Both as a standalone and as part of the DSOTS album, you can take this lyric as read. As a matter of public record, Jourgensen's drug intake was legendary even in the 1980s. By the late 90s, in his own words, he was grappling with massive addiction issues and had lost almost everything: friends, spouse, money and had nearly died more than once. "Dark Side of the Spoon" is a both funny & sad title for an album made by a musical genius who was losing the plot; and this song is a message to his fans & friends saying he knows it. It's painful to listen to so I'm glad the "Keith Richards of industrial metals" wised up and cleaned up. Well done sir.
Teenage Mary said to Uncle Dave
I sold my soul, must be saved
Gonna take a walk down to Union Square
You never know who you're gonna find there
You gotta run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do
Marguerita Passion had to get her fix
She wasn't well, she was getting sick
Went to sell her soul, she wasn't high
Didn't know, thinks she could buy it
And she would run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do
Seasick Sarah had a golden nose
Hobnail boots wrapped around her toes
When she turned blue, all the angels screamed
They didn't know, they couldn't make the scene
She had to run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do
Beardless Harry, what a waste
Couldn't even get a small town taste
Rode the trolleys down to forty seven
Figured he was good to get himself to heaven
'Cause he had to run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do
I sold my soul, must be saved
Gonna take a walk down to Union Square
You never know who you're gonna find there
You gotta run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do
Marguerita Passion had to get her fix
She wasn't well, she was getting sick
Went to sell her soul, she wasn't high
Didn't know, thinks she could buy it
And she would run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do
Seasick Sarah had a golden nose
Hobnail boots wrapped around her toes
When she turned blue, all the angels screamed
They didn't know, they couldn't make the scene
She had to run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do
Beardless Harry, what a waste
Couldn't even get a small town taste
Rode the trolleys down to forty seven
Figured he was good to get himself to heaven
'Cause he had to run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy Death and you
Tell you whatcha do
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
the constant rhythm in the song is perfect. the guitar is quite unique as well. it's all over the place. but most of the velvets stuff is.
"Teenage Mary, said to uncle dave/Sold my soul, must be saved"
The virgin mary was a teenager when she found out she would have jesus as a son. Uncle Dave could be King David, who was connected to the birth of Jesus (not sure how). Introduces the song with some sort of biblical religious reference (regardless of the meaning has been influential in songwriters like black francis).
There is a fantastic live version of this song (it skips the second verse) where you feel the energy of the song. Just great lines - the opening verse for me always set the mood. Taking a walk to Union Square and then you never know what you'll find there. Lou writes from personal experience of the lower Manhattan drug scene.
Velvet Underground songs overall aren't too hard to interpret -- the thing that I love about their lyrics are more the deeper implications behind the song's rather straight-forward lyrics. Why did they make a song about four kids killing themselves on drugs? It is just complete self-awareness. They are dying through their choice of drug, through their lifestyle -- and the self-hatred and equal indifference just resonates through so much of their music.
I can't believe there aren't more comments on this song. It's definitely about heroin. Pretty much all of the lyrics seem to make a reference to it, especially, <br /> <br /> "Marguerita Passion had to get her fix <br /> She wasn't well, she was getting sick <br /> Went to sell her soul, she wasn't high"<br /> <br /> And, the reference to Seasick Sarah. When you don't get your opiate (heroin, morphine, what have you) fix, you get very, very sick. I used to do it...serious shit. But hey, it makes every heroin reference by the Velvet Underground and Elliott Smith make so much more sense--you won't understand until you do it.
At justshootingstar. Don't talk rubbish. I understand completely and I have never touched heroin or anything similar.
Your RUN RUN RUN song is awesome. realonlinereview.com/hard-on-demand/
Sounds like it's about chasing the dragon. 'Selling your soul' refers to the addiction.
One of my favorite VU's.
"Gypsy Death and you," that line sends chills down my spine.
Sounds like a drug addiction, "selling your soul" to me sounds like playing with death! Gypsy death-refers to the drug death
it's also a nickname for heroin
can someone explain this songs plot?
It describes four young people killing themselves with drugs.
Its about junkies going out to get heroin before withdraw and people overdosing and what-not.
MY FAVORITE VU SONG... well heroins maybe a bit better.. but yeah i love this band