Heroin
The Velvet Underground Lyrics

I have made big decision
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
'Cause when the blood begins to flow
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
When I'm closing in on death

You can't help me now, you guys
And all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know

I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sailed the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
On a sailor's suit and cap

Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of all the evils of this town
And of himself and those around
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know

Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a mainline into my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I'm better off than dead

Because when the smack begins to flow
I really don't care anymore
About all the Jim-Jims in this town
And all the politicians making crazy sounds
And everybody putting everybody else down
And all the dead bodies piled up in mounds

'Cause when the smack begins to flow
And I really don't care anymore
Ah, when that heroin is in my blood
And that blood is in my head
Then thank God that I'm as good as dead
And thank your God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
And I guess I just don't know
Oh, and I guess I just don't know

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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them

"Heroin" is a song by The Velvet Underground, released on their 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. Written by Lou Reed in 1964, the song is one of the band's most celebrated compositions, overtly depicting heroin use and abuse. Critic Mark Deming writes, "While 'Heroin' hardly endorses drug use, it doesn't clearly condemn it, either, which made it all the more troubling in the eyes of many listeners".

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it #448 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Read Full Bio"Heroin" is a song by The Velvet Underground, released on their 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. Written by Lou Reed in 1964, the song is one of the band's most celebrated compositions, overtly depicting heroin use and abuse. Critic Mark Deming writes, "While 'Heroin' hardly endorses drug use, it doesn't clearly condemn it, either, which made it all the more troubling in the eyes of many listeners".

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it #448 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2006, Pitchfork Media ranked it #77 on their list of the 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s. In 2007 Mental Floss magazine listed it as one of ten songs that changed the world.

"Heroin" was among a three-song set to be re-recorded at T.T.G. Studios, Hollywood before being included on the final release of The Velvet Underground and Nico (along with "I'm Waiting for the Man" and "Venus in Furs"). This recording of the song would be the album's second longest at 7 minutes and 12 seconds, being eclipsed only by "European Son" by about thirty seconds.

"Heroin" begins slowly with Lou Reed's quiet, melodic guitar and hypnotic drum patterns by Maureen Tucker, soon joined by John Cale's droning electric viola and Sterling Morrison's steady rhythm guitar. The tempo increases gradually, mimicking the high the narrator receives from the drug, until a frantic crescendo is reached, punctuated by Cale's shrieking viola and the more punctuated guitar strumming of Reed and Morrison. Tucker's drumming becomes hurried and louder. The song then slows to the original tempo, and repeats the same pattern before ending.

The song is based on a D and a G major chords. Like "Sister Ray", it features no bass guitar. Rolling Stone magazine said "It doesn't take much to make a great song," since the song only featured three chords.

Lou Reed later performed "Heroin" live in his glam rock style, featuring the guitarists Steve Hunter and Dick Wagner. The resulting eleven minute track is included on his live album Rock 'n' Roll Animal, released in 1974.

The song has been covered by several artists, including Mazzy Star, Human Drama, Iggy Pop, Echo & the Bunnymen, Billy Idol and Third Eye Blind

In an interview on the Jonathan Richman DVD, Take Me To The Plaza, he recounts trading a record by The Fugs for The Velvet Underground and Nico after hearing this song for the first time.

Denis Johnson's short story collection Jesus' Son, and the film based on it took its title from the lyrics of this song.

Brian Bell and Patrick Wilson from Weezer covered the song.

The song is featured in the 1991 Oliver Stone movie, The Doors
According to Mick Jagger, the Beggar's Banquet track "Stray Cat Blues" by The Rolling Stones was inspired by "Heroin", Jagger going as far as to say that the whole sound of "Stray Cat Blues" was lifted from "Heroin". The intro's of both songs bear a distinct resemblance.

In Irvine Welsh's novel Trainspotting, the central character Mark Renton describes the playing of 'Heroin' during heroin ingestion as against the junky's "golden rule".

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01All Tomorrow's Parties5:55

02I'm Waiting for the Man

03Venus in Furs5:07

04The Black Angel's Death Song3:12

05Heroin9:42

PT9M42S

The Velvet Underground

06Femme Fatale3:01

07Run Run Run

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

David Thieda

11w↑1

🌔Sorrows🌖
empty

She loves the autumn moon
The black clouds on the silver spoon
One to still the brain
And the other will fill the veins
As her sorrows empty down into the drain

For an hour maybe two
Under the sun there’s nothing new
The feelings come back
Dressed formal in the blues

Nodding off to another land
She hears live music but there’s no band
Pushing down on the plunger
With her hand

City streets and red silk sheets
She lays her head on the pillow
The day’s complete
She lays her head on the pillow
The days complete
DLT

Leonardo Filippini

1y↑2

Lyrics, since I can't find them

I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
'Cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my vein
And I'll tell ya, things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel just like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made the big decision
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
'Cause when the blood begins to flow
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
When I'm closing in on death
And you can't help me, not you guys
Or all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
On a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of all of the evils of this town
And of himself, and those around
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a mainline to my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I'm better off than dead
Because when the smack begins to flow
I really don't care anymore
About all the Jim-Jim's in this town
And all the politicians makin' crazy sounds
And everybody puttin' everybody else down
And all the dead bodies piled up in mounds
'Cause when the smack begins to flow
Then I really don't care anymore
Ah, when the heroin is in my blood
And that blood is in my head
Then thank God that I'm good as dead
Then thank your God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess I just don't know

sea otter

1y↑4

[Verse 1]
I don't know just where I'm goin'
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
'Cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my vein
And I tell you things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushin' on my run
And I feel just like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know

[Verse 2]
I have made big decision
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
'Cause when the blood begins to flow
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
When I'm closin' in on death

You can't help me, not you guys
Or all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know

[Verse 3]
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sailed the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Goin' from this land here to that
On a sailor's suit and cap

Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of all the evils of this town
And of himself and those around
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know

[Verse 4]
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life, haha
Because a mainline into my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I'm better off than dead

Because when the smack begins to flow
I really don't care anymore
About all the Jim-Jims in this town
And all the politicians makin' crazy sounds
And everybody puttin' everybody else down
And all the dead bodies piled up in mounds

'Cause when the smack begins to flow
And I really don't care anymore
Ah, when that heroin is in my blood
Heh, and that blood is in my head
Then thank God that I'm good as dead
And thank your God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
And I guess I just don't know
Oh, and I guess I just don't know

Ted Kaczynski Gaming

1y↑1

I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
'Cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my vein
And I'll tell ya, things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel just like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made the big decision
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
'Cause when the blood begins to flow
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
When I'm closing in on death
And you can't help me, not you guys
Or all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
On a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of all of the evils of this town
And of himself, and those around
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a mainline to my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I'm better off than dead
Because when the smack begins to flow
I really don't care anymore
About all the Jim-Jim's in this town
And all the politicians makin' crazy sounds
And everybody puttin' everybody else down
And all the dead bodies piled up in mounds
'Cause when the smack begins to flow
Then I really don't care anymore
Ah, when the heroin is in my blood
And that blood is in my head
Then thank God that I'm good as dead
Then thank your God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess I just don't know

Sandor Clegane

22w↑1

To me, this song is not just about heroine addiction, it is a song about modern mans search for meaning and in particular the perspective of someone who has not been able to find it.

The song opens up with this very admission

“I, don’t know, just where im going…”

Modern society is sick, and can be unfulfilling. It is why mental illness is at an all time high. Never in the history of humanity have we had such paralyzing freedom.

This verse really drives the point home

“I… wish that… I was born a thousand years ago…
I… wish that… i’d sailed the darkened seas, on a great big clipper ship… going from this land here to that, all in a sailors suit and cap…
Away from the big city, where a man cannot be free, of all of the EVILS, of this town and of himself and those around, oh and I guess that I just don’t know oh and I guess that I just don’t know…….”

GUNKEM 214TV

1y↑1

I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
'Cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my vein
And I tell you things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel just like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made big decision
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
'Cause when the blood begins to flow
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
When I'm closing in on death
You can't help me now, you guys
And all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sailed the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
On a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of all the evils of this town
And of himself and those around
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a mainline into my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I'm better off than dead
Because when the smack begins to flow
I really don't care anymore
About all the Jim-Jims in this town
And all the politicians making crazy sounds
And everybody putting everybody else down
And all the dead bodies piled up in mounds
'Cause when the smack begins to flow
And I really don't care anymore
Ah, when that heroin is in my blood
And that blood is in my head
Then thank God that I'm as good as dead
And thank your God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
And I guess I just don't know
Oh, and I guess I just don't know

All comments from YouTube:

Sebastian Fitzptraick

4y↑1.8K

This is the kind of music that you don’t listen to often but when you do it hits you hard.

Casper_Skitzo

17w

It paires well with my heroin tho . Like a fine wine 🍷

Monika R.

22w

Das ist wirklich so!!!

pycazzo

29w

@okie gamer im doing that right now and have been for like 4 months as well

Brandon

30w↑1

Wrong about the first part

ted yarusso

33w↑2

I wasn’t a fan growing up, but I love this stuff more and more as I get older. I especially love the primitive approach.

19 More Replies...

alice c-m

2y↑864

It pains me so much to see how people don't view addicts as human beings. everyone is deserving of love and decency.

John D

many people who arent addicts, are not treated as human beings.. like minorities, kids who get bullied, people with low self esteem.. the difference is those people dont hurt anyone nor themselves

@space_bunker

14w

Awe so sad. Throw them in a dumpster fire . Addicts make a choice to leave there humanity behind. There not like the nice guy on the wire

Phoenix w

17w

@edward starling that's definitely not true

Bob Russell

19w

Yesss

68 More Replies...

Ricky Pisano

2y↑971

I shot dope for over 30 years man. Tried it at 15 years old and loved it from that moment. I got off it at 47 with Suboxone. Came off that at 58 using Kratom and now I'm finally clean. 60 years old. I was a heavy hitter who loved narcotics more than ANYTHING for most of my life. A LOT of dead friends. Looking back at where I've been and the things I did it's unbelievable. I STILL LOVE IT man..... but I know too well where that incredible high always brought me. And it was never good. Take my advice. If you're thinking of trying it..... DON'T. Because if you're anything like me.... you'll be in for the long haul after the first time.

