Venus In Furs
The Velvet Underground (feat. Nico) Lyrics


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Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girl child in the dark
Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart

Downy sins of streetlight fancies
Chase the costumes she shall wear
Ermine furs adorn the imperious
Severin, Severin awaits you there

I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears

Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
Shiny leather in the dark
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart

Severin, Severin, speak so slightly
Severin, down on your bended knee
Taste the whip, in love not given lightly
Taste the whip, now bleed for me

I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears

Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girl child in the dark




Severin, your servant comes in bells, please don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Venus in Furs" by The Velvet Underground are a vivid depiction of a BDSM relationship, featuring a submissive narrator pleading with their dominatrix to inflict pain and humiliation upon them. The opening lines set the scene, describing the dominatrix's "shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather" and the singer's status as a "whiplash girl child in the dark." The singer then begs for the dominatrix's attention and punishment, framing their relationship as a servitude that they crave.


The second verse of the song introduces Severin, a character who may represent the singer or another submissive in the dominatrix's circle. The lyrics suggest that Severin is awaiting the dominatrix's attention, surrounded by "downy sins of streetlight fancies" and dressed in "ermine furs." The chorus repeats the singer's desire for punishment and the pleasure they derive from it.


The final verse of the song features Severin pleading for the dominatrix's attention and inflicting punishment upon himself. The lyrics suggest that this behavior is rooted in deep emotional pain, as the singer sings "different colors made of tears." Overall, "Venus in Furs" is a haunting and evocative song that explores the power dynamics of BDSM relationships and the intense emotions they can evoke.


Line by Line Meaning

Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
The singer is observing a pair of shiny, leather boots.


Whiplash girl child in the dark
The singer sees a young girl in the shadows, who appears to be submissive and alluring.


Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him
The girl is a willing servant, and the singer is pleading with the person he is addressing not to abandon her.


Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
The artist instructs the mistress to punish him so that he can be healed emotionally.


Downy sins of streetlight fancies
The artist is describing the girl's past sins as soft, almost delicate.


Chase the costumes she shall wear
The singer pictures the girl as someone who has a penchant for costumes and changes her attire often.


Ermine furs adorn the imperious
The person the singer is addressing is someone of importance, as evidenced by the luxury of the ermine furs they wear.


Severin, Severin awaits you there
Severin, the submissive man mentioned earlier, is waiting for the person the artist is addressing.


I am tired, I am weary
The artist is fatigued, physically and possibly mentally.


I could sleep for a thousand years
The artist is so exhausted that he wants to sleep a long time, perhaps forever.


A thousand dreams that would awake me
If the singer were to sleep for a thousand years, he imagines he would have many vivid dreams.


Different colors made of tears
The artist's dreams would be full of tears and a spectrum of emotions.


Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
The singer is asking to be subservient to the person who is wearing the shiny boots.


Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
The mistress has a belt with a tongue or a whip that is waiting to be used.


Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
The singer reiterates his desire to be punished, in hopes of finding emotional healing.


Severin, Severin, speak so slightly
The mistress is addressing Severin, asking him to speak softly.


Severin, down on your bended knee
Severin is being instructed to kneel before the mistress.


Taste the whip, in love not given lightly
The singer wants the pain of the whip, but only as an expression of love, not just as an unfeeling punishment.


Taste the whip, now plead for me
The singer is instructing Severin to beg for him, presumably to show his love and submission.


Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
The artist again comments on the boots, which seem to be symbolic of the dominant/submissive relationship in the song.


Whiplash girl child in the dark
The artist repeats his description of the submissive girl, emphasizing her youth and the danger associated with her behavior.


Severin, your servant comes in bells, please don't forsake him
The artist reiterates his concern for Severin's well-being, asking the addressee not to abandon him.


Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
The song concludes with the same plea for emotional healing through pain and punishment that has echoed throughout the lyrics.




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

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Gerasimo Carbone

Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girl child in the dark
Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Downy sins of streetlight fancies
Chase the costumes she shall wear
Ermine furs adorn the imperious
Severin, Severin awaits you there
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
Shiny leather in the dark
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Severin, Severin, speak so slightly
Severin, down on your bended knee
Taste the whip, in love not given lightly
Taste the whip, now plead for me
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girl child in the dark
Severin, your servant comes in bells, please don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart



Maggie Trayanova

LYRICS:

Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girl child in the dark
Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Downy sins of streetlight fancies
Chase the costumes she shall wear
Ermine furs adorn the imperious
Severin', severin' awaits you there
Oh, I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
Thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Taste the whip of shiny, shiny leather
Ooh, shiny leather in the dark
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Strike, dear mistress, cure his heart
Severin', severin' or speak so slightly
Severin' down on your bended knee
Taste the whip, in love not given lightly
Severin' taste the whip
Severin' taste the whip, now plead for me
Oh, I'm tired, and I'm weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would, that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Shiny leather in the dark
Comes in bells, your servant don't forsake him
Strike mistress and cure his heart



