There She Goes Again
The Velvet Underground (feat. Nico) Lyrics
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She's out on the streets again
She's down on her knees, my friend
But you know she'll never ask you please again
Now take a look, there's no tears in her eyes
She won't take it from just any guy, what can you do
You see her walkin' on down the street
You better hit her
There she goes again
She's knocked out on her feet again
She's down on her knees, my friend
But you know she'll never ask you please again
Now take a look, there's no tears in her eyes
Like a bird, you know she would fly, what can you do
You see her walkin' on down the street
Look at all your friends that she's gonna meet
You better hit her
Now take a look, there's no tears in her eyes
Like a bird, you know she will fly, fly, fly away
See her walking on down the street
Look at all your friends that she's gonna meet
She's gonna bawl and shout
She's gonna work it
She's gonna work it out, bye bye
Bye bye, bye bye bye b b b baby
All she's all right
The Velvet Underground's "There She Goes Again" describes a woman who is known for being promiscuous, who frequently engages in sexual activity with different men. She is always out on the streets, down on her knees, and never asking for forgiveness or apologies from anyone. She is depicted as an object of desire and lust for men, who are willing to pay the price just to be with her without giving much thought about her feelings or emotions. The woman in question is never seen crying, and the song suggests that she is a free spirit who will only be with the men that deserve her, and no one else.
The lyrics also show how society tends to look down on women who have been involved in many sexual relationships, especially during the time when the song was recorded in 1967, where conservative views were prevalent. The song clearly suggests that the woman's lifestyle is wrong, but at the same time, it also portrays how she is her own person and is free to do what she wants with her life. The song is critical of the societal norms and restrictions that women are subjected to, and highlights the importance of freedom and individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
There she goes again
The woman mentioned has done this before
She's out on the streets again
She's back in the city wandering the streets
She's down on her knees, my friend
She's in a position of vulnerability
But you know she'll never ask you please again
She won't beg or plead for help
Now take a look, there's no tears in her eyes
She's not crying or showing emotion
She won't take it from just any guy, what can you do
She won't tolerate mistreatment from anyone
You see her walkin' on down the street
She's moving forward and continuing on
Look at all your friends she's gonna meet
She'll cross paths with people you know
You better hit her
An ambiguous line, possibly implying a romantic or violent act
She's knocked out on her feet again
She's been pushed to exhaustion from her experiences
Like a bird, you know she would fly, what can you do
She has the desire to move on and leave her situation behind
She's gonna bawl and shout
She'll express her emotions and let them out
She's gonna work it
She'll figure things out and find a solution
She's gonna work it out, bye bye
She'll resolve her issues and move on
Bye bye, bye bye bye b b b baby
Saying goodbye, possibly to a lover or someone who has hurt her
All she's all right
Despite her struggles, she'll be okay in the end
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind