Heroin was a song that scared me the first time I heard it. It seemed very spooky and gloomy, and it sort of gave me the shivers as well. Still, today it’s one of my favorite songs.
A song that was meant to be a sort of anti-drug warning, it was generally misinterpreted as being actually the opposite. From Wikipedia:
“Heroin”, (along with songs like “I’m Waiting for the Man” which dealt with similar subject matter), was chiefly one of the reasons The Velvet Underground were tied to drug use in the media. Some critics declared the band were glorifying the use of drugs such as heroin. However, members of the band (Lou Reed, in particular) frequently denied any claims that the song was advocating use of the drug; in fact, it was quite the opposite. Lou Reed’s lyrics, such as they are on the majority of The Velvet Underground and Nico, were more meant to focus on providing an objective description of the topic without taking a moral stance in the matter.
and
“I meant those songs to sort of exorcise the darkness, or the self-destrutive element in me, and hoped other people would take them the same way. But when I saw how people were responding to them it was disturbing. Because like people would come up and say, ‘I shot up to “Heroin,’” things like that. For a while, I was even thinking that some of my songs might have contributed formatively to the consciousness of all these addictions and things going down with the kids today. But I don’t think that anymore; it’s really too awful a thing to consider. (Lou Reed)”
For me, what makes the song is the changes in tempo, the fatalistic lyrics, Lou Reed’s voice–he never had a great voice, but he used what he had to good effect–and the steady droning beat. Great, compelling stuff.
And of course, the lyrics:
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 now, you guys
And all you sweet girls with all your sweet talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess that 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
In a sailor’s suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man can not 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 mainer to my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I’m better off and 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’ busy 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 as 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
This is really a great song. First of all, it rocks. It’s got a great melody, an excellent beat, and makes you wanna swing your hips.
Secondly, it’s definitely thought provoking. Some people think that it’s very germane to today’s situation, and to be frank, I have to agree. I do think that many people have lost site of the message of their religion, or warped it for their own gain. It defintely maintains relevance to current happenings.
And of course, the lyrics:
They’re 5 miles high
As the crow flies
Leavin’ vapour trails
Across a blood red sky
Movin’ in from the East
Towards the West
With balaclava helmets
Over their heads
YES!
But if you think that Jesus Christ is coming
Honey, you’ve got another thing coming
If he ever finds out who’s hijacked his name
He’ll cut out his heart and turn in his grave
Islam is rising
The Christians mobilising
The world is on it’s elbows and knees
It’s forgotten the message
And worships the creeds
“It’s War” she cried
“It’s War” she cried
“This is War!”
Drop your possessions
All you simple folk
You will fight them on the beaches
in your underclothes
You will thank the good lord
For raising the Union Jack
You’ll watch the ships sail out of harbour
And the bodies come floating back
Watch the ships sail out of harbour
And the bodies come floating back
If the real Jesus Christ were to stand up today
He’d be gunned down cold by the C.I.A.
Oh, the lights that now burn brightest
Behind stained glass
Will cast the darkest shadows
Upon the human heart
But God didn’t build himself that throne
God doesn’t live in Israel or Rome
God doesn’t belong to the Yankee dollar
God doesn’t plant the bombs for Hezbollah
God doesn’t even go to church
And God won’t send us down to Allah to burn
God will remind us what we already know
That the human race is about to reap what it’s sown
Islam is rising
The Christians mobilising
The world is on it’s elbows and knees
It’s forgotten the message
And worships the creeds
The world is on it’s elbows and knees
It’s forgotten the message
And worships the creeds
Armageddon days are here again
Armageddon days are here again
Armageddon days are here again
Armageddon Days Are HERE!!!
According to SongFacts, Milez Iz Ded was written about legendary jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, and the demons that consumed much of his life. It’s both an energetic and mournful tune at the same time. The drums and guitars drive it all forward, but Greg Dulli’s vocals give a certain center. Very well done, and in particular the video, which I highly recommend watching (not for the kids though).
And of course, the lyrics:
If I stepped it off
Walked outside your trance
Crawled inside your mind
And got my hands into your pants
Wouldn’t that beat all
Wouldn’t that be great
And all the things you do to me
We could exaggerate
Now everybody knows
Or everybody wants to know
The hows, the whens, the whys
Of how I said goodbye
Don’t forget the alcohol
Ooh baby ooh baby
Don’t forget the alcohol
Ooh baby ooh baby
Don’t forget the alcohol
If i stepped it off
Walked outside your trance
Crawled inside your mind
And got my hand into your pants
Don’t forget the alcohol
Ooh baby ooh baby
Don’t forget the alcohol
I’ve always loved this song, particularly for dancing to. It’s got that lovely manic late 70’s ska feel, and it’s really fun to dance to.
However, I never really paid so much attention to the lyrics, and I’d love to know where Jerry Dammers’ mind was when he wrote this song. It’s a not atypical putdown of attention whores and poseurs, but the amount of vitriol really surprises me.
And of course, the lyrics:
One, two
If you ever hear a noise in the night your body starts to sweat
It shakes and shivers in fright
You go and sleep with your mother, she hates your guts
She knows that you love her so she holds you tight
All through the night, until the broad daylight
And when she doesn’t come home you have to sleep alone
Then you wet your bed, and I think that’s sad
For a girl of nineteen it’s more than sad, it’s obscene
One, two
And your girlfriend sweet little seventeen
She’s got her layered hair, and her flared jeans
You know what that means? She’s just a little queen
She shares your London flat, she thinks that London’s where it’s at, although it stinks
And when it rains you wear your hat, and your plum coloured PVC wet look maxi-mac
You tie your ginger hair back in a bun
You’re the ugliest creature under the sun
one, two, go
And you think it’s about time that you died, and I agree, so you decide on suicide
You tried but you never quite carried it off
You only wanted to die in order to show off
And if you think you’re gonna bleed all over me, you’re even wronger than you’d normally be
And the only things you want to see are kitsch
The only thing you want to be is rich
Your little pink up-pointed nose begins to twitch
I know, you know, you’re just a little bitch
One, two
I Need You is one of those slap-in-the-face songs that wakes you up and makes you take notice. Annie Lennox’s sarcastic vocals and the biting lyrics really push this over the top, particularly coupled with the simple acoustic guitar work from Dave Stewart. Another thing I like about this song is the coffee-shop atmosphere in the background. You can just imagine some guy with a guitar waiting his turn to sing “This Land Is Your Land” for the 5 millionth time.
And of course, the lyrics:
I need you to pin me down
Just for one frozen moment.
I need someone to pin me down
So I can live in torment.
I need you to really feel
The twist of my back breaking
I need someone to listen
To the ecstacy I’m faking.
I need you you you
I need you to catch each breath
That issues from my lips
I need someone to crack my skull
I need someone to kiss.
So hold me now
And make pretend
That I won’t ever fall
Oh hold me down
I’m gonna be your baby doll
I need you you you…
Is it you I really need?
I do I do I do
I really do
I need you…
I’m not really sure whether this song is supposed to be tongue-in-cheek or dreadfully serious–The band has many songs with heavy handed lyrics such as these (i.e. Meat Is Murder), so it’s really difficult to tell.
However, one thing is undeniable: this is a great song. The simple music hall beat, the thoughts of the boyfriend and the cool melody combine to make this one of the great two minute songs.
And of course, the lyrics:
Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know - it’s serious
Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know - it’s really serious
There were times when I could
Have “murdered” her
(But you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to her)
No I don’t want to see her
Do you really think
She’ll pull through?
Do you really think
She’ll pull through?
Do …
Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know - it’s serious
My, my, my, my, my, my baby, goodbye
There were times when I could
Have “strangled” her
(But you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to her)
Would you please let me see her?
Do you really think
She’ll pull through?
Do you really think
She’ll pull through?
Do …
Let me whisper my last goodbyes
I know - it’s serious
Diamond Smiles is a terrific song about a dark subject–suicide. The song tells the story of a young society girl named Diamond, the parties she attends and her eventual suicide at one of those parties. I love the lyrics and the tune is cool as well.
And of course, the lyrics:
“Traffic’s wild tonight”
Diamond smiles her cocktail smile.
Tonight she’s in heavy disquise.
She looks at her wrist to clock the passing time.
“Weather’s mild tonight”
She wonders will her glamour survive,
She wonders do they notice her eyes,
And can they see she’s going down a third time.
Everybody tries,
It’s Dale Carnegie gone wild,
But Barbara Cartland’s child
long ago perfected the motionless glide.
In the low voltage noise,
Diamond seems so sure and so poised
She shimmers for the bright young boys,
And laugh’s “Love is for others, but me it destroys”
The girl in the cake
Jumped out too soon by mistake,
Somebody said the whole things half baked
And Diamond lifts her glass and says “cheers”
She stands to the side
There’s no more to this than meets the eye,
Everybody drinks Martini dry,
And talks about clothes and the latest styles.
Chorus:
They said she did it
With grace.
They said she did it
With style.
They said she did it all
Before she died
Oh No
I remember Diamond’s smile
Nobody saw her go,
They said they should have noticed
‘cos her dress was cut so low.
Well it only goes to show
Ha, ha, how many real men any of us know.
She went up the stairs,
Stood up on the vanity chair,
Tied her lame belt around the chandelier,
And went out kicking at the perfumed air.
Kitchens of Distinction was a pretty cool late 80’s/early 90’s band, and this was one of their better songs, a melancholy tune (seemingly) about gay bashing and trying to find sanctuary. I love the vocals and the way it all sounds together.
And of course, the lyrics:
Sharpen your stunted tusks in this city night.
Yesterday a wide-eyed stabbing
Tonight a crowbar fight a desperate fight.
Sleeping alone and drugged frightened fat and wet
I swear I’m chasing sanity
Lost easy laughter and forgetting.
I’m going south
To feed the animals
I’m going south
Become elephantine.
Elephant in drought-struck shock is trumpeting her grief.
Stays with her dying baby trunk stroking dry and pursued
She dies too.
How can I justify wailing at these walls?
Every great nation ends up deserving war.
Lotion is a creepy little song about the killer Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs. What I think really makes it work is the restraint of the guitars, creating a tense and moody atmosphere.
And of course, the lyrics:
I’m looking down the hole
your looking up at me
you’re cold and tired
that is easy to see
lower the rope to you
a bucket on the line
your membrane will be soft and smooth
and your heart will be mine
It rubs the lotion on its skin
Or else it get the hose again
It rubs the lotion on its skin
Or else it get the hose again
Yes precious it gets the hose
The look inside your eyes
drives me from control
evoking visions of my favourite casserole
and if i eat your heart
i’ll also eat your soul
and when i’m done with that i’ll use your skull as a bowl
It rubs the lotion on its skin
Or else it get the hose again
It rubs the lotion on its skin
Or else it get the hose again
Yes precious it gets the hose
It puts the lotion in the basket
The night is very cold
I’m feeling kind of weak
I think i’ll make myself a cap from your right buttocks cheek
And then I will go walking with my little dog
and then I’ll bury you underneath a log
It rubs the lotion on its skin
Or else it get the hose again
It rubs the lotion on its skin
Or else it get the hose again
Yes it does precious
It puts the lotion in the basket
bitch put the lotion in the basket
Oh put the lotion in the fucking basket bitch
put the lotion in the basket
A sad, frightening and chilling tune, The Ledge concerns the thoughts of a young man planning suicide, and Paul Westerberg did a great job of visualizing what the scene might be like as it played out. There’s also an undercurrent of selfishness and a desire for attention as well that feels correct.
However, if the only thing the song had going for it was the lyrics, I wouldn’t be mentioning it here. There’s also a killer guitar and bass line that really and truly push this song over the top.
The Ledge is an unsettling, yet undeniably compelling rock and roll song.
And of course, the lyrics:
All eyes look up to me
High above the filthy streets
Heed no bullhorn when it calls
Watch me fly and die, watch me fall
I’m the boy they can’t ignore,
For the first time in my life, I’m sure
All the love sent up high to pledge
Won’t reach the ledge
Wind blows cold from the west
I smell coffee, I smell doughnuts for the press
A girl that I knew once years ago
Is tryin’ to be reached on the phone
I’m the boy she can’t ignore,
for the first time in my life, I’m sure
All the love sent up high to pledge…
(Repeat)
Priest kneels silent, all is still
Policeman reaches from the sill
Watch him, watch him try his best
There’ll be no medal pinned to his chest
I’m the boy they couldn’t ignore,
for the first time in my life, I’m sure
(Repeat)
I’m the boy for the last time in my life
All the love that they pledge
For the last time will not reach the ledge