This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Standing on the corner
Suitcase in my hand
Jack is in his corset, and Jane is her vest
And me, I'm in a rock 'n roll band, ha
Ridin' in a Stutz Bearcat, Jim
You know, those were different times
Oh, all the poets, they studied rules of verse
And those ladies, they rolled their eyes
Sweet Jane, whoa
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
I'll tell you something, Jack, he is a banker
And Jane, she is a clerk
And both of them save their monies, ha
And when, when they come home from work
Ooh, sittin' down by the fire, oh
The radio does play
The classical music there, Jim
"The March of the Wooden Soldiers"
All you protest kids
You can hear Jack say, get ready, ah
Sweet Jane, ah, come on, baby
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
Some people, they like to go out dancing
And other peoples, they have to work, just watch me now
And there's even some evil mothers
Well, they're gonna tell you that everything is just dirt
You know that women never really faint
And that villains always blink their eyes, ooh
And that, you know, children are the only ones who blush
And that life is just to die
But everyone who ever had a heart
Oh, they wouldn't turn around and break it
And anyone who ever played a part
Oh, they wouldn't turn around and hate it
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to her when he smiles, ah
Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to her, hey, when she smiles
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Suitcase in my hand
Jack is in his corset, and Jane is her vest
And me, I'm in a rock 'n roll band, ha
Ridin' in a Stutz Bearcat, Jim
You know, those were different times
Oh, all the poets, they studied rules of verse
And those ladies, they rolled their eyes
Sweet Jane, whoa
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
I'll tell you something, Jack, he is a banker
And Jane, she is a clerk
And both of them save their monies, ha
And when, when they come home from work
Ooh, sittin' down by the fire, oh
The radio does play
The classical music there, Jim
"The March of the Wooden Soldiers"
All you protest kids
You can hear Jack say, get ready, ah
Sweet Jane, ah, come on, baby
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
Some people, they like to go out dancing
And other peoples, they have to work, just watch me now
And there's even some evil mothers
Well, they're gonna tell you that everything is just dirt
You know that women never really faint
And that villains always blink their eyes, ooh
And that, you know, children are the only ones who blush
And that life is just to die
But everyone who ever had a heart
Oh, they wouldn't turn around and break it
And anyone who ever played a part
Oh, they wouldn't turn around and hate it
Sweet Jane, oh-oh
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to her when he smiles, ah
Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to her, hey, when she smiles
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
La-la-la-la, la-la-la
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Lyrics submitted by capitol76, edited by rosalyre, Mellow_Harsher, Dianimal66, zhizhumao
Sweet Jane Lyrics as written by Lou Reed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's about heroin again kids. Jane = H. The bank's money goes out through the clerks. Even the everyman is doing it - Lou Reed's reflection on the hypocracy of the middle class (see "Mother's Little Helper"). Perfectly subversive. See Jane's Addiction "Jane Says" for Jack & Jane's child.
I don't know who told you "jane" is slang for heroin, but it absolutely is not. Seriously, I dare you to find it in a drug slang dictionary. Seriously, go look. I, personally, have never heard any junkie refer to H as Jane, and I live in portland. Heroin has ravaged this town in the past, and thats not exactly a secret, so if heroin were ever called Jane, you would have heard it used, but you don't. I really don't know where you got that from. Just because its lou reed does not automatically mean its going to be about heroin. So, cute, but you're wrong.
Yea this reply is 8 years late, but wow, that Zipperhead person was an idiot. Just because Lou Reed sang about heroin doesn't mean every song he ever wrote is about heroin. And "Mother's Little Helper" is a Rolling Stones song about the use of Nembutal among housewives in the UK, not heroin. And Zippy had no idea what "subversive" means, or how to spell "hypocrisy."