Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American musicia… Read Full Bio ↴Lewis Allan Reed (March 2, 1942 – October 27, 2013) was an American musician, songwriter, and poet. He was the guitarist, singer, and principal songwriter for the rock band the Velvet Underground and had a solo career that spanned five decades. Although not commercially successful during its existence, the Velvet Underground became regarded as one of the most influential bands in the history of underground and alternative rock music. Reed's distinctive deadpan voice, poetic and transgressive lyrics, and experimental guitar playing were trademarks throughout his long career.

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)

Wild Child
Lou Reed Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was speakin' to Bill who was given to pills and small racing cars
He had given them up since his last crack-up had carried him too far
Then we spoke of the movies and verse
And the way an actress held her purse
And the way life at times can get worse,
Then we spoke of Loraine, always back to Lorraine

Ah, she's a wild child, and nobody can get at her
She's a wild child, oh, and nobody can get to her

Sleepin' out on the street, oh, livin' all alone
Without a house or a home and then she asked you, please,
Hey, baby, can I have some spare change
Oh, can I break your heart ?

She's a wild child, she's a wild child

I was talkin' to Betty about her auditions, how they made her ill
But life in the theater, is certainly fraught
With many spills and chills
But she'd come down after some wine
Which is what happens most of the time
Then we sat and both spoke in rhymes
Till we spoke of Loraine, ah, always back to Lorraine

I was talking to Ed who'd been reported dead by mutual friends
He thought it was funny that I had no money to spend on him
So we both shared a piece of sweet cheese
And sang of our lives and our dreams
And how things can come apart at the seams
And we talk of Lorraine, always back to Lorraine

She's a wild child, oh, and nobody can get at her
She's a wild child, oh, and nobody can get to her

Sleepin' out on the street, oh, livin' all alone
Without a house or a home and then she asked you, please,
Oh, baby, can I have some spare change
Now can I break your heart?"

She's a wild child, she's a wild child

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Wild Child" by Lou Reed are a journey through the conversations the singer has had with several people, reminiscing about different topics such as the movies, life, and rhymes. However, regardless of the conversations, they always end up with the subject of a woman named Lorraine, who seems to hold an important place in all their lives. The chorus, "She's a wild child, and nobody can get to her," seems to refer to Lorraine, who is described as living alone on the streets and without a home. The song portrays the idea that Lorraine is unattainable, and this creates a sense of distance between her and the people who talk about her.

The lyrics describe the characters' struggles with addiction, suicide, and failed relationships. They all seem to have some connection to Lorraine, who could be a symbol of their past or a reminder of their failures. The repetition of her name emphasizes the importance of her character, which represents something unattainable that keeps them constantly longing for her.

Overall, "Wild Child" is a song about people's struggles in life and their inability to overcome their internal demons. Lorraine is both the cause of their troubles and the source of their desires. The song suggests that trying to get close to something that is unattainable can lead to a never-ending cycle of struggle and desire.

Line by Line Meaning

I was talkin' to Chuck in his Genghis Khan suit And his wizard's hat He spoke of his movie and how he was makin' a new sound track And then we spoke of kids on the coast And different types of organic soap And the way suicides don't leave notes, Then we spoke of Loraine, always back to Lorraine
Lou Reed is having a conversation with Chuck about his movie soundtrack and other random things. He then brings up the topic of suicides not leaving notes, which leads to them inevitably talking about Loraine.

Ah, she's a wild child, and nobody can get at her She's a wild child, oh, and nobody can get to her Sleepin' out on the street, oh, livin' all alone Without a house or a home and then she asked you, please, Hey, baby, can I have some spare change Oh, can I break your heart ? She's a wild child, she's a wild child
The titular wild child is a woman who lives on the street and is unreachable. She asks for spare change and offers to break your heart, symbolizing how she is untouchable and unpredictable.

I was talkin' to Betty about her auditions, how they made her ill But life in the theater, is certainly fraught With many spills and chills But she'd come down after some wine Which is what happens most of the time Then we sat and both spoke in rhymes Till we spoke of Loraine, ah, always back to Lorraine
Lou Reed talks to Betty about the trials and tribulations of auditioning in the theater. They drink wine and speak in rhymes before again returning to the topic of Loraine.

I was talking to Ed who'd been reported dead by mutual friends He thought it was funny that I had no money to spend on him So we both shared a piece of sweet cheese And sang of our lives and our dreams And how things can come apart at the seams And we talk of Lorraine, always back to Lorraine
Lou Reed catches up with Ed, who had been reported dead by mutual friends, and shares a piece of cheese with him. They talk about their lives and dreams and how things can fall apart, but still bring up Loraine once again.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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