The Velvet Underground » Tracks » Heroin

The Velvet Underground – Heroin (7:11)

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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.
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  • zepp69

    Who needs heroin when you have this song? (1)

    yesterday morning

  • brandondittman

    it's just so good [2]

    27 days ago

  • uneMortelle

    As perfect as heroin itself. <3

    last month

  • ThumbsOGherkin

    Sounds like Forest Gospel by Animal Collective

    last month

  • laurenisacat

    it's just so good.

    last month

  • me_araujo

    like a drug

    last month

  • Akmenija

    And I guess I just don't know. The main idea = amazing mindfuck.

    last month

  • Lukinhas_44

    MASTERPIECE!

    last month

  • LablakelyDress

    mow

    last month

  • Recueillement

    Who needs heroin when you have this song?

    March 2012

  • MartinCQuet

    "I wish I was born 1000 years ago..." I have been born, lived, died, been born, lived, been murdered, been dead, born yet again, lived, and died. Again. Then again. Yet again. One gets tired of coming back here. Something is better than nothing, I suppose; but nothing might be better than living among a bunch of profligate nihilistic assholes.

    March 2012

  • dontsagemebro

    just incredible

    March 2012

  • claricecb

    who needs drugs when you have this song I MEAN

    March 2012

  • sstrosser1

    This song is as bad as the crap they shoot !!!!

    March 2012

  • tomrud73

    i spoke too soon i guess. this version is VERY GOOD

    March 2012

  • marcgindratt

    Say No To Hard Drugs.

    March 2012

  • marcgindratt

    This is a great song & it was very wild for it's time. Some people just don't get it & that's why they don't like the song.

    March 2012

  • hanginchili

    SAY NO. bin there , seen it.don. it live life

    March 2012

  • aubrexxi

    I don't get all the hype, but it's definitely a good song. Captures the feeling of DRUGZ so well.

    March 2012

  • Schkatz

    One of those songs that just doesn't bore no matter how long you listen to it

    March 2012
See all 856 shouts

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