Michael DeFillippo

12w

@Sandra Dimarzo maybe learn to spell it first. and clearly you haven't done it extensively yourself otherwise you'd know it's probably the only withdrawal as bad/worse than opioids. benzos (xanax) that is. don't promote what you don't know.

E L

13w

I needed to read this right now .🙌🏻 Thank you.

ℂ'𝕖𝕤𝕥 𝕊𝕚 𝔹𝕠𝕟!

17w

It's different hearing from somebody with experience.

Blessed Hope

19w

Proud of you . I was kinda the same except i didnt use as long as you. But this song brings back those memories.

Evergreen 🌲

19w

@Dan Dugan That’s strange! I’ve never heard of someone injecting MDMA

91 More Replies...

V Moonbeam

2y↑120

The drums on this track are fucking phenomenal. This song helped me understand my big sister's heroin addiction. Always have to listen to it multiple times and I cry every time. I love the part when he sings "And I guess I just don't know. I guess I just don't know." Every time I would talk with my sis she would always say she didn't know why she won't get clean, doesn't know where to start, doesn't know anything. And it's so relatable to those who have gone through addiction, I'm sure there was always a point in an addict's life where they said "I guess I just don't know." The lyrics clearly speak of heroin but any person who's lost in life could relate the lyrics to their situation. It shows how even if people don't understand others' addiction, maybe we are not as different as those who struggle with addiction,.

StrawberryCosmonaut

45w↑2

Beautiful comment

KermisVoyager1997

4y↑430

No words can describe how timeless this piece is. You could release it any time in the future and it would still sound fresh.

Evergreen 🌲

19w

@Paul Kersey great point. The mainstream certainly would hate on this song if they heard it amongst the melodic, highly polished, auto tune adorned music they’ve become accustomed to.

Jason Webb

20w

💯🔥👍facts

stephen hamlett

25w

This song describes it all in all types ov addiction and its an all time classic 👌

OmegaRedFan

30w↑1

You want to talk about under-rated bands!?!? Well here we are.

Kris Nelson

38w↑1

I agree. It came out in 1967, when the popular drugs were LSD, and marijuana.

7 More Replies...

Dabee

5y↑2.2K

I love how the drums act almost as a heartbeat, so when its mentioned that the protagonist is shooting up, the drums get faster like a heart beating. This song is pure genius

Andrew Wabik

@cneddy22 yeah I did it as a teenager. My mom would fill her prescriptions and just not use it. So it sort of stockpiled. I first put one or two on my arms. I’d be high for 14 hours at a time. Not good when you’re in catholic school. When I switched to sucking them, the high was intense and fast, but it lasted maybe 3-5 hours. I’m 30 now, and my mother has been dead for 7 years.

I don’t abuse that shit anymore, but I consider myself lucky to be able (and alive) to tell you about it.

cneddy22

@Andrew Wabik now it's just powdered fent on the streets with who knows what it in. At least u knew it was legit and clean, yeah that shit is supposed to be released over 3 days not all at once lol

Andrew Wabik

@cneddy22 used to suck on the patches 2 at a time. Thankfully, that didn’t last too long. I was on death’s doorstep.

cneddy22

@Andrew Wabik now it's coke and fetty

Andrew Wabik

@cneddy22 No. Not the classic speedball, anyway. Chris Farley and John Belushi were enough reason for me not to mix coke and H.

61 More Replies...

Deadsea 1993

4y↑700

It was said that this album sold poorly, but everyone that heard it started a band. I believe Velvet were the first creators of Alternative Rock

Rizzard_67

12w

@GyroLamb El Gárate Rock existe desde los 50's

huite

12w

This is "drug users music only" genre

John Smith

20w

@J G thats the sex pistols

John Smith

20w

@ClumsyKlutzyMarcy no

John Smith

20w

This is psycadelic rock. VU inspired Jim Morrison heavly

18 More Replies...

Boyo Levity

3y↑629

I love scrolling through the comments while this song plays, feels like a documentary as all these different ppl share their stories. All of that have gotten clean or are trying too, keep fighting !!!

David Forshaw

52w

👍 Agreed!

Fonzie Lou

Me too man!!!!its so interesting

Brian Cox

Agreed drinking vodka while listening to the song and reading the comments. Best wishes to all of you.

eric bryant

@Carlito Alter Ego the flesh

eric bryant

It's all fetanyl I was Into Roxie's but had some dependacy with Crystal

4 More Replies...

clc3111

2y↑112

Lou Reed was the Edgar Allen Poe of rock and roll.
And this is a poetic masterpiece to make you experience the depth of heroin...
They were geniuses, the Velvet Underground...

cool username

2y↑11

perfect description. poe, just like reed, was an absolute genius and pioneer of his time, but got most positive attention years after his work first came out.

Antisocial Atheist

38w↑43

This is such a great song. I listen to this almost everyday. I had an old friend who passed away in 2006 to an overdose. We always listened to this song as teenagers in the 90's. We began drinking together and smoking weed at 12 to 13 and was taking pills shortly after. We moved to cocaine about a year or two later. By the time we realized what we were doing to ourselves half of our friends we dead or locked up for years. I ended up doing 3 bids in state prison and he died when I was out on my second bid and I immediately went back for 5 years. I've been sober for a long time now but I still have all those memories in my mind running all the time. He was a good guy but he was also a troubled man. He had no parents that were around (well neither of us did) and his grandmother raised him. She was murdered along with his uncle and he lost all he had left and die a month later.

Blake Elliott

23w↑2

Thanks for sharing all of that.

Snow the Jam Man

5y↑2.1K

To have a song in 1967 titled "Heroin" which explicitly states the effects of said drug was unheard of, these guys were VERY ahead of their time

John D

imo the banana played a big part in it

@space_bunker

14w

The CIA created you and everything you know on behalf of the galac....

A Clark

17w

@D Yes, but #Burroughs published his novel about hard drug use, #Junk, in #1953. Lou said he wanted to bring the novel to rock lyrics.

Banjo Gonzales Universe of wonder

50w

Vietnam Baby!

Robert Thomas

1y↑1

I don't care what was going on in England, American punk began right in NYC with Lou Reed.

33 More Replies...

Fantomex

3y↑494

I always feel weird that I love this song so much, without ever actually doing drugs

Shelly Menzies

@Archer 60x
Is there any source of Lou saying that? I’d love to read/watch the interview in which he said that! :)

jonobrow

10w

I guess a desire to escape this world is pretty much universal, whether you're a druggie or not. :P

Kiefer Humph

16w

Try them man. They’ll expand your mind.

EliteTeamKiller

43w↑1

We all have a "drug." It might not be a chemical we put into our body, but it's there.

Jim C. Goodfellas

If you can enjoy a warm summer as much as some people have enjoyed the drugs then you must be in a good place in life. I see this was 2 years ago, I hope you are still in such a great place in life

32 More Replies...

Matthew Bittenbender

32w↑2

This isn't just a song about doing heroin, it's an experience. The entire discordant ensemble set against a simple guitar Is a mind bending metaphor. That simple, clear riff becomes chaotic, almost surreal as the song progresses of you right on the middle of a smack fueled trip with squelching chords and heart thumping, unharmonic bests distracting from the central melody. It is a masterpiece.

Nick Rivers

3y↑44

This song was WAY ahead of its time. It has a 90s alternative feel to it which is absolutely amazing!

Joe M.

4y↑2.3K

Prettiest song about ruining your own life ever made

TdgChan

Death grips pfp I was expecting to see you on Heroine by Dutch disorder, but I guess this does make sense

‘NILOSAG

11w

Tell me about it. You’r right. Shity drug!

huite

12w

@artur wojciechowicz dlaczego napisałeś ten komentarz, jaki napisałeś? Chyba mało kogo obchodzi chemia diacetylomorfiny w wątku o muzyce Velvetsów

Carl Toeski

15w

Very well said

The Britt

18w

Absolutely well said , I've been there and this song is exactly what you feel when such things are abused.

46 More Replies...

el_roguearian

3y↑210

Is it possible that this is the first velvet underground song I've ever heard and 3 minutes in they're already my all time favourite band?

22 caliber YouTube

35w

Not only is it possible but it is completely understandable. This song is really something special.

Z S

1y↑1

This is the normal reaction

Plamen Velyov

It's possible.

Tom Hicks

Before you make up your mind, live--never mind listen to music--more years. I urge you to consider Bartok's String Quartets 1 and 2, composed circa 1909, for a more articulate expression of anomie.

Beatleday

3y↑5

Yes, totally. Thats this bands magic

5 More Replies...

Bender The Fourth

1y↑13

One of the most bold and bravest songs ever written. A masterpiece of honesty and feeling. This is real poetry and a bucket of empathy thrown at us.

Sean O Sullivan

2y↑12

'Heroin, be the death of me.
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life'.... The pain, suffering, loss, a dehumanising chemical that destroys all that encounter it..Brilliantly portrayed in this classic piece of music...R.I.P. Lou Reed, genius

Michael Hall

2y↑54

This isn't a song, it's an experience.

OmegaRedFan

30w

Dude I use to listen to this song in 2009, everytime I go back and hear it again, it takes me back to that same year.

clc3111

2y↑1

‘Cause when then smack
Begins to flow
How I really don’t care anymore

FlintSL

1y↑14

Jesus, the viola part has to be one of the most vicious, disgusting, punk, ear-splitting and outrageously beautiful sounding things ever recorded

Teardown Garage

2y↑17

I had a project in high school where we had to pick a song and do a report on it. Everyone chose Beyoncé and Coldplay, etc. this was my song. I played the entire song for the class, and laid out how I felt the sound was like paint on a constantly moving canvas. I listen to it almost daily, the sound is horrifyingly beautiful.

Stephen Connors

1y↑10

This song is an artistic masterpiece.

george murphy

2y↑7

The heroin experience in song. 7 minute masterpiece never duplicated by other drug songs. Nathan Heard in 60s book. Howard Street writes about heroin but the song is a perfect explanation/exploration of the experience. Lou Reed and the Velvets at their best. Despite the great song, heroin is a terrible drug that kills/destroys thousands. Very few senior citizen junkies

Babie Bitch

4y↑462

I love how this song is neither a promotion of the drug, or a whinging pity grab. It's just a description of the smack experience, and an experience in itself. The screeching violins and the urgent drumming create a really realistic feeling of panic.

Olivier Cornut

31w

The music is going like the first shoot the End and that he is saying is on my Mind forever

Clara Rbs

49w

So true

Daniel Ralph

1y↑8

It’s an electric viola, I believe.

Ilya S

3y↑182

From 5:00 starts one of the best avant-garde ever recorded, furious tempo acceleration and insane viola part, man what a song

Daniel Ralph

Early in that part, the drums stop because it was so loud that Maureen couldn’t hear anything. When the others didn’t stop, she continued playing.

Davey Saturn

i scream into my pillow every single night. This is the clearest echo

Ilya S

3y↑25

@Brody Poole its John Cale playing electro viola

Brody Poole

3y↑3

I thought it was just guitar feedback

Donald Duck

3y↑40

"I wish that I was born a thousand years ago" I love it

Oregone

24w↑2

I feel that in the deepest part of my soul. And I just dont know........

Craig Olender

41w↑1

What was he talking about sail the seas... Opium trade ships ?

livestream danger

3y↑1

i need that strong

JammastaJ23

2y↑15

It still blows my mind how ahead of its time this song was... the tempo changes and the dissonance is a template for what would eventually be adopted by scores of great bands (Pixies and Sonic Youth ). Heroin itself is still obviously very relevant more than 50 years later, but the real brilliance is the zeitgeist of restlessness and disappointment it captured that's still very relevant today.

Dante Antognetti

2y↑78

This song is so beautiful and horrifying at the same time

Alyss Kennedy

46w↑13

I was first introduced to this song by my mom when I was a kid. She was obsessed with Lou Reed amping many other classics from the 60s 70s 80s I grew up on music like this and I’m so thankful.

Joel Kemp

1y↑44

Who here has never had heroin and yet understands this song perfectly?
It could be one of the greatest songs of all time.
Put a thumbs up.

Pauli Baby

12w

I've never even seen heroin, let alone taken it, but this song is what I'd imagine it'd be like

sleepingkittystar

21w↑3

For me this song is all abt self destruction and im really self destructing

Jacob Cormier

28w↑3

Agreed. Listening to this song obsessively is as close to heroin addiction as I plan on getting. It is a brilliant song and my personal favorite by the Velvet Underground. Extraordinarily ahead of its time as well. It easily qualifies as one of the greatest songs in music history.

madeleine p.

1y↑13

They were lightyears ahead of their time. What a devastatingly beautiful song.

m

36w↑6

this song is so good, it makes you feel a sense of euphoria without any outside infulences from substances

MaskOfIce

2y↑25

I've never done heroin, hope never to, but this song still manages to have an effect no other song has, it makes me viscerally uncomfortable. It's not a song I listen to that often, but it's a powerful experience every time I do.

zerogravy

3y↑77

Damn. I was expecting this to be a more recent song and then I saw 1967. Velvet underground was truly ahead of their time.

I I

2y↑10

I am sure that we can speak here without any reservations - this is one of the greatest records in history, an absolutely monumental work

David Thieda

11w↑1

Snoops Q.

2y↑6

I’ve never done heroin (and never will) but I do find this song to be a great listen for when I’m in a shit mood. Something about the lyrics and that chill guitar building into a piercing screech just does it for me when I feeling down. Which I suppose is far more healthy than shooting up actual heroin.

Deerheart

13w↑1

I've never done heroin and I hope I never reach the point I have seen friends reach...but somehow this song always made sense to me.

Even when I was 14. I wasn't stupid. I was very aware of EVERYTHING this song was about, when I first heard it.

"All the dead bodies piled up in mounds". I didn't need to know Vietnam to feel that.

El R

31w↑1

I love how this song hits everyone's brains in a different way. A friend of mine said this brings his soul to a dark place, but for me it makes me feel so utterly alive and less lonely. Like meeting another strager at a bus depot at 2 in the morning and its like "oh the sinner in your head, you see that guy too eh?" I've never done heroin. But i have been at those depths of desperation, when the whole body and head and heart needs is in agony and you would give anything to feel a hit of relief.