Yesebell Sechar

Venus in furs Review

En español "Venus en pieles" es el titulo de la canción de Velvet Underground basado en la novela de Leopold von Sacher Masoch, que cuanta que el personaje Severin se había enamorado de una mujer llamada Wanda, la que extorsiona para conseguir que lo trate como su esclavo en formas cada vez más humillantes.. Severin decía "El dolor posee para mí un encanto raro, y que nada enciende más mi pasión que la tiranía, la crueldad y, sobre todo, la infidelidad de una mujer hermosa."
El psiquiatra aleman Kraft-Ebing tomó como cimiento la literatura de Masoch para el concepto de la conducta sexual llamada “masoquismo”: aquella por la cual el placer sexual del sujeto esta ligada a la sensación de dolor, castigo o humillación para su libro titulado Psicopatologias Sexuales.
El personaje Severin asumía la sumisión y se sentía profundamente atraído hacia la imagen de una mujer imponente que lo dominara , una de las siguientes citas lo explica claramente:
"Quiero ser el esclavo de una mujer hermosa envuelta en pieles. Una mujer dulce y diabólica que me domine, me azote y me rechace con el pie mientras pertenece a otro. En medio de todo esto quiero cambiarle los zapatos. Esto también es la felicidad.Solo se puede amar lo que está por encima de nosotros"
¿Acaso no era coincidente que los fetiches de Severin correspondan al orden de su masoquismo? La imagen de una mujer imponente envuelta en pieles que delinean la perfeccion de sus curvas, nos remiten a la idea moderna de la diosa Venus, jerarquía divina del amor, la belleza, y el deseo que Severin proyecta en la imagen de Wanda.
Finalmente Severin consigue ser profundamente complacido con el peor de los dolores que puede experimentar el hombre, la traición y la infidelidad de una mujer que con dolor alimentaba sus deseos, a partir de esa experiencia ya nada vuelve ser igual , pero ese era el profundo deseo de Severin, que su amada sea de otro, que a diferencia de el, era superior y podía dominarla.
Todo esto, deja profundas reflexiones, las conductas sexuales orientaciones y otras expresiones de la sexualidad estan indiscutiblemente ligadas al campo de los afectos y emociones, la forma en como nos relacionamos con los demás marcará nuestra actitud y moldeará nuestra personalidad.
El psicoanálisis se interesó tempranamente en estudiar el desarrollo psicosexual de los humanos y como estas experiencias tempranas con nuestros cuidares marcan decisivamente la vida y el desarrollo de la personalidad, gracias a esto la psicología puede acercarse a una visión mas completa profunda pero interminable del hombre, que no puede ser simplificado a las mascaras del yo.
Está composición del pisciano Loud red, puede comprenderse si se traduce la letra, o si simplemente nos dejamos llevar por su sonido musical, es una excelente canción con admosferas hipnóticas y secuencias psidelicas envolventes inducen estados extraños de consciencia, como un llamado de esa diosa divina ciertamente moderna en cueros azotando a ¡Severin Severin en el coro! embriagados por su hechizo divino, o en un estado de profunda adicción al objeto al cual no somos capaces de dejar...
El autor Masoch de la novela también llamada Venus en pieles, sublimó y proyecto a traves del ejercicio de la escritura deseos probablemente dormidos pero que eran profundamente esteticos románticos e idealistas, es por eso que su tinta lleva una marca de erotismo sumamente fino e imperceptible, en la que no deja dudas de su gran talento.



Damo

Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather 
Whiplash girlchild in the dark 
Comes in bells, your servant, don't forsake him 
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart 
Downy sins of streetlight fancies 
Chase the costumes she shall wear 
Ermine furs adorn the imperious 
Severin, Severin awaits you there 
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years 
A thousand dreams that would awake me 
Different colors made of tears 
Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather 
Shiny leather in the dark
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you 
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart 
Severin, Severin, speak so slightly 
Severin, down on your bended knee 
Taste the whip, in love not given lightly 
Taste the whip, now plead for me 
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years 
A thousand dreams that would awake me 
Different colors made of tears 
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather 
Whiplash girlchild in the dark 
Severin, your servant comes in bells, please don't forsake him 
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Songwriters: REED, LOU



svagana svagana

"Venus in furs" is a novel by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. The term "masochist" was named after Leopold von Sacher-Masoch. "Severin" is the male hero of the novel (written by Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch). FYI the term “Sadism” is derived from the name of Marquis de Sade.
"Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girlchild in the dark
Severin, your servant comes in bells, please don't forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart.
Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
Shiny leather in the dark
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart .
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears ."
Listening to the song while reading the novel is a unique experience.



All comments from YouTube:

Roberto Zadik

Anguishing and anguished visionary Masterpiece. A Song as a Nightmare, a psychedelic fear and loss, One of the best Lou Reed Classic...Wow

ArcanePath360

I remember where I was and how old when I first heard this. The line "I am tired, I am weary" played alongside a contrasting, sudden upbeat chord change is sublime. Like the admittance of being tired, is in itself a euphoric moment of affirmation.

Elijah Finch

if you like The Velvet Underground you should check out Lonely Gimmick - All Along the Watchtower, it gives me Velvet Underground vibes and it's a great take on a classic song

bert schmit

I could sleep for thousand years

Ummagumarios

can't believe this is 60's. the whole album is at least 20 years ahead of it's time. what a band!

Heather

agree. their music is so timeless. sounds like it could of been made yesterday!

John Hechtlinger

make it 50...they don't make music anymore...it's all crap today, strictly bottom line...the medium peaked and then the rot set in....

Matthew

John Hechtlinger Disagree. Music is better than ever before, if you look a bit underground. But yes, these bands benefit from the influence of greats like VU

wiseoldfool101

Disagree, twenty years later was the height of hair bands and Madonna. There in there own universe

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Different Music

The most underrated band in history. I don't think it's possible to measure how much they influenced music and musicians in the decades that followed.

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