"Heroin" is a seminal song by The Velvet Underground, released on their 1967 debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico. Written by Lou Reed in 1964, it is one of the band's most celebrated and influential compositions, renowned for its unflinching portrayal of heroin use and its groundbreaking musical structure12.
Lyrical Themes and Intent
"Heroin" overtly depicts the experience of using the drug, chronicling both its allure and its destructive consequences. The lyrics are delivered from the perspective of a user, capturing the psychological highs and lows, and the sense of escape and fatalism that accompanies addiction. Notably, the song neither glorifies nor condemns drug use; instead, it presents a neutral, almost journalistic account, which was both troubling and revolutionary for its time1342. As critic Mark Deming notes, "While 'Heroin' hardly endorses drug use, it doesn't clearly condemn it, either, which made it all the more troubling in the eyes of many listeners"1. Patti Smith called it “one of our more perfect American songs, because it addresses a very conflicting subject... in a non-judgmental piece, in a non-preaching piece... with such beautiful, simple, direct language”4.
Musical Structure
Musically, "Heroin" is built on a simple, two-chord progression (D♭ and G♭ major), with no bass guitar—both Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison play guitar, while John Cale’s electric viola provides a droning, chaotic backdrop142. Maureen Tucker’s percussion is minimalist, and the tempo gradually accelerates and decelerates, mirroring the rush and crash of a heroin high12. The song’s structure is deliberately designed to evoke the unpredictable, cyclical nature of addiction, with crescendos of noise and intensity followed by moments of calm12.
Cultural Impact and Legacy
Upon release, "Heroin" was highly controversial, with some critics accusing the band of glorifying drug use. However, Reed and the band consistently denied this, emphasizing the song’s objective stance132. The song became a defining moment in rock history, cited as a major influence by countless artists and included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s "Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll"32. Rolling Stone ranked it among the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time"12. Its honest, unvarnished depiction of addiction and outsider life set a new standard for lyrical and musical candor in popular music34.
Personnel
- Lou Reed – lead vocals, lead guitar
- John Cale – electric viola
- Sterling Morrison – rhythm guitar
- Maureen Tucker – percussion1
Notable Lyrics
"Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a mainline in my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I'm better off than dead"2
Summary Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Album | The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967) |
| Writer | Lou Reed |
| Genre | Experimental rock, art rock |
| Structure | Two chords, no bass, escalating tempo, droning viola, minimalist percussion |
| Themes | Heroin use, addiction, escapism, neutrality |
| Legacy | Rock landmark, major influence on punk/art rock, Hall of Fame, critical acclaim |
"Heroin" endures as a chilling, honest, and musically groundbreaking portrait of addiction and alienation, and remains a cornerstone of The Velvet Underground’s legacy1342.
