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)
Oh Jim
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They said that it was good for you, that it would cure your ills
I don't care just where it's at
I'm just like an alley cat
And when you're filled up to here with hate
Don't you know you gotta get it straight
Beat her black and blue and get it straight
Do, do, do, do, do, do,
When you're lookin' through the eyes of hate
All your two-bit friends they're ask you for your autograph
They put you on the stage, they thought it'd be good for a laugh
But I don't care just where it's at
'Cause honey I'm just like an alley cat
And when you're filled up to here with hate
Don't you know you gotta get it straight
Filled up to here with hate
Beat her black and blue and get it straight
Uh huh
Oh Jim, how could you treat me this way
Hey hey hey
How could you treat me this way?
Oh Jim, how could you treat me this way
Hey hey
How could you treat me this way?
You know you broke my heart
Ever since you went away
Now you said that you love us
But you only make love to one of us
Oh Jim, how could you treat me this way
You know you broke my heart
Ever since you went away
When you're looking through the eyes of hate
Oh, oh, oh, oh
When you're looking through the eyes of hate
Oh, oh, oh, oh ...
In Lou Reed's song "Oh Jim," the lyrics describe a toxic relationship between the singer and Jim, who is self-destructive and surrounded by enablers. Jim's friends are feeding him pills that they claim will cure his ills, but the singer sees this as a destructive behavior. Despite feeling hurt by Jim's actions, the singer admits to being like an alley cat- a scrappy, independent figure who doesn't need to conform to others' ideas or opinions.
The chorus repeats the line "when you're looking through the eyes of hate" which suggests that Jim's behavior is causing anger and resentment. The line "beat her black and blue and get it straight" is one that is likely difficult for modern listeners to hear- it implies a violent response to a romantic partner's misbehavior. In the bridge, the singer expresses feeling heartbroken by Jim's infidelity and false promises of love.
Overall, the song paints a picture of a tumultuous relationship that is plagued by addiction and toxic behavior. The lyrics convey a sense of frustration and a desire for change, but ultimately the singer seems resigned to Jim's destructive behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
All your two-bit friends they're shootin' you up with pills
Your low-class friends are injecting you with drugs
They said that it was good for you, that it would cure your ills
They convinced you that it was beneficial and would solve your problems
I don't care just where it's at
I am indifferent to the location or situation
I'm just like an alley cat
I'm just like a stray cat, always prowling around
And when you're filled up to here with hate
When you're consumed with anger and resentment
Don't you know you gotta get it straight
You need to address it and resolve the issue
Beat her black and blue and get it straight
Use violence to correct the situation
When you're lookin' through the eyes of hate
Viewing the world with a negative and hostile perspective
All your two-bit friends they're ask you for your autograph
Your low-class friends request your signature
They put you on the stage, they thought it'd be good for a laugh
They presented you on stage for their own amusement
'Cause honey I'm just like an alley cat
I act like a stray cat, without a care in the world
Oh Jim, how could you treat me this way
Jim, why did you hurt me like this?
You know you broke my heart
You caused me extreme emotional pain
Ever since you went away
Since you departed from my life
Now you said that you love us
You claim to love more than one person
But you only make love to one of us
You only have sexual relations with one of us
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID NAVARRO, ERIC ADAM AVERY, LOU REED, PERRY FARRELL, STEPHEN PERKINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aguy7321
All your two-bit friends they're shootin' you up with pills
They said that it was good for you, that it would cure your ills
I don't care just where it's at
I'm just like an alley cat
And when you're filled up to here with hate
Don't you know you gotta get it straight
Filled up to here with hate
Beat her black and blue and get it straight
Do, do, do, do, do, do,
When you're lookin' through the eyes of hate
All your two-bit friends they're ask you for your autograph
They put you on the stage, they thought it'd be good for a laugh
But I don't care just where it's at
'Cause honey I'm just like an alley cat
And when you're filled up to here with hate
Don't you know you gotta get it straight
Filled up to here with hate
Beat her black and blue and get it straight
Uh huh
Oh Jim, how could you treat me this way
Hey hey hey
How could you treat me this way?
Oh Jim, how could you treat me this way
Hey hey
How could you treat me this way?
You know you broke my heart
Ever since you went away
Now you said that you love us
But you only make love to one of us
Oh Jim, how could you treat me this way
You know you broke my heart
Ever since you went away
When you're looking through the eyes of hate
Oh, oh, oh, oh
When you're looking through the eyes of hate
Oh, oh, oh, oh ...
@gracefarren6396
There is such raw honesty in Lou Reeds music. It hits you straight in the heart.
@estebanposadaduque6415
YES , i love BERLIN , very true your words
@stephendaparma3303
Louuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu 🖤🖤
@simonjager9259
The Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band of depression.
@mundicox8951
The second part of this is so beautifully haunting..
@janhenkel4459
+Mundi Cox I know! I find myself listening to it over and over again.
@LarsK-xs2yi
Yes and the first part is so funky. Love this song!
@Andrew-ri5qo
My favourite Lou Reed album.
@frommetoyou1981
Amen brother
@Derryberry1
It's been with me all my life. As brutal as it is in parts, It's been my constant companion.