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)
Temporary Thing
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You better make your face get out of here, quick
Maybe your ass was getting, aah, too rich
It ain't like we ain't never seen this thing before
And if it turns you then around
Then you better hit the door
But I know, it's just a temporary thing
Ooh, yeah, it's just a temporary thing
You've read too many books
You've seen too many plays
And it's things like this, that turn you away
Hey, hey, now, now, look, ha, look
Hey look, hey look, hey look, you better think about it twice
I know that your good breeding makes it seem not so nice
It's just a temporary thing
Aha, aha, aha, it's just a temporary thing
Where's the number, where's the dime and where's the phone
I feel like a stranger
I guess you want to go back home
Your mother, your father, your brother
I guess you wouldn't agree with me
But I don't give two shits, they're no better than me
Aha, it's just a temporary thing, oh yeah, been there before
Just a temporary thing, oh yeah, been there before
Ahh, bitch, get of my... temporary thing
Get out, it's just a temporary thing...
The song "Temporary Thing" by Lou Reed speaks of a relationship that was supposedly temporary from the beginning. The singer tells his partner to leave as he thinks that she might have gotten too attached to him due to his wealth. Although he knows that it's just going to last for a brief period, he still expresses some uneasiness and tension in the verse. He believes that her upbringing may have made her judgmental, and her views do not align with his, which could strain the relationship. The line "I know that your good breeding makes it seem not so nice" demonstrates how society's expectations and opinions may have affected her decision-making.
The singer questions the strength of the bond, and the lyric "Where's the number, where's the dime and where's the phone, I feel like a stranger, I guess you want to go back home" implies that he doubts their relationship will last. The line "Your mother, your father, your brother, I guess you wouldn't agree with me, but I don't give two shits, they're no better than me" points to a lack of social status or economic power in the relationship. Despite this, he remains nonchalant about the situation, and his lack of emotions towards the ending of the relationship suggests that he saw it coming.
Overall, "Temporary Thing" is a song about the impermanence of relationships and how it can be challenging to navigate relationships when societal norms and values come into play.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't help it, now, baby
I am unable to control myself, Baby
You better make your face get out of here, quick
You should leave this place soon, try not to delay any longer
Maybe your ass was getting, aah, too rich
Perhaps you were becoming too wealthy, or getting too comfortable with your current situation.
It ain't like we ain't never seen this thing before
We have faced such situations before, hence this is nothing new
And if it turns you then around
Then you better hit the door
If it makes you feel uncomfortable, then you should leave immediately
But I know, it's just a temporary thing
Ooh, yeah, it's just a temporary thing
I am aware that it is temporary and won't last long
You've read too many books
You've seen too many plays
And it's things like this, that turn you away
You have learned too much, seen too many things, and it is causing you to turn your back on the current situation
Hey, hey, now, now, look, ha, look
Hey look, hey look, hey look, you better think about it twice
I know that your good breeding makes it seem not so nice
Think twice before making any decision, I understand it may be difficult to accept it because of your good upbringing
Where's the number, where's the dime and where's the phone
I feel like a stranger
I guess you want to go back home
Your mother, your father, your brother
I guess you wouldn't agree with me
But I don't give two shits, they're no better than me
I feel alienated, you want to go home and your family wouldn't approve of me, but I don't care because they are no different than me
Aha, it's just a temporary thing, oh yeah, been there before
Just a temporary thing, oh yeah, been there before
Ahh, bitch, get of my... temporary thing
Get out, it's just a temporary thing...
I have experienced this situation before; it is temporary, and you should leave now
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEWIS ALLEN REED, LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bill May
Street Urban Music.
Before Rap.
LOU REED is Godfather of Punk.
Great song off Rock n Roll Heart .
Actually best song on album.
Vicious Circle is pretty cool as well.
Seen the tour way back in 76.
Played the song live.
Better than original.
