Femme Fatale
The Velvet Underground Lyrics


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Here she comes, you better watch your step
She's going to break your heart in two, it's true
It's not hard to realize
Just look into her false colored eyes
She builds you up to just put you down, what a clown

'Cause everybody knows
(She's a femme fatale)
The things she does to please
(She's a femme fatale)
She's just a little tease
(She's a femme fatale)
See the way she walks
Hear the way she talks

You're put down in her book
You're number thirty seven, have a look
She's going to smile to make you frown, what a clown
Little boy, she's from the street
Before you start, you're already beat
She's going to play you for a fool, yes it's true

'Cause everybody knows
(She's a femme fatale)
The things she does to please
(She's a femme fatale)
She's just a little tease
(She's a femme fatale)
See the way she walks
Hear the way she talks

'Cause everybody knows
(She's a femme fatale)
The things she does to please
(She's a femme fatale)
She's just a little tease
(She's a femme fatale)
Ooh ooh oh




(She's a femme fatale)
Ooh ooh oh

Overall Meaning

The Velvet Underground’s “Femme Fatale” describes a woman who is dangerous and seductive. The singer warns that she will break a man’s heart and leave him feeling foolish. Her false colored eyes represent the untruths she tells and her manipulative nature. The song suggests that she is nothing more than a tease and that her actions are meant to please herself, not others. The singer warns that she will put a man down after building him up and that she will play him for a fool. He suggests that she has already won before the game has even begun; she is from the street and knows how to manipulate men.


The song suggests that the femme fatale archetype is both fascinating and dangerous. This archetype is often seen in literature and film, where a woman uses her wiles to entrap and manipulate men. The song explores the power dynamics between men and women and suggests that the femme fatale’s allure comes from her ability to get what she wants while leaving men feeling used and helpless. The song’s catchy melody and simple lyrics make it a standout track on The Velvet Underground’s debut album, and its enduring popularity speaks to its timeless themes of seduction and betrayal.


Line by Line Meaning

Here she comes, you better watch your step
Be careful, because she's a dangerous woman


She's going to break your heart in two, it's true
She will crush your emotions without mercy


It's not hard to realize
It's easy to see


Just look into her false colored eyes
Her eyes aren't real, they're deceitful


She builds you up to just put you down, what a clown
She elevates you just to humiliate you


'Cause everybody knows
It's common knowledge


(She's a femme fatale)
She's a seductive and dangerous woman


The things she does to please
She'll do anything to get what she wants


She's just a little tease
She enjoys leading people on


See the way she walks
Observe her confident and provocative stride


Hear the way she talks
Listen to her smooth and alluring voice


You're put down in her book
She dismisses you as unimportant


You're number thirty seven, have a look
You're one of many in a long line of victims


She's going to smile to make you frown, what a clown
She'll use her charms to manipulate and hurt you


Little boy, she's from the street
She's a tough and street-smart woman


Before you start, you're already beat
You're already defeated before you even begin


She's going to play you for a fool, yes it's true
She's going to use you and manipulate you


Ooh ooh oh
Vocalization to emphasize the song's hook




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lou Reed

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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