White Light/White Heat
The Velvet Underground
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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, Oh 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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Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, 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.
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Album VisibilityUpon 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.
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Musical StyleThe 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".
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Lyrics OriginThe 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.
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Song LengthThe 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.
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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".
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Album ArtThe 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.
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Re-ReleaseThe 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.
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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.
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ReceptionWhile 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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Citation
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