of nature. As such, he does what he wants and pursues what he desires. The lines, “I do what I want and I want what I see, Huh, could only happen to me,” further reflect this message of individualism and self-gratification. The use of the phrase “could only happen to me” also suggests that the singer feels a sense of isolation and exclusivity in his freedom.
The song continues with references to Saint Germaine, who could be interpreted as an alternative deity or spiritual guide. The singer reflects on a time when he had “horns that bent,” which could metaphorically represent his past struggles and the changes he has undergone. The line “I'm so free” is repeated throughout the song, reinforcing the message of individual independence and power.
Throughout the song, Reed sings in a carefree tone, with a sense of joy and liberation. He expresses a sense of gratitude for his freedom, exclaiming “I'm so free” repeatedly in the chorus. Ultimately, the song is about embracing one’s unique desires and individuality without fear of judgment or constraint.
Line by Line Meaning
Yes I am mother nature's son
I am connected to and a product of the natural world
And I'm the only one
I am unique and unlike anyone else
I do what I want and I want what I see
I am empowered to follow my desires without constraint
Huh, could only happen to me
My experiences and outlook are distinct and significant
I'm so free
I am unconstrained and at liberty
Oh, please, Saint Germaine
An address to a spiritual figure for guidance
I have come this way
I have progressed along a path with purpose and intention
Do you remember the shape I was in
Addressing a formative period of transformation or growth
I had horns that bent
A depiction of physical or symbolic attributes at odds with societal norms
Do you remember the silver walks
Recalling a past experience of shared or personal significance
You used to shiver and I used to talk
The singer asserts a role of influence or charisma in the relationship
Then we went down to Times Square
A reference to a cultural and social hub of New York City
And ever since I've been hanging around there
An implication of attachment and connection to the urban environment
Early in the morning, I'm so free
A statement of internal personal freedom unaffected by external circumstances
Late in the evening, I'm so free
Internal personal freedom persists through different times of day
Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm so free
Affirmation of the artist's sense of liberty and independence
When I feel good, I'm so free
An association of positive emotions and personal freedom
When it's in the morning, I'm so free
Re-affirming that external circumstances have no effect on the singer's personal freedom
When it's in the evening, I'm so free
Same as previous
Feel little nice, I'm so free
A suggestion that some positive emotion leads to increased feelings of freedom
Feel little down, now, I'm so free
This suggests that sometimes negative emotions can lead to feelings of empowerment
You're so free, I'm so free
Addressing others and expressing a shared experience of personal freedom
I'm so free, I'm so free
Repetition of the central message and affirmation of its importance and validity
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