White Light/White Heat

The Velvet Underground

About White Light/White Heat

"White Light/White Heat" is a song recorded by the American rock band the Velvet Underground. It was released in January 1968 on their second studio album, White Light/White Heat. Also in January 1968, the song was released as a single with the B-side "Here She Comes Now".


Year:
2012
2:46
77 

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White light, white light goin' messin' up my mind
White light, and don't you know its gonna make me go blind
White heat, aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, ooo have mercy white light have it goodness knows

White light, white light goin' messin' up my brain
White light, aww white light its gonna drive me insane
White heat, aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, aww white light I said now goodness knows, do it

Hmm hmm, white light
Aww I surely do love to watch that stuff tip itself in
Hmm hmm, white light
Watch that side, watch that side don't you know it gonna be dead in the drive
Hmm hmm, white heat
Hey foxy mama watchin' her walk down the street
Hmm hmm, white light
Come up side your head gonna make a deadend on your street

White light, white light moved in me through my brain
White light, white light goin' makin' you go insane
White heat, aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, aww white light I said now goodness knows

White light, aww white light it lighten up my eyes
White light, don't you know it fills me up with surprise
White light, aww white heat tickle me down to my toes
White light, aww white light I tell you now goodness knows, now work it

Hmm hmm, white light
Aww she surely do moves me
Hmm hmm, white light
Watch that speed freak, watch that speed freak everybody gonna go and make it every week
Hmm hmm, white heat
Aww sputter mutter everybody gonna go kill their mother
Hmm hmm, white light
Here she comes, here she comes, everybody get 'n gone make me run to her

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The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited by many critics as one of the most important and influential groups of the 1960s. An often-repeated statement, made by Brian Eno in a 1982 interview, is that while the first Velvet Underground album may have sold only 30,000 copies in its early years, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band." more »

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Written by: LOU REED

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Creation Process
"White Light/White Heat" was recorded in late 1967 and released on January 30, 1968. It was the second studio album by American rock band, The Velvet Underground.
Album Visibility
Upon its release, the album's controversial content led to it being dropped from various radio stations, hindering its commercial success. Despite this, it later became a significant and influential work in rock music.
Musical Style
The title track, "White Light/White Heat", is considered one of the definitive noise rock songs of the 1960s. The cacophonous sound, with its distorted guitar part, reflected the band's move toward a more "bristling, amplified sound".
Lyrics Origin
The song's lyrics tell an abstract story about a drug-fueled rush of emotions. Music historians believe that the song was inspired by Lou Reed's amphetamine usage during his college years.
Song Length
The single version of "White Light/White Heat" is approximately 2:47 minutes long, which is shorter than the 4:47 minutes album version. This reduced version was released in November 1968, about 10 months after the album.
Cover Version
"White Light/White Heat" has been covered by numerous artists. One of the most notable covers was by David Bowie, who performed it several times and included it on his 1973 album, "Pin Ups".
Album Art
The album cover of "White Light/White Heat" is a heavily stylized black-on-black print of a skull tattoo obtained by Lou Reed while playing with his band at Syracuse University. This drawing was chosen to contrast the bright, colorful cover of the band's previous album.
Re-Release
The album, including the song “White Light/White Heat”, was re-released in 2013 to celebrate its 45th anniversary. The remastered version included previously unreleased versions of songs, live recordings, and an early version of the title track with alternative lyrics.
Influence
"White Light/White Heat" heavily influenced the punk rock movement and has been cited by many punk and rock musicians as one of their favorite tracks from The Velvet Underground.
Reception
While initial critical reception of the song and the album was mixed, with some viewing it as too abrasive and unconventional, it has since been retrospectively praised as a landmark of 1960s counterculture.

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