Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American musicia… Read Full Bio ↴Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American musician, songwriter, and poet. He was the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades. Although not commercially successful during its existence, the Velvet Underground became regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of underground and alternative rock music. Reed's distinctive deadpan voice, poetic and transgressive lyrics, and experimental guitar playing were trademarks throughout his long career.

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 Love You
Lou Reed Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When I think of all the things I've done
And I know that it's only just begun
Those smiling faces
You know, I just can't forget them
But I love you

When I think of all the things I've seen
And I know that it's only the beginning

You know, those smiling faces
I just can't forget them
But for now I love you

Just for a little while
Oh baby, just to see you smile
Just for a little while

When I think of all the things I've done
And I know, that it's only just begun
Oh, smiling faces, Jesus
You know, I can't forget them
But for now, I love you
Watch this minute, baby
Now I love you

At least for now
I love you

Overall Meaning

In Lou Reed's song "I Love You", the singer reflects on his life experiences and the people he has come across. He thinks of the things he's done and seen so far in his life, acknowledging that it's only just the beginning. However, despite all of this, there are certain people and memories that have stuck with him and he just can't forget them. These memories, represented by the "smiling faces", are a reminder of the good times he's had in the past. However, despite all of this, the singer declares his love for someone, saying that he loves them "just for a little while", at least for now.

It could be interpreted that the smiling faces represent moments of bliss in life or memories that the singer has a fondness for. It could also be that these smiling faces are representative of those people who have impacted his life in a positive way. The declaration of love, even if only for a little while, could be the singer's way of expressing both appreciation for the past and hope for the future.

The song has a melancholic tone which is in tune with the theme of memories, the past and love that is not everlasting. The lyrics evoke introspection and contemplation of life’s fleeting moments, as well as the people that come and go in one's life.

Line by Line Meaning

When I think of all the things I've done
Reflecting on my past actions and experiences

And I know that it's only just begun
Realizing that I still have a lot more to do and experience in life

Those smiling faces
The happy memories and people that have impacted my life

You know, I just can't forget them
I cherish those memories and people and they will always hold a special place in my heart

But I love you
Despite these memories and experiences, I love you

Just for a little while
Even if my feelings don't last forever

Oh baby, just to see you smile
I want to make you happy and see you happy

When I think of all the things I've seen
Reflecting on what I've witnessed in life

And I know that it's only the beginning
Realizing that there is so much more to come in life

You know, those smiling faces
The happy memories and people that have impacted my life

I just can't forget them
I hold onto those memories and people dearly