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About This Track
“Heroin” is a song by The Velvet Underground, released on their 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. Written by Lou Reed in 1964, the song is one of the band’s most celebrated compositions, overtly depicting heroin use and abuse. Critic Mark Deming writes, “While ‘Heroin’ hardly endorses drug use, it doesn’t clearly condemn it, either, which made it all the more troubling in the eyes of many listeners”.
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it #448 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2006, Pitchfork Media ranked it #77 on their list of the 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s. In 2007 Mental Floss magazine listed it as one of ten songs that changed the world.
“Heroin” was among a three-song set to be re-recorded at T.T.G. Studios, Hollywood before being included on the final release of The Velvet Underground and Nico (along with “I’m Waiting for the Man” and “Venus in Furs”). This recording of the song would be the album’s second longest at 7 minutes and 12 seconds, being eclipsed only by “European Son” by about thirty seconds.
“Heroin” begins slowly with Lou Reed’s quiet, melodic guitar and hypnotic drum patterns by Maureen Tucker, soon joined by John Cale’s droning electric viola and Sterling Morrison’s steady rhythm guitar. The tempo increases gradually, mimicking the high the narrator receives from the drug, until a frantic crescendo is reached, punctuated by Cale’s shrieking viola and the more punctuated guitar strumming of Reed and Morrison.
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it #448 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In 2006, Pitchfork Media ranked it #77 on their list of the 200 Greatest Songs of the 1960s. In 2007 Mental Floss magazine listed it as one of ten songs that changed the world.
“Heroin” was among a three-song set to be re-recorded at T.T.G. Studios, Hollywood before being included on the final release of The Velvet Underground and Nico (along with “I’m Waiting for the Man” and “Venus in Furs”). This recording of the song would be the album’s second longest at 7 minutes and 12 seconds, being eclipsed only by “European Son” by about thirty seconds.
“Heroin” begins slowly with Lou Reed’s quiet, melodic guitar and hypnotic drum patterns by Maureen Tucker, soon joined by John Cale’s droning electric viola and Sterling Morrison’s steady rhythm guitar. The tempo increases gradually, mimicking the high the narrator receives from the drug, until a frantic crescendo is reached, punctuated by Cale’s shrieking viola and the more punctuated guitar strumming of Reed and Morrison.
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Albums featuring this track
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Live With Lou Reed, Vol.1
The Velvet Underground
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Live With Lou Reed, Vol.1
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Shouts
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HaraldJoe wrote:
If you like this song, I would look up the band Spacemen 3
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ChloePond wrote:
And I guess that I just don't know
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zodiac_4_music wrote:
the intro!
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tomrud73 wrote:
not really feeling this live version though, still a great song however
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tomrud73 wrote:
GREAT
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rockandrolljoe wrote:
Herion, it's my wife and it's my life.
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Tmisfit wrote:
:~
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ToTheWelshPoint wrote:
Everyone bangs on about this song, but imo, musically, its one of their worst. They've wriiten far better songs than this
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nohables wrote:
Very unattractive, but I love it.
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SebuuuPL wrote:
This is the best song in this fucking world!
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KeFIRstone wrote:
I dont mean to abuse but I like this song. and I think I know when it happens ...
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jesusdredgirl wrote:
I've never done heroin, and never plan to, but man, i love this song!
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MrsRieffers wrote:
..... going with jesus. youcan get it"""" going with jesus .. you can get it for shure""""""""
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searcher1972 wrote:
Another guy that is shit live, but writes great music and songs.
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AlCapwnUK wrote:
best song of '67? written in '64 as well
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megajosh2 wrote:
Actually I think Lulu was alright. >_>
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Chri5123 wrote:
If I could inject this song into my bloodstream, I might break the needle,,,
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Velikadeja wrote:
If I could inject this song into my bloodstream, I totally would. [7]
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Funky_Nickie wrote:
There's no such thing as an ugly drug. (Well...apart from desomorphine, maybe)
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negima696 wrote:
Sweet:]
Track Stats
1,802,926 Scrobbles
385,562 Listeners
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Recent Activity
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BROlyfe, sabaahiiibccjjj, linus212 and 22 other people loved The Velvet Underground – Heroin. 15 minutes ago
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narratong added Heroin to the playlist. Wednesday evening
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MarcusAurelio, WonderGirls09, an_onion and 1 other person loved The Velvet Underground – Heroin. Wednesday evening
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PsychedelicCoin added Heroin to PsychedelicCoin’s library. Wednesday afternoon
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PsychedelicCoin added Heroin to the playlist Melancolia, nostalgia e tristeza. Wednesday afternoon
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Peace_Froggy, pennyroyal77, limonad_limonad and 16 other people loved The Velvet Underground – Heroin. Wednesday afternoon
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lani694 tagged The Velvet Underground – Heroin with trainspotting, rock, classic rock and one other tag. Monday morning
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mortate, bergamo_poisson, Nixi_Joon and 3 other people loved The Velvet Underground – Heroin. Monday morning
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ChloePond tagged The Velvet Underground – Heroin with masterpiece and experimental. Sunday evening
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christianbln07, kranichsberg, Claudio_82 and 9 other people loved The Velvet Underground – Heroin. Sunday afternoon
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