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)
Ride Into The Sun
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looking for another place to ride into the sun
Ride into the sun, ride into the sun
Ride into the sun ride into the sun
Where -
everything seems so pretty
Remember that it's just a flower, made out of clay
Oh, the city
Where everything seems so dirty
But if you're tired and you're filled with self-pity
Remember that you're just one more person who's there
It's hard to live in the city
It's hard to live in the city, oh - oh - oh
It's hard to live in the city, oh - wow - wow
It's hard to live in the city
The lyrics of Lou Reed's "Ride Into The Sun" is an ode to the search for freedom and inner peace, depicting the search for a paradise where life becomes simpler and more fulfilled. The opening line "Looking for another chance for someone else to be" suggests a desire to escape the pressures of everyday life, to find a place where one can belong without the responsibilities of the city. For the singer, the answer to this search is to "Ride into the sun," to leave the city behind and search for a better life.
The second verse provides a kind of disclaimer, acknowledging that the dream of the perfect place where everything is pretty, pure, and good is just that - a dream. The singer warns against becoming disillusioned and falling into self-pity, reminding us that the city is just a manifestation of the world we live in. In the chorus, the song encourages us to push beyond the difficulties and challenges that living in the city presents, upholding the importance of forging ahead and seeking a more fulfilled and satisfying life.
Overall, "Ride into the sun" is an emotional statement, one that resonates with its listeners, as it encapsulates the struggles of living in modern times and the human desire for freedom, love, and belonging.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking for another chance for someone else to be
Searching for an opportunity to let go and let someone else take over.
Looking for another place to ride into the sun
Searching for a new place to escape and start over.
Ride into the sun, ride into the sun
Encouraging the listener to embrace the idea of leaving their troubles behind and moving on to a brighter future.
Where - everything seems so pretty
Describing a place where everything appears beautiful and perfect.
But if you're tired and you're sick of the city
Acknowledging that sometimes people can become exhausted and fed up with their current surroundings.
Remember that it's just a flower, made out of clay
Reminding the listener that sometimes things may not be as they seem, and that even the most beautiful things can be temporary and flawed in reality.
Oh, the city
Expressing a weariness and dissatisfaction with urban living.
Where everything seems so dirty
Describing a place where everything appears grimy and worn down.
But if you're tired and you're filled with self-pity
Acknowledging that sometimes people can become consumed with self-doubt and negativity.
Remember that you're just one more person who's there
Reminding the listener that they are not alone in their struggles and that others share their experiences and emotions.
It's hard to live in the city
Stating that urban living can be a difficult and challenging experience.
It's hard to live in the city, oh - oh - oh
Reiterating the challenge of city living.
It's hard to live in the city, oh - wow - wow
Using repetition and emphasis to emphasize the difficulty and struggle of living in an urban environment.
It's hard to live in the city
Continuing the same message as the prior lines, highlighting the troubles and obstacles people face when living in a city.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sterling Morrison, Maureen Tucker, John Cale, Lou Reed
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind