Lou Reed Lyrics-52 – A graduate of Warhol University (from “A Speech”) (Now Playing Week 23)

Lou said this in a speech, just a few months before he passed away in 2013.

Rock’n’roll for idiots 

Way back in 1975, in the liner notes for Metal Machine Music, he had been quite pessimistic about his chosen art form. He had stated that perhaps rock’n’roll would never be infused with “the intelligence that once inhabited novels or films.”   

Over the years, however, it seems he became more optimistic. As time passed, he apparently realized the power of rock’n’roll, which was essentially a voice of the people.   

Music for the people 

He realized that, if nothing else, rock music had the power to express certain truths found on the streets, in our homes, and in the various haunts where we go about our lives.    

Given his intelligent and very literate contributions to the field of rock’n’roll, his optimism was wholly justified. And thanks to his contributions, we can read the above quote and nod our heads in full agreement.  

Quote during speech, Lou Reed (@ 4:08) …

Lou Reed, Anthology of Memorable Lyrics.

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