Original Performance: The Velvet Underground
Written by: Lou Reed
Written by: Lou Reed
Versions:
- Heroin (6:40)
Available on Velvet Underground & Nico.
CreditsBrian Lebarton: Drums, Vocals
Nigel Godrich: Keyboard / Synthesizer, Percussion
Chris Holmes: Organ - Heroin (alternate version) (5:04)
Available on Velvet Underground & Nico.
CreditsBeck Hansen: Vocals
Lyrics:
Heroin [Version (a)]:
I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
Because it makes me feel like a man
When I put a spike in my vein
And I'll tell you things aren't the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made the big decision
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
'Cause when the blood begins to flow
When I guess... upon my neck
And I'm closing in on death
And you can't help me now
All you guys and all your sweet talk
And I guess that I'll take a walk
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I wish...
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
In a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of the evils of this town
And of himself and all those around
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
Heroin, heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a needle in my vein
Leads to the center in my head
And I'm better off then dead
Because when the smack begins to flow
And I don't care anymore
???
???
And I guess that I just don't know
Because when the smack begins to flow
Then I really don't care anymore
And then the heroin is in my blood
And the blood is in my head
Then thank God that I'm as good as dead
Then thank your God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
I just don't know
I just don't know
I just don't know
I just don't know
I just don't know
I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
Because it makes me feel like a man
When I put a spike in my vein
And I'll tell you things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
Because it makes me feel like a man
When I put a spike in my vein
And I'll tell you things aren't the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made the big decision
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
'Cause when the blood begins to flow
When I guess... upon my neck
And I'm closing in on death
And you can't help me now
All you guys and all your sweet talk
And I guess that I'll take a walk
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I wish...
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
In a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of the evils of this town
And of himself and all those around
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
Heroin, heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a needle in my vein
Leads to the center in my head
And I'm better off then dead
Because when the smack begins to flow
And I don't care anymore
???
???
And I guess that I just don't know
Because when the smack begins to flow
Then I really don't care anymore
And then the heroin is in my blood
And the blood is in my head
Then thank God that I'm as good as dead
Then thank your God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
I just don't know
I just don't know
I just don't know
I just don't know
I just don't know
I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
Because it makes me feel like a man
When I put a spike in my vein
And I'll tell you things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
Heroin (alternate version) [Version (b)]:
I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
'Cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my veins
And I'll tell you things aren't the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made the big decision
And I'm gonna try to nullify my life
When the blood begins to flow
And it shoots up the dropper's neck
And I'm closing in on death
And you can't help me now
All you guys and all you sweet girls and all your sweet talk
You can all go and just take a walk
Well I guess that I just don't know
And I guess but I just don't know
And I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
And I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
In a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of all the evils of this town
And of himself and those around
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a needle through my vein
Leads to the center in my head
And I'm better off then dead
When the smack begins to flow
I really really really don't care anymore
About all the changings in this town
And all the politicians making sounds
And everybody pushing everybody down
And all the dead bodies piling around
When the smack begins to flow
I really really don't care anymore
With the heroin in my veins
Thank God that I'm good as dead
Thank God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
And I guess but I just don't know
And I guess but I just don't know
I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
'Cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my veins
And I'll tell you things aren't the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made the big decision
And I'm gonna try to nullify my life
When the blood begins to flow
And it shoots up the dropper's neck
And I'm closing in on death
And you can't help me now
All you guys and all you sweet girls and all your sweet talk
You can all go and just take a walk
Well I guess that I just don't know
And I guess but I just don't know
And I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
And I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
In a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man cannot be free
Of all the evils of this town
And of himself and those around
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a needle through my vein
Leads to the center in my head
And I'm better off then dead
When the smack begins to flow
I really really really don't care anymore
About all the changings in this town
And all the politicians making sounds
And everybody pushing everybody down
And all the dead bodies piling around
When the smack begins to flow
I really really don't care anymore
With the heroin in my veins
Thank God that I'm good as dead
Thank God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
And I guess but I just don't know
And I guess but I just don't know
The Song:
In the spring of 2009, Beck got together with his band (Brian, Joey and Bram), Nigel Godrich, Chris Holmes, and Icelandic singer, Thorunn Magnusdottir. Together, they recorded in the legendary album, Velvet Underground + Nico in its entirety. This is one of the songs from it.
For reasons unknown, the Record Club recorded two versions of "Heroin." Exciting!
The first version that came in sequence with the rest of the album was sung by Brian Lebarton. As Beck wrote, "Brian does a simultaneous Mo Tucker and Lou Reed, playing drums and singing with a little help from Nigel." There's a few stringed instruments in there too (maybe an igil or lute or something). It's unclear what Beck played, if anything. Regardless, this version is pretty insane, and it feels quite spontaneous. They turn the languid rush of the original into something more hyper, while maintaining the thrilling intensity.
The "alternate" version (Beck's words) was put on beck.com as a bonus track after the rest of the album had been completed. I love Beck's vocals on this, there's a cool ghostly detachment to it (especially when compared to Brian's involved intensity). Beck sticks closer to the meldoy of the original VU version. Unfortunately, the video for this one is one of the only Record Club videos made of footage not related to the recording of the song itself... thus I have no idea who plays what on it. (The video shows everyone playing everything.)
Both versions work as recreations of the original, in completely different ways. I'm a fan of the intensity of Brian's version, while definitely maintaining the spirit of the original. It feels spontaneous, like that version came out of nowhere, and they had no idea what to expect. But then Beck's cover is a bit more straight. Beck has always sung like Lou Reed anyway, which gives his cover a little gravitas.
That said, I feel like Brian's version might be more composed than one would initially expect, while Beck's is also a bit crazier than one might notice at first.
In the spring of 2009, Beck got together with his band (Brian, Joey and Bram), Nigel Godrich, Chris Holmes, and Icelandic singer, Thorunn Magnusdottir. Together, they recorded in the legendary album, Velvet Underground + Nico in its entirety. This is one of the songs from it.
For reasons unknown, the Record Club recorded two versions of "Heroin." Exciting!
The first version that came in sequence with the rest of the album was sung by Brian Lebarton. As Beck wrote, "Brian does a simultaneous Mo Tucker and Lou Reed, playing drums and singing with a little help from Nigel." There's a few stringed instruments in there too (maybe an igil or lute or something). It's unclear what Beck played, if anything. Regardless, this version is pretty insane, and it feels quite spontaneous. They turn the languid rush of the original into something more hyper, while maintaining the thrilling intensity.
The "alternate" version (Beck's words) was put on beck.com as a bonus track after the rest of the album had been completed. I love Beck's vocals on this, there's a cool ghostly detachment to it (especially when compared to Brian's involved intensity). Beck sticks closer to the meldoy of the original VU version. Unfortunately, the video for this one is one of the only Record Club videos made of footage not related to the recording of the song itself... thus I have no idea who plays what on it. (The video shows everyone playing everything.)
Both versions work as recreations of the original, in completely different ways. I'm a fan of the intensity of Brian's version, while definitely maintaining the spirit of the original. It feels spontaneous, like that version came out of nowhere, and they had no idea what to expect. But then Beck's cover is a bit more straight. Beck has always sung like Lou Reed anyway, which gives his cover a little gravitas.
That said, I feel like Brian's version might be more composed than one would initially expect, while Beck's is also a bit crazier than one might notice at first.
videos
Record Club version:
Record Club alternate version:
Velvet Underground original:
Record Club version:
Record Club alternate version:
Velvet Underground original: