The album is the pair's first collaboration since 1972, and is dedicated to the memory of Andy Warhol, their mentor, who had died unexpectedly in 1987. Drella was a nickname for Warhol, a portmanteau of Dracula and Cinderella, used by Warhol's crowd.
Songs for Drella offers a kind of vie romancée of Warhol, focusing on his interpersonal relations. The songs fall roughly into three categories: Warhol's (semi-fictitious) first-person perspective, third-person narratives chronicling events and affairs, and first-person feelings towards and commentaries on Warhol by Reed and Cale themselves.
The pair had been playing the songs live in 1989 as a song cycle before committing them to tape. By the end of recording Cale vowed never to work with Reed again due to personal differences; nevertheless, Songs for Drella would prove to be the overture to a full-blown Velvet Underground reunion: a one-off performance of "Heroin" in 1990, and a tour in 1993.
Although the album was conceived as an indivisible whole, a single was released off it, "Nobody But You".
I Believe
Lou Reed & John Cale Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
got off at the 4th floor
Valerie Solanis took the elevator
got off at the 4th floor
She pointed the gun at Andy saying
you cannot control me anymore
I believe there's got to be some retribution
I believe that something's wrong if she's alive right now
Valerie Solanis took three steps
pointing at the floor
Valerie Solanis waved her gun
pointing at the floor
From inside her idiot madness spoke and bang
Andy fell onto the floor
I believe life's serious enough for retribution
I believe being sick is no excuse and -
I believe I would've pulled the switch on her myself
When they got him to the hospital
his pulse was gone they thought that he was dead
His guts were pouring from his wounds
onto the floor they thought that he was dead
Not until years later would
the hospital do to him what she could not
what she could not
Where were you, you didn't come to see me
Andy said, I think I died, why didn't you come to see me
Andy said, It hurt so much, they took blood from my hand
I believe there's got to be some retribution
I believe there's got to be some retribution
I believe we are all the poorer for it now
Visit me, visit me
Visit me, visit me
Visit me, why didn't you visit me
visit me, why didn't you visit me
Visit me, visit me
visit me, why didn't you visit me
The lyrics to 'I Believe' by Lou Reed & John Cale narrate the tragic experience of Andy Warhol, as he was shot and almost killed by Valerie Solanis, who was a radical feminist and author of the SCUM Manifesto. The lyrics follow the events leading up to the shooting and the aftermath, with emphasis on the need for retribution. The first verse recounts how Solanis takes the elevator to the fourth floor where Warhol's studio, The Factory was located, and points a gun at him, proclaiming her freedom from his control.
The chorus of the song underscores the idea that justice must be served with retribution, and not just forgiveness. The lines "I believe an eye for an eye is elemental" and "I believe being sick is no excuse" emphasize the importance of accountability for one's actions, no matter the circumstances. As the song progresses, it becomes evident that the shooting left Warhol critically injured and left to die. The final verse refers to Warhol's disappointment that his friends did not come visit him in the hospital, which suggests a sense of betrayal.
Overall, the lyrics of 'I Believe' are a reflection on the nature of justice and the need for accountability in society, particularly in cases where violence is involved. It highlights the consequences of actions that stem from extreme beliefs, which can often lead to irreparable damage, and emphasize the importance of taking responsibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Valerie Solanis took the elevator got off at the 4th floor
Valerie Solanis, an artist and author, took the elevator and got out of it on the fourth floor.
Valerie Solanis took the elevator got off at the 4th floor
Valerie Solanis, an artist and author, took the elevator and got out of it on the fourth floor.
She pointed the gun at Andy saying you cannot control me anymore
Valerie Solanis aimed a gun at Andy Warhol, an artist, stating that he could no longer control her.
And I believe there's got to be some retribution
The singer believes that there should be a punishment for what Valerie Solanis did to Andy Warhol.
I believe an eye for an eye is elemental
The singer believes that revenge should be taken in the same manner as the wrong that was committed.
And I believe that something's wrong if she's alive right now
The singer thinks that there is something amiss if Valerie Solanis is still alive after shooting Andy Warhol.
Valerie Solanis took three steps pointing at the floor
While holding a gun, Valerie Solanis took three steps forward, directing it at the floor.
Valerie Solanis waved her gun pointing at the floor
Valerie Solanis brandished her firearm, gesturing towards the ground.
From inside her idiot madness spoke and bang
Valerie Solanis acted on her delusional thoughts, fired the gun, and hit Andy Warhol.
Andy fell onto the floor
As a result of Valerie Solanis shooting him, Andy Warhol collapsed on the floor.
And I believe life's serious enough for retribution
The singer believes that life is important enough for someone to be punished for taking it away.
I believe being sick is no excuse and
Despite Valerie Solanis being mentally unwell, the singer doesn't believe it's a valid excuse for her actions.
I believe I would've pulled the switch on her myself
The singer is so convinced of the need for retribution that they would have personally electrocuted Valerie Solanis, had it been an option.
When they got him to the hospital his pulse was gone
After they brought Andy Warhol to the hospital, his pulse was not detectable.
they thought that he was dead
The medical staff believed that Andy Warhol had passed away.
His guts were pouring from his wounds onto the floor
Andy Warhol's internal organs were seeping out of his injuries and onto the ground.
they thought that he was dead
Once again, medical personnel believed that Andy Warhol had died.
Not until years later would the hospital do to him what she could not
Years later, the hospital performed a surgery on Andy Warhol that Valerie Solanis had been unable to do.
Andy said, "Where were you, you didn't come to see me"
When Andy Warhol regained consciousness, he asked why the singer had not come to visit him in the hospital.
Andy said, "I think I died, why didn't you come to see me"
Andy Warhol, still recovering, expressed that he believed he had died, and asked why the singer hadn't come to his bedside.
"t hurt so much, they took blood from my hand"
Andy Warhol mentioned how painful his hospital stay had been, detailing some of the medical procedures he had undergone.
I believe there's got to be some retribution
The singer reiterates their belief that something should be done to avenge Andy Warhol's shooting.
I believe there's got to be some retribution
Once again, the singer emphasizes their belief in the need for retribution.
I believe we are all the poorer for it now
The singer believes that society as a whole is suffering from the consequences of Valerie Solanis shooting Andy Warhol.
Visit me, why didn't you visit me
With this refrain, the singer wonders why they were not present to visit Andy Warhol during his time in the hospital.
Visit me, why didn't you visit me
As with the previous line, the singer repeats their inquiry into why Andy Warhol wasn't visited during his hospital stay.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE, LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GreenLight2020
There is a difference between being raped and tortured a lifetime and die without having suffered a calvary.
Shame on Lou Reed for not forgive this woman whose life was a nightmare.
She knew she would never get justice
Warhol arrogant precipitated her loss.
For a survivor, poor artist, poor creator, a work is his identity, his all life, all sweat.
It was fair to ask him compensation but he did not want to know.
Then I understand why the contempt of walrhol was ungorgettable.
This woman was desperate fighter in a patriarchal society that continues to keep women as slaves.
To kill someone was not good as a lot men do but she did not deserve this song.
And she did not deserve psychiatric hospital but love.
Predators are mad !
@lwplwp
Amazing stuff. One of the most under appreciated albums ever made. 😪
@micmac09
A masterpiece
@jackal59
I like this version so much better than the studio recording.
@ratzatzatzata
I love Lou's guitar so much !!!
@alejjj
This is the one I like the most from the album 'songs for drella'. Thanks for uploading it
@natetheguitarkid
Lou's guitar solo is so hilarious to me. He plays it so painfully and frustratingly, definitely on purpose. That or he was trying to convey the sound of him murdering Valerie.
@neonatalpenguin
What a wonderful song. That piano riff is beautiful. If anything, Lou shows admirable restraint to the loser who violently and painfully shortened the life of one of the 20th century's greatest artists.
@kittteau
she was based 💅🏽💅🏽💅🏽
@georgea.567
@@kittteau She was a crazy b1itch who died alone.
@jokeharmonica
I do not support violence but I think the craft is a reflection of emotion. Thanks for you input