The Velvet Underground » Tracks
Heroin (8:15)
1,185,096 plays (265,191 listeners)
“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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One of the greatest songs ever... Lou Reed, a poetical musician...
Playing the velvet underground, the song is heroin... Live...
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Playing the velvet underground, the song is heroin... Live...
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Albums featuring this track
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Live With Lou Reed, Vol.1
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Shouts
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traubster wrote:
'Cause a main in my vein leads to a center in my head, then I'm better off than dead...
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Standingonair66 wrote:
schreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeezzzzzzhchchchchc
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EvyatarB wrote:
This is much more than a song
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sourgrrrl wrote:
Shit, after this, I think I will need some herion. YUCK
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Mocosillo wrote:
lolVVV
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lancelambert wrote:
the lyrics are pretty vague, but i think this song is about drugs.
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Yenward wrote:
love it since i was a kid :)
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tilllama wrote:
KNALLER
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MrsJimMorrison wrote:
I love this song, it is so awesome.
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optimisticsails wrote:
THE BEST EVERRRRRRRRR
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nothingbutflesh wrote:
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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Sunzy wrote:
beauty.
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tattoocorpus wrote:
i love this song
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trashcityrocker wrote:
http://freedownloads.last.fm/download/370290264/Heroin%2B%2528The%2BVelvet%2BUnderground%2529.mp3
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rymdvarelse wrote:
and i guess that i just don't know
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Panzerke wrote:
The Live MCMXCIII version is sublime.
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Amelie1st wrote:
Fantastic song.
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dear_near_scary wrote:
First listen to the Velvet Underground... Definitely not the last.
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pee-why wrote:
This IS the original version from The V.U. ♥ ~ sǝʎ ʞɔnɟ ~ ♥ ...and Willie, do whatcha want, live Ur OWN life...
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WiffleBallTony wrote:
I've never done heroin, but if it's half as good as this song, consider me an addict.
The Velvet Underground
Heroin
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sillycoffee, azhiazme and joanna3point14 loved The Velvet Underground – Heroin. 3 hours ago
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qoeo added Heroin to the playlist. 7 hours ago
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qoeo, aboy021, sonofbum and 3 other people loved The Velvet Underground – Heroin. 7 hours ago
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yoiamdaruler added Heroin to the playlist TO GET HIGH TO. 9 hours ago
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