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 Suzanne
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You said that I couldn't dance
But now I'm back to let you know
That I can really make romance
You do what you gotta do
You do everything you can
You do what you want to do
Hey, but I love you, Suzanne
You try anything twice
You so what you gotta do
Hey, but I love you, Suzanne, hey, hey
Do what you want to do
You do what you can
You do what you want to do
But I love you, Suzanne
I love you when you're good
Baby, I love you when you're bad
You do what you gotta do
Hey, but I love you, Suzanne
Do what you want to do
Hey, baby, do what you can
You do what you want to do, baby
But I love you, Suzanne
I know you, try anything once, baby
You try anything twice
Do what you gotta do
But I love you, Suzanne
I love you when you're good, baby
I love you when you're bad
Do what you want to do
Ooohhh, but I love you, Suzanne, hey, hey
Hey, I love you, Suzanne
I love you, Suzanne
I love you, Suzanne
Oh, sweet
Do what you want to do
Hey, you do what you can
You do what you want to do
Hey, but I love you, Suzanne
You try anything once
You do anything twice
Do what you want to do
You know that I love you, Suzanne
The song "I Love You Suzanne" by Lou Reed is an upbeat track about returning to an old flame and expressing love for them despite any past heartache. The singer begins by acknowledging that Suzanne had hurt him in the past and made him cry, but he is now back to show her that he is capable of making romance. The chorus repeats the sentiment that Suzanne should do what she wants but he loves her anyway. The singer reiterates that he loves her whether she is good or bad and encourages her to do what she wants to do. The song concludes with a repetition of the chorus and the singer expressing his love for Suzanne.
This song can be interpreted in a few different ways. On the surface, it appears to be a simple love song about returning to an old flame and expressing love for them despite any past issues. However, some interpretations suggest that the song is actually about Reed's complicated relationship with drugs. The lyrics can be interpreted as Reed personifying drugs as Suzanne, acknowledging that they had hurt him in the past, but he is still in love with them and cannot escape their pull.
Line by Line Meaning
You broke my heart and you made me cry
You caused me a lot of emotional pain
You said that I couldn't dance
You criticized my dance moves
But now I'm back to let you know
That I can really make romance
I am informing you that I have improved in the area you criticized me about
You do what you gotta do
You do everything you can
You do what you want to do
Hey, but I love you, Suzanne
I acknowledge that you have the freedom to do what you please, but my love for you remains
You do anything once
You try anything twice
You so what you gotta do
Hey, but I love you, Suzanne, hey, hey
You are adventurous and take risks, but I still love you regardless
Do what you want to do
You do what you can
You do what you want to do
But I love you, Suzanne
You have the liberty to pursue your desires, and I still love you
I love you when you're good
Baby, I love you when you're bad
You do what you gotta do
Hey, but I love you, Suzanne
My love for you is unconditional, whether you are behaving well or poorly
I know you, try anything once, baby
You try anything twice
Do what you gotta do
But I love you, Suzanne
I have no illusion that you are not one to refuse risk, but that doesn't change how much I love you
I love you when you're good, baby
I love you when you're bad
Do what you want to do
Ooohhh, but I love you, Suzanne, hey, hey
No matter what you do, good or bad, I will always love you
Hey, I love you, Suzanne
I love you, Suzanne
I love you, Suzanne
Oh, sweet
Repeated expression of love for Suzanne
Do what you want to do
Hey, you do what you can
You do what you want to do
Hey, but I love you, Suzanne
You have the freedom to pursue your desires, and I still love you
You try anything once
You do anything twice
Do what you want to do
You know that I love you, Suzanne
Your risk-taking nature doesn't change how much I love you
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC
Written by: LEWIS ALLEN REED, LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@_2-FA
I'm not sure Uncle Lou was ever in finer shape than 1982-85. Still young enough to blast it out like a teen, but mature enough to speak his mind, eloquently. Great record. Great album.
@andymassingham
Came out 39 years ago today. Worked a record shop in downtown Toronto. Started most mornings playing this. Never thought we’d grow old. This was a non-hit that everyone knew and loved. One exception; Lou Reed, who hilariously (and predictably) declared it, “the worst song I ever wrote.”
@Xxxxxrrr6464
I agree with Lou
Still good to hear Lou
@hello9945
Which record store?...Sam's?...Music World?...A&A's?...Cheepies?
@nickadams9711
Why this wasn't a billboard Top 10 Hit is beyond me
@ashleyj7789
Me too bud, me too.
@user-xd3dd6mr5y
Probly the phone ringing in the beginning...irritating.
@ashleyj7789
God Lou Reed was so damn good it's unbelievable....lyrics, melody, orchestration >> Brilliant.
@sgtpepper2469
She started dancing to that fine fine music, her life was saved by rock and roll
@septimusheap1200
... my name is Suzanne. This makes me feel good