Obviously it's about poverty and homelessness; the reasons for the poverty and homelessness are left to the imagination. Yes, there were a lot of young people drifting around in the sixties, and a lot of drugs; but it was also standard practice in the sixties for parents to disown their gay kids, and their unwed pregnant daughters, and just kick them out of the house before they were even of age. In any case, it's a very sad song about people in need, and to say that it's about having nothing and "being okay with it" is, imo, to trivialize their suffering.
p.s. "Sweet nothing" is just an expression that's been around for years. It's not meant to be taken literally. I'm sure Reed is using it ironically here. Having nothing is not "sweet."
p.s. "Sweet nothing" is just an expression that's been around for years. It's not meant to be taken literally. I'm sure Reed is using it ironically here. Having nothing is not "sweet."
Obviously it's about poverty and homelessness; the reasons for the poverty and homelessness are left to the imagination. Yes, there were a lot of young people drifting around in the sixties, and a lot of drugs; but it was also standard practice in the sixties for parents to disown their gay kids, and their unwed pregnant daughters, and just kick them out of the house before they were even of age. In any case, it's a very sad song about people in need, and to say that it's about having nothing and "being okay with it" is, imo, to trivialize their suffering.
p.s. "Sweet nothing" is just an expression that's been around for years. It's not meant to be taken literally. I'm sure Reed is using it ironically here. Having nothing is not "sweet."
p.s. "Sweet nothing" is just an expression that's been around for years. It's not meant to be taken literally. I'm sure Reed is using it ironically here. Having nothing is not "sweet."