At the request of Andy Warhol, band frontman Lou Reed wrote the song about Warhol superstar Edie Sedgwick.
According to Reed, Warhol said when asked what he should write about her: "Oh, don't you think she's a femme fatale, Lou?", with consequence, Reed wrote "Femme Fatale".
The song was recorded with vocals by Nico. Guitarist Sterling Morrison said of the song:
"Femme Fatale"—she [Nico] always hated that.[nasal voice] Nico, whose native language is minority French, would say "The name of this song is 'Fahm Fatahl'." Lou and I would sing it our way. Nico hated that. I said, "Nico, hey, it's my title, I'll pronounce it my way".
"Femme Fatale" was recorded at the Scepter Studios in New York in April 1966 while the studio was still under construction. It was released as a B-Side to "Sunday Morning" in December 1966. The following year it was included in their debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. A 1969 live recording of the song was included in "Bootleg Series Volume 1: The Quine Tapes" released in 2001.
AllMusic critic Mark Deming thought that "Femme Fatale" was among the four best songs on the album. American music journalist Stephen Davis called "Femme Fatale" a beautiful song that portrays the vivid, conflicted and emotional undercurrents of 1966.
Femme Fatale
Velvet Underground & Nico Lyrics
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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)
(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
In this song, Lou Reed warns about a dangerous woman called a "Femme Fatale" which means deadly woman in French. The lyrics describe how this woman seduces men and brings them under her spell only to break their hearts later. Reed sings about her false colored eyes and how she will build up men only to tear them down. The chorus repeats this warning as everybody knows she is a "femme fatale" and she only wants to please herself and play men for fools.
Reed describes the woman's power over men as she walks and talks in a way that is both alluring and tempting. He sings about how she puts men down in her book and they have no chance against her. The lyrics also suggest that this "femme fatale" is from the street, indicating that she lives in a dangerous world, and has learned how to manipulate and control people around her to survive.
The song reveals a cautionary tale that warns men about the dangers of falling under the spell of a manipulative and dangerous woman. It portrays the "femme fatale" as someone who is out to get what she wants, regardless of the consequences of her actions. The song has a unique sound as it blends the upbeat tune with the cautionary message, making it a classic song of the 60s.
Line by Line Meaning
Here she comes, you better watch your step
Be cautious because she is dangerous
She's going to break your heart in two, it's true
She will hurt you badly
It's not hard to realize
Her true nature is easy to see
Just look into her false colored eyes
Her lies are obvious if you pay attention to her eyes
She builds you up to just put you down, what a clown
She manipulates you to lower your self-esteem
(She's a femme fatale) everybody knows
She's a dangerous woman and it's common knowledge
(She's a femme fatale) The things she does to please
She will do anything to get what she wants
(She's a femme fatale) She's just a little tease
She sets you up but then retreats
See the way she walks
Her movements are alluring
Hear the way she talks
Her words can be seductive
You're put down in her book
She keeps track of those she has manipulated
You're number thirty seven, have a look
She's manipulated many before you
She's going to smile to make you frown, what a clown
She will appear happy while causing you pain
Little boy, she's from the street
She comes from a rough background
Before you start, you're already beat
You've already lost the game before you begin
She's going to play you for a fool, yes it's true
She will make you look foolish
Ooh ooh oh
Reinforces her seductive nature
(She's a femme fatale)
Repeats the chorus
Ooh ooh oh
Reinforces her seductive nature
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BEAU HILL, ERIC TURNER, JERRY DIXON, JOEY CAGLE, JOHN OSWALD, LOU REED, STEVEN CHAMBERLIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind