Song Analysis Of The Song 'Heroin' By Lou Reed

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The Velvet Underground was a band from the New York area, active from 1964 to 1973. At the time when their albums came out they got very little recognition, but today they have found a larger audience and because of the touchy subject matter of some of their songs and the nihilistic themes throughout their discography they essentially paved the road for punk rock and alternative/indie music. When they were making music they were the polar opposite of what was happening on the west coast with the hippies and the love movement, in 1967 no one was making music as dark and innovative as the Velvet Underground. The lead guitarist/vocalist and songwriter, Lou Reed wrote the song “Heroin”. In “Heroin” Lou Reed brilliantly symbolizes what it is like …show more content…

In the beginning of the first verse, Lou’s description of what he feels when he shoots heroin, “When I’m rushing on my run and I feel just like Jesus’ son”, emphasizes how he uses heroin to escape from his life. Lou still does not state why heroin is so great, although feeling like the son of God would be a great feeling, it does not establish why he chooses to do heroin. Throughout the song however, he gives more details that show he understands that heroin can hurt him or even kill him. By stating that “I’ve made the big decision, I’m gonna try to nullify my life… When I’m closing in on death”, Lou is using logos to show that he knows heroin will one day be the death of him. He also states that no one can stop him, he knows what it can do to him but he has chosen to devote his life to it, therefore alienating himself from his own life. In the third verse where Lou states that he wishes he was born a thousand years ago he uses pathos to establish that the effects of heroin are enjoyable for him because he escapes the the troubles of the big city. He uses imagery and is extremely descriptive when he is describing his ideal life, sailing the darkened seas, he wishes to be exploring unknown places, in a purer world away from the city. He ends this longing for adventure by stating that he just doesn’t know, he wants another life but just imagining it will not cut it, he is alienated from his

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