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)
Wait
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I know I shouldn't, but we'll wait (such a pretty face)
I know the time is getting late (such a waste)
And here is what you hesitate (such a pretty face)
But still I really wish that you'd wait (such a waste)
Although the passion might abate (such a pretty face)
And find you in another state (it's such a state)
That will seem just as a mistake (it's such a waste)
Wait (it was such a waste)
I really wouldn't want your hate (it's such a pretty face)
Certainly not after like late (such a waste)
You want to give not only take (it's such a pretty face)
I know propriety is such a waste (it's such a disgrace)
But then it says you really have to wait (such a pretty face)
Considering the present state (such a waste)
Don't change my mind at such a late stage (such a waste)
Oh baby, don't you think you oughta wait (such a pretty face)
Ooohhh
Ooohhh
Ooohhh
Ooohhh
Wait
Oh, now baby, how I wish you would wait
I really wish you'd hesitate
Oh, baby, baby please why don't you wait
Oh, how I really wish you'd wait
Oh, how I wish you'd hesitate
In Lou Reed's song "Wait," he sings about a situation where he knows he shouldn't wait for someone, but he wishes they would wait for him. The lyrics show his inner conflict and understanding that waiting might not be the best choice, but he still desires it. He acknowledges that waiting might lead to a waste of time, passion, and energy, but he wants the other person to share their giving nature and not just take. It's a complex song about desire, selflessness, and relationships.
The lyrics themselves are open to interpretation, and what is clear is that Lou Reed was going through a struggle when writing this song. Some speculate that it was related to his personal life, which was often tumultuous. Despite the ambiguity, the song's appeal lies in its raw emotions and sincerity.
Line by Line Meaning
Wait (disgrace)
This line introduces the song and suggests that waiting is a shameful act.
I know I shouldn't, but we'll wait (such a pretty face)
The singer knows that waiting is not the right thing to do, but their attraction to the other person's physical appearance makes them want to wait.
I know the time is getting late (such a waste)
The singer is aware that time is passing and that waiting may not be the best use of their time.
And here is what you hesitate (such a pretty face)
The other person is hesitant to wait, but the artist is drawn to their physical appearance and wants them to wait.
But still I really wish that you'd wait (such a waste)
Despite knowing that waiting may not be sensible, the artist still desires the other person to wait.
Although the passion might abate (such a pretty face)
The passion between the two may decrease over time, but the physical attraction remains.
And find you in another state (it's such a state)
If the other person does not wait, they may find themselves in a different emotional or physical state.
That will seem just as a mistake (it's such a waste)
If the other person does not wait, they may regret it and view it as a mistake.
Oh baby, I really think that I oughta wait (such a pretty face)
The artist is saying that they should wait because of the other person's physical appearance.
I really wouldn't want your hate (it's such a pretty face)
The artist does not want the other person to hate them or be angry with them for asking to wait, especially because of the other person's attractiveness.
Certainly not after like late (such a waste)
The singer does not want to be hated, especially after it is too late to change their mind and continue the relationship.
You want to give not only take (it's such a pretty face)
The artist believes that the other person wants more than just physical attraction in a relationship, but also wants to give and receive other things.
I know propriety is such a waste (it's such a disgrace)
The singer does not believe that society's expectations are useful or necessary in this situation.
But then it says you really have to wait (such a pretty face)
Despite thinking that propriety is unnecessary, the singer acknowledges that they have to wait for the sake of the other person's attractive appearance.
Considering the present state (such a waste)
The singer is thinking about the current situation and whether it is worth waiting for.
Don't change my mind at such a late stage (such a waste)
The artist does not want the other person to change their mind about waiting when it is too late to reverse the decision.
Oh baby, don't you think you oughta wait (such a pretty face)
The artist is asking the other person to also consider waiting because of their physical attractiveness.
Ooohhh
This is a vocalization to add emotional emphasis to the song.
Wait
The singer repeats the title of the song, emphasizing the act of waiting.
Oh, now baby, how I wish you would wait
The artist is expressing their desire for the other person to wait with added emphasis by calling them 'baby'.
I really wish you'd hesitate
The artist wants the other person to consider waiting and think about the consequences of not waiting.
Oh, baby, baby please why don't you wait
The artist is pleading with the other person to wait for them.
Oh, how I really wish you'd wait
The singer continues to emphasize their wish for the other person to wait.
Oh, how I wish you'd hesitate
The artist wants the other person to think about waiting and not rush into a decision.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ELIZABETH FRASER, LOU REED, ROBIN GUTHRIE, SIMON RAYMONDE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind