the velvet underground - jesus

[greyuify]

bellissima!!!



[ZyciaxD]

I live in Poland-dirty country without a future. I hate this place. I love country music and dreaming of a farm in Tennessee. So, Jesus, help me find my proper place and give me strength.

[LetsGetHighOnMorris]

hmm... i can be christian for about 3:26 minutes.

[nickb102661]

@TrueLoveWay23 just the badassness of the scene with this mellow song...perfect goddam balance..

[lclarsen]

as a Christian and a huge VU fan let me say, if churches had music like this I would attend.

[pogopogopogo3]

I wonder if any of you would say that Heroin is not really about shooting up- it's obviously this big metaphor for Jesus, duh

[Gianthemeeno1]

@Regginyaga fuck you bitch,one day you'll regret your words, i hope you can wake up and see the light some day......poor bastard you are

[artfiendmax]

The greatest Amerikan band who wrote songs of human debachurie: tweeking on meth, scoring smack, S&M, dominatrixes, and drag queens also wrote this beautiful song about Kristos that puts modern Cristian Rock to shame for it's banality.

[himissbee]

I love Jesus.

[MrShuggieTodd]

I have a question : what does Jesus represent to Jewish people ? How come Lou Reed wrote a song about him ? Thanks.

[SSITex]

Jesus is like the Velvet Underground, and christians are like the hipsters of today who think they discovered him and understand his lyrics.

[himissbee]

@SSITex that really and truly makes zero sense. sorry.

[MariaNNaBoBos]

@SSITex I don't get it?

[ersatzelvis]

Is that a grilled cheese sandwich in that picture?

[animalzarg]

christ i thought the image was an x ray of someones fucked up wang! this song is one of the best in the world no fuckin contest. VU are the tits

[duke49]

I <3 Jesus

[Bstewart2]

Seen this in the ending of the Kings Of Leon Documentary. Amazing song.

[rossvassilev]

love the sarcasm!

[BlackHoleSun1921]

Where did this image come from?!?!?

[MrPPreusse]

@BlackHoleSun1921 out of the blue

[BlackSabbathory]

Absolute tearjerker. 

[enzothebaker9]

All the paper money is the same? In one respect--its paper. It's not worth anything more than a napkin. So wipe your ass with your fortune. Now you're getting defensive over the fact that I don't subscribe to your life tested teenage philosophies. By your own admission you are mediocre. I didnt say it, you did.

[RavenholmFilms]

@enzothebaker9 And I can give a reason why i'm mediocre (if thats what you interpret me to be saying), however you seem completley unable to defend your claims, so while I would overwise respect what you have to say, so far all you have said is pretty much nothing decorated as having a point, if you cant back up what your saying, that Is a reason not to listen to an opinion.Mergs 8690 can at least validate what their saying.

[enzothebaker9]

@RavenholmFilms I am no match for your bad grammar, piss poor spelling, and trite arguments. You win.

[rogums]

I think you'll find I do 'win; since in a week or so you can not conjure a single reason to back up the argument that you are a superior being. As for spelling and grammar, curious how I received 2 emails from youtube saying you'd commented strait after each other. I'm not going to say with certainty, but perhaps you made a little mistake there, and seeing as the norm for teenagers on the internet is a far lower quality of writing I find it amazing you can even attempt to focus on that.

[enzothebaker9]

@rogums Conjure??? You've been reading to much Harry Potter. Go conjure your fat ass a sandwich.

[rogums]

@enzothebaker9 Oh my, I thought I was talking to an eloquent person, all be it with an invalid point but