Make Up
Reed (Lou) Lyrics


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Your face when sleeping is sublime
And then you open up your eyes

Then comes pancake factor number one
Eyeliner, rose hips and lip gloss, such fun
You're a slick little girl, you're a slick little girl
Rouge and coloring, incense and ice
Perfume and kisses, oh it's all so nice
You're a slick little girl, you're a slick little girl

Now we're coming out, out of our closets
Out on the streets, yeah, we're coming out

When you're in bed it's so wonderful
It'd be so nice to fall in love
When you get dressed I really get my fill
People say that it's impossible

Gowns lovely made out of lace
And all the things that you do to your face
You're a slick little girl, you're a slick little girl
Eyeliner, whitener then color the eyes
Yellow and green, oh what a surprise
You're a slick little girl, oh, you're such a slick little girl

Now we're coming out, out of our closets




Out on the streets, yes, we're coming out
Yeah, we're coming out

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Lou Reed's Make-Up are about the act of dressing up and wearing makeup as a means of self-expression and liberation. The first verse describes the beauty of a person's face while they are asleep and then the excitement that comes when they open their eyes. The second verse goes on to describe the application of various makeup products such as eyeliner, lipstick, and rouge. The chorus emphasizes the "slickness" of the girl, illustrating how she is in control of her own appearance and identity. Finally, the last verse emphasizes the power of makeup to transform and the joy that comes with wearing beautiful clothes and feeling confident in one's own skin.


Line by Line Meaning

Your face when sleeping is sublime
I love the way you look when you're asleep, so peaceful and beautiful.


And then you open up your eyes
Then you wake up and I can see the real you, who you are beyond your appearance.


Then comes pancake factor number one
Now it's time to start putting on makeup, the first step of many in trying to look perfect.


Eyeliner, rose hips and lip gloss, such fun
I see you applying your makeup, trying to enhance your natural beauty with different colors and textures.


You're a slick little girl, you're a slick little girl
You are very confident and skilled at applying makeup, able to transform yourself into something different yet still beautiful.


Rouge and coloring, incense and ice
You like to use blush and other colorful cosmetics to add some variety to your look, and even use pleasant scents and cooling agents to enhance your experience.


Perfume and kisses, oh it's all so nice
You're not only enhancing your appearance, but also your scent and preparing yourself for potential intimacy.


Now we're coming out, out of our closets
We're both revealing our true selves to the world, particularly in regards to our sexuality or identity.


Out on the streets, yeah, we're coming out
We're not hiding who we are anymore, and we're ready to express ourselves openly in public spaces.


When you're in bed it's so wonderful
I love being intimate with you, and there's something special about how you look and feel when you're laying in bed.


It'd be so nice to fall in love
I'm hoping that our relationship can develop into something deeper, more meaningful, and long-lasting.


When you get dressed I really get my fill
I love watching you get ready and seeing how you transform yourself into this confident, beautiful person.


People say that it's impossible
Society and some people may discourage or criticize our relationship, but we won't let those opinions hold us back.


Gowns lovely made out of lace
You have a wonderful sense of fashion, and love wearing clothes that make you feel beautiful and elegant.


And all the things that you do to your face
You're very skilled and creative in the ways that you apply makeup, always trying new things and experimenting with different looks.


Eyeliner, whitener then color the eyes
You use eyeliner to define your eyes, then add some white to make them look larger and brighter, then add some color to make them stand out even more.


Yellow and green, oh what a surprise
You're not afraid to use bright and unusual colors in your makeup, and I love how creative and daring you can be with your appearance.


You're a slick little girl, oh, you're such a slick little girl
You continue to amaze me with your confidence and creativity in your appearance, and I love how you're always trying new things.


Now we're coming out, out of our closets
We're both revealing our true selves to the world, particularly in regards to our sexuality or identity.


Out on the streets, yes, we're coming out
We're not hiding who we are anymore, and we're ready to express ourselves openly in public spaces.


Yeah, we're coming out ...
We're ready to face the world and let our true selves be known, no matter the challenges or obstacles we may face.




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