What Goes On
The Velvet Underground [unofficial] Lyrics
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I think that I am falling down
What goes on in your mind?
I think that I am upside down
Baby, be good, do what you should
You know it will work alright
Baby, be good, do what you should
You know it will be alright
I'm going up, and I'm going down
I'm going to fly from side to side
See the bells up in the sky
Somebody's cut their string in two
Baby, be good, do what you should
You know it will work alright
Baby, be good, do what you should
You know it will be alright
One minute born, one minute doomed
One minute up and one minute down
What goes on in your mind?
I think that I am falling down
Baby, be good, do what you should
You know it will work alright
Baby, be good, do what you should
You know it will be alright
The song "What Goes On" by The Velvet Underground [unofficial] is a contemplation on the fluctuating nature of life and the human mind. The singer is asking what goes on in someone's mind, suggesting that they themselves are feeling confused and disoriented. The repetition of the refrain "Baby, be good, do what you should / You know it will be alright" indicates a desire for stability and reassurance in a world that seems to be constantly shifting.
The verses of the song invoke images of motion and uncertainty, with the singer describing themselves as "going up and down" and "flying from side to side." The mention of "bells up in the sky" that have had their "string cut in two" adds to the sense of disconnection and fragmentation. The final verse brings the song back to the theme of transience, with the line "one minute born, one minute doomed" emphasizing the fleeting nature of life.
Line by Line Meaning
What goes on in your mind?
The singer is curious about what the other person is thinking.
I think that I am falling down
The singer feels like they are losing control or failing.
I think that I am upside down
The singer feels disoriented or confused.
Baby, be good, do what you should
The singer is urging the other person to behave correctly.
You know it will work alright
The singer assures the other person that things will be okay if they behave properly.
I'm going up, and I'm going down
The singer is experiencing highs and lows.
I'm going to fly from side to side
The singer feels like they are being tossed around or pulled in different directions.
See the bells up in the sky
The singer sees something unusual, perhaps surreal.
Somebody's cut their string in two
The singer sees something that used to be connected or stable that has been severed or broken.
One minute born, one minute doomed
The singer is emphasizing the fleeting nature of life, with its moments of both creation and destruction.
One minute up and one minute down
The singer continues to emphasize the ups and downs of life.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@davidsheehan8552
That groove. The bridge. The guitar outro. Song is just perfect.
@The1234craig
except the live version on the 1969 album is longer and more perfect.
@grahamchapple3552
i call this elevator music play iin shoppping centres loud at easter and xmas
@davidcolpo5212
it is the perfect song
@daleholmes4288
I've never heard music this good playing in my local shopping centre :)
@spongebob2310
The best rhythm guitar sound ever...
@thundergroundsamurai5343
Ain't no guitar dude. That a voodoo drum.
@Obeast117
@@huggarugga Crazy how Morrison and Reed could exchange lead/rhyhthm so easily and make it sound so fluid
@michaelsoftbinbows8859
@@huggarugga That's Sterling Morrison on rhythm guitar
@wiggersnake3661
from this rhythm guitar, we can pretty much tell what U2's The Edge was listening to as an aspiring musician.