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


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

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Sweet Jane song meanings
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    My Interpretation

    It is hard, enticing even, to not think of ANY Velvet song as referring to Heroin somehow. And that’s not due to assumption. That first album in particular is riddled with multiple layers in which Lou was either overtly or covertly referencing Heroin. But here's the catch: that’s not a criticism. That was just Lou’s reality at the time, and H was a big part of it. Was he using during the Loaded years? Who knows. But it amazing how so many tortured artists weave their heroin obsessions into their lyrics (see “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Under the Bridge” etc. etc.). Hank Williams loved alcohol, look at all of his songs. So we are right in at least questioning whether this is yet another song about heroin. However the basic “import” or global feeling of the song suggests hope, living for the moment, an overall “fuck you” to conventional living and that once you are able to discard cultural boxes, the freedom you’ll feel is…delicious (e.g. a Wall Street Pig to a Poet). In this sense, it is a song about living authentically, honestly, as you are, despite societal oppression, telling you everyday you should be someone else than who you really are. And that is why it is so appealing. It makes you feel that feeling free is the ultimate goal, that the purpose of life is to be happy, instead of greedy, rat-race, materialism and “the man with the most toys wins,” mentality. Fuck those 1 % ‘ing assholes. This is your life. You wanna life the rest of it in shame, self-hatred and misery, constantly comparing yourself to some unrealized “American Dream” manipulation? You see, that’s the “gist” of the song, and the lyrics take a second priority to the feeling of it. As for “Sweet Jane,” it’s impossible not to at least imagine she’s a metaphor for heroin. Heroin is the ultimate human escape, the perfect condition, so this could be part of the song. But it is also a song about getting older. The older you get, the more settling down becomes a reality, and Lou is saying that’s okay too. Whatever turns your crank man! Just remember, the purpose of life is to be happy, and this is the gift this song offers.

    solaris2013on March 22, 2015   Link

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