Nick Commito
Can't help it, now, baby
You better make your face get out of here, quick
Maybe your ass was getting, aah, too rich
It ain't like we ain't never seen this thing before
And if it turns you then around
Then you better hit the door
But I know, it's just a temporary thing
Ooh, yeah, it's just a temporary thing
You've read too many books
You've seen too many plays
And it's things like this, that turn you away
Hey, hey, now, now, look, ha, look
Hey look, hey look, hey look, you better think about it twice
I know that your good breeding makes it seem not so nice
It's just a temporary thing
Aha, aha, aha, it's just a temporary thing
Where's the number, where's the dime and where's the phone
I feel like a stranger
I guess you want to go back home
Your mother, your father, your brother
I guess you wouldn't agree with me
But I don't give two shits, they're no better than me
Aha, it's just a temporary thing, oh yeah, been there before
Just a temporary thing, oh yeah, been there before
Ahh, bitch, get of my... temporary thing
Get out, it's just a temporary thing...
Alexander Duluoz
Hey now, bitch, now, baby
you better make your face get out of here, quick
Maybe your, was getting, ah, too rich
It ain't like we ain't never seen this thing before
And if it turns you then around
then you better hit the door
But I know, oh, it's just a temporary thing
Oh yeah, it's just a temporary thing
You've read too many books, you've seen too many plays
And it's things like this, that turn you away
Hey, now, now, look, huh, look, hey look, hey look
you better think about it twice
I know that your good breeding makes it seem not so nice
It's just a temporary thing
Ah-ha, ah-ha, ah-ha, it's just a temporary thing
Where's the number, where's the dime and where's the phone
I feel like a stranger, I guess you wanna go back home
Your mother, your father, your brother
I guess they wouldn't agree with me
But I don't give two shits, they're no better than me
Ah-ha, it's just a temporary thing
Oh yeah, been there before just a temporary thing
It's just a temporary thing
Ah bitch, get off my kids, temporary thing
Get out, it's just a temporary thing
Yeah now, home (it's just a temporary thing)
Temporary thing, huh, ah-ha (it's just a temporary thing)
.... (it's just a temporary thing)
.... (it's just a temporary thing)
(it's just a temporary thing)
(it's just a temporary thing)
Torbjørn Lund
Rock and Roll Heart is the most underrated album.
Richard McGrath
Most of it is Lou by no.s throwaway shit...but this song is a killer..the title song too
VanDanna Dale
Proof that there was NO ONE like Lou...RIP.
Michael G
He died on my birthday, October 27.
A lot of cool people were born on that day. But he is the most famous by far who died on it.
Stephen DaParma
🖤 Louuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu 🖤
Electric Mist
Masterpiece!
Bill May
Street Urban Music.
Before Rap.
LOU REED is Godfather of Punk.
Great song off Rock n Roll Heart .
Actually best song on album.
Vicious Circle is pretty cool as well.
Seen the tour way back in 76.
Played the song live.
Better than original.
Lara Assolo
i love this tune
Jay
I find Lou Reed song after song that I like. Damn. Greatness.
Nick Commito
Can't help it, now, baby
You better make your face get out of here, quick
Maybe your ass was getting, aah, too rich
It ain't like we ain't never seen this thing before
And if it turns you then around
Then you better hit the door
But I know, it's just a temporary thing
Ooh, yeah, it's just a temporary thing
You've read too many books
You've seen too many plays
And it's things like this, that turn you away
Hey, hey, now, now, look, ha, look
Hey look, hey look, hey look, you better think about it twice
I know that your good breeding makes it seem not so nice
It's just a temporary thing
Aha, aha, aha, it's just a temporary thing
Where's the number, where's the dime and where's the phone
I feel like a stranger
I guess you want to go back home
Your mother, your father, your brother
I guess you wouldn't agree with me
But I don't give two shits, they're no better than me
Aha, it's just a temporary thing, oh yeah, been there before
Just a temporary thing, oh yeah, been there before
Ahh, bitch, get of my... temporary thing
Get out, it's just a temporary thing...