Better Tomorrow

19w

I completely agree. This is one of my favorite songs of all time and my boyfriend HATES it. But it is the only song I like that he doesn't. He loves my taste except for this one song. It makes him visually uncomfortable. I can see the discomfort. I tend not to listen to it when he's around.

Miss Dee

1y↑16

Raw, honest poetry put to song.

Ryan

19w↑1

Raw, harsh, and most importantly, unflinchingly honest about its dark subject matter, "Heroin" is one the greatest songs ever written about the experience of drug use.

George Chiarovano

3y↑5

One of my favorite songs of all time. Heroin has taken some of the greatest artists so to hear a song from one of its users that neither endorses or demonizes it is immensely powerful. Lou Reed and the Velvets will forever stand as one of the greatest and most influential bands of all time

Sacred Hamburger

16w↑3

I didn’t expect to find so many heartfelt comments here. I see so many people seeing junkies as people who need help, not criminals. It’s such a fresh and more responsible perspective

Uncle Fungus

20w↑1

The song Heroin was how I first heard the Velvet Underground. I did a lot of Mushrooms when I was in my early 20’s. I remember in the peak of a trip my buddy put that song on and it was insanity. It sped up and slowed down and then ramped up again. It was a very odd experience that I really can’t describe but I remember being in awe and saying “whoa what the hell was that?” My buddy said “We just did heroin.” Which I responded with “Oh….. When the fuck did we take Heroin?”

neonwolfy

25w↑2

This song when I hear ut makes my whole body buzz ive been clean for a while now but its never gone no matter how long its been and this song is so spot on perfect it helps me remember wot it was like and y I have to keep it away dont get honest music like this no more which is a dawn shame

Lewis Foulds

1y↑2

This is the best velvet underground song to me. It's a glorious mess and full of humanity. It's also the only song I can play on guitar and almost sing at the same time. It's a simple version but it brings me joy. And that's that matters

Leonardo Filippini

1y↑2

Julie Leo

3y↑1

Ma chanson préférée depuis que je l’ai entendue pour la première fois il y a 25 ans!!
J’ai encore jamais écouté mieux

Liz Hood

11y↑241

This song tells it true ... "it's my wife and it's my life..." To understand a junkie is to realize, for them 'drugs are not the problem they are the solution'. Most addicts have something in their lives that is unbearably painful. Drugs (NOT MARIJUANA) are an escape from the pain. If society would quit treating addicts like criminals and treat them like sick people - problem solved. The next step; legalize drugs, take the illicit money out of the process. Recovery not prison!

comfortably numb

11w

@Lou Lou Rew awesome! It only gets easier, you'll miss it less and less.

The Violator

13w

@comfortably numb in some ways, yes. It can also be abused and used for escapism.

comfortably numb

13w

@The Violator cannabis is medicine.

The Violator

13w

Marijuana too….

Bob Russell

19w

Well said

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Angelina Leibbach

2y↑78

I used to be an addict. This year it will turn 2 years since I'm clean. I begin to use it, somewhere at my 16 /17. It felt like the best ting in my life. In May 2019 I had an overdose (I actually tried to kill myself), it almost killed me. My parents found me in the bathroom and called the ambulance. I didn't stop, after that. In July, I moved out from my parents home to another country and decided to stop, It was really difficult at the beginning and sometimes it still is, but I can say that I'm clean. And that makes me happy.

A Banana 2

2y↑6

I applaud you man, I think about using again almost everyday, we will be okay

Scrued Kix

23w↑2

“Cos it makes me feel like a man, when I put a spike into my vein” will always hit me like brick.

FlyScorp88

1y↑2

This is really a masterpiece

gr8sword

17w↑1

I heard this on the radio for the first time a couple hours ago and it hasn’t been out of my head since. Unbelievable music.

Tommy Fomine

1y↑1

I love old school rap, 70s and 80s Punk Rock and Pearl Jam but this song remains in my top 5

ariel puntiroli

2y↑38

if this isn’t played at my funeral then I aint dyin

skog13

Best comment, hands down 😜 Hear hear bro!!!

JU5TNTIM3

2y↑1

This song is an artistic masterpiece. Every note, beat, and distorted noise conveying the emotion, excitement, chaos, and pain in the life of a heroin user. I didn't hear this until some time between quitting and my relapse, but man it is with me for life. I love this song.

Bruxea

Had my first acid panic attack to this song. Literally felt like Lou Reed was me lmfao
Was totally vibing to the album but this song legit hit different. Wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. One of my favorite VU & N songs

Odessium

When I first took MDMA, this song came on as soon as the peak hit. Was so blissful

sea otter

1y↑4

Vic Leal

51w↑5

Never done heroine. But I love this song!

976-Evil

3y↑1

I would die for this song, this is no joke I love it more than I love myself and my entire existence. Man I’m only 17 but been through much shit in my life, but this song always stayed by my side, since 4 years.. I can’t express in words how much I adore this song and the band. A true masterpiece by one of the greatest bands ever. I owe them more than I can give..

fauber kaupfmann

"But please dont put your life in the hands
Of a rock n roll band
And throw it all away " Oasis

Jonathan Whitfield

50w↑3

The song was already dark and disturbing, but Cale's viola makes this track absolutely terrifying.

Riccardo Condorelli

4y↑534

How can a 22 years old lad write this masterpiece? God damn

Lauren Anderson

13w

@Jack's medulla oblongata OMG, LOL!

@space_bunker

14w

W the help of CIA handlers that wanted to derail the psychedelic phenomenon

OmegaRedFan

30w

@Jack's medulla oblongata yup basically

Lord Tyranus

@kaspafischer I believe it!

asoom

I been there at his age hell I'm barely 24

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Eleonora

3y↑15

I've never done heroin but I bet this tune is exactly like what it feels like

Valerio Fabbroni

Not exactly, on the song is described the effect on the life of a junkie, the effect alone is a masterpeace.

McJohnson

24w↑1

For my money, one of the most important songs in rock history.

__Is that a thing? _ _

32w

The love of my life told me this was an unbelievably, brilliantly written and played song, because he perfectly captured what it felt like to be on heroin. I listen because he loved this song, I listen because now my love is gone, not drug related at all, but I'm grasping at things he loved. Rest in peace, my most beautiful love, and love story 🤍

RM

3y↑2

Meu... como procurei essa músicaaaaa!!! 2019 e eternamente!!!

Yo It's Me

5y↑157

The love of my life was taken from me by heroin. This song comforts me in a strange way. I know and can understand that her love of the feeling of heroin was the last thing she felt, and at least I can smile knowing she died feeling bliss and wonder and warmth instead of cold steel or isolation or any other horrible manner...peace be with you Jessica my love.

Wild Men

16w

My condolences to you, friend. I too have lost a woman. Not to drugs but to madness and suicide. May they both rest in peace.

itwontcomeout5678

I’m sorry :( <3

Mikeyy BTownBaby

2y↑3

Woah that's my name and I'm an addict (name on account is my partner's). Feeling a bit shaken.

Stop the Philosophical Zombies

When?

Compendium 00

3y↑3

@FirstUsedBooks Wtf? Her name was Jessica!

Leonardo Rosa

49w↑1

This song gives goosebumps everytime i listen to it... didnt get that that far but i really relat to this pearl... and sometimes indeed i wish i was born a 1000 years ago... smack is bad... false freedom and false love... just dont do it

Alexey Aliev

1y↑3

Best song in the entire history of rock music.

Inferior Dior

2y↑2

Idk if I'm the only one but this song also perfectly describes bi-polar depression. All the highs and lows and pain and sadness and fleeting feelings of euphoria just getting STRIPPED away after about 2 minutes just because something slightly came in and ruined it. Feeling like dopamine and serotonin and happiness in general are lile some sort of buzz or high are ACTUAL drugs because of how on and off it is is terrible. I wish it on no one. I feel like "i just dont know.." after feeling like "ive got it"

uglyboybalaclava

2y↑8

Not every one knows what its like to wake up in the gutter with only memories of your family from just only a few months ago. You have nothing but a backpack of useless materials. You need to eat. You need to get high to keep the depression at bay. All the rappers and music of today glorified your actual suffering. You feel like lesser than human. Its a long road to be walked from now and where you want to go. A felony bench warrant out for your 3rd name. You cant even get high anymore, you body won't allow it. You used to put down this lifestyle like you would never relapse, because you're above. But you're not. Its who you are. Maybe you're destined to suffer. Not everyone is a winner. Maybe your suffering allows another soul to avoid this. Maybe your torment means that another boy will never have to endure. You took the place of another innocent soul. But the reality is that you did this to yourself. So many excuses. You cant even kill yourself. Maybe you'll clean up soon. Maybe in prison. How young you once was. It used to be so amazing and free. Now everyone is gone. The party ended years ago. You're a forgotten name in your town. Made in gods image apparently, but I just. I just don't know.

sukie584

5y↑256

That little laugh at 4:46 is why Lou is one of the greatest of all time.. it's so perfect for that moment..

ver8o9nica

36w

@blackmore4 Marleen Tucker? I think it sounds fine

blackmore4

40w

@Liam Fulton I'm not missing the point at all. First off, thinking that a Velvet Underground fan (me) depends on "technically perfect" music is really funny ;) And secondly, the headphones packing up while they were recording the song was most definitely NOT "intentional".
"Frantic unbalanced chaos" (all good, if not splendid, with me) is much better if it's vaguely in time.

Liam Fulton

40w↑2

@blackmore4 I think you're missing the point. It's not meant to be a technically perfect piece of music. The frantic unbalanced chaos is intentional and a reason this song resonates for a lot of people. It's not supposed to be easy listening.

blackmore4

43w

@K Dog Because, to my ears you understand, what's undoubtedly a masterpiece in terms of songwriting gets trashed by what sounds like a totally inept performance. I looked it up after I made the above comments and the truth of the matter is that the result was not down to any incompetence on the part of the performers but that of the studio equipment. Mo Tucker recalls that halfway through the take, her headphones packed up, so she was totally unable to hear the rest of the group. Therefore, she just winged it, completely unaware of and out of time with everyone else. I'm guessing that her demand to retake it was overruled because of how great the first section was.

K Dog

43w

@blackmore4 why nitpick at a 55 year old masterpiece that’s so profound and sonically ahead of its time, all over the tempo

7 More Replies...

jet b

3y↑2

this song still goes so hard

kikkirow

This is my favorite velvet underground song. I love the lyrics with the simplicity of the instruments.

Ted Kaczynski Gaming

1y↑1

Sandor Clegane

22w↑1

Johnathan Cross

4y↑56

The Velvet Underground are so amazing and Lou Reed is a brilliant poet genius.

OmegaRedFan

30w

I love this song. It's the perfect hippie club song 🎵

Welsh Jim

I first got into this band in the 90's when all my mates were taking E and listening to Dance. This took me into a musical journey where I discovered Dylan, Hendrix, young, Joplin, Stone's, Beatles, Fleetwood and so many more. 30 years later still filling my life with the amazing sounds of these legends 😎

GUNKEM 214TV

1y↑1

Will HK

3y↑3

The greatest rock song of all time.

William Koscielniak

3y↑2

One of the greatest songs ever made

dweezler

3y↑607

I used to push off to this song every time. 10 years clean on Sept. 29th 2019.

Amy V

34w

I’ve been clean since Christmas Day afternoon 2010!

kevinmoran44

Still clean?

Carlito Alter Ego

@Joseph Finkelstein I hope you are still staying strong. Especially in these hard times.
It does tend to be a comfort blanket.

Rebecca

2y↑1

My birthday.

J C

@John Marks Are you familiar with the concept of hyperbole? I don't think he literally listened to this every time he shot up. And yes, people shot up to this. They would come up to Lou Reed after shows and tell him that, which disturbed him.

19 More Replies...

Sumit Rana

2y↑1

For almost 2 decades, I’ve avoided this song because it brought a lot of painful memories of loosing my friends due to heroin addiction. Today for some reason I gravitated towards this song and after listening to it for 4 times straight, I miss the friends I lost so much...got me choked up.

Internet Explorer

2y↑26

Still trying to get clean. If you haven’t yet, don’t touch heroin. Not even one time. Stay strong y’all

itwontcomeout5678

I support you, Internet Explorer ;)

1 More Replies...

Seeing Eye

3y↑3

Listening in December 2019 and it reminds me of being a little kid and my mum and dad listening to the album over and over again. I miss them x

clc3111

2y↑6

Can you imagine that this song was published in 1967? That year was before drugs were even talked about and it was taboo. This song today may seem like it’s another song about dope, but back then NOBODY wrote songs like this. It probably shocked many parents to say the least and created understanding towards those who didn’t know...

No

12w

One of the greatest and timeless albums to ever exist

Andrew C

4y↑211

Best drug song ever written. I've been doing h off and on for a decade. I remember when this song filled me with anticipation. Now it just fills me with sadness

Stop the Philosophical Zombies

3y↑2

blah That’s sort of what I meant. In the 90’s it was much easier to find raw H without adulterants. The lure of cheap fentanyl has changed the game

blah

3y↑1

@Stop the Philosophical Zombies That's not true. Pure heroin is very hard to find, but heroin is everywhere - it's just cut with fentanyl and other opioid pills, muscle relaxants, and even sometimes benzodiazepines.

Stop the Philosophical Zombies

3y↑3

Andrew C You can barely get heroin anymore anyway. It’s all Fentanyl now

9 More Replies...

ryan

1y↑1

thank you for showing me im not alone. this song will forever be in my heart

Davey Saturn

3y↑10

It hits a lot harder when you get older.

Dusty Transitor

3y↑2

Music teacher showed this to us in college 3 years ago. The only song I still think about from that class

x

2y↑2

Congrats to my fellow recovering heroin/opiate addicts. Got cured with meds. From my help c last year. Going on 4 years! 😄

Daii Dreamiin

The whole song feels like the rush you get from it start to finish it 🖤

spoof

3y↑7

“I...don’t know.....just where I’m going” gets me every time.

Will B

2y↑2

This sounds like it was made yesterday. VU & Nico still sounds experimental to this day

Louis Cocksman

18w

Wow. Just started listening to these guys. They sounded 20 years ahead of their time.

Personal Jesus

I had never listened this band, but they're one of Julian Casablancas' heroes and that's enough for me to give them a chance. They don't sound bad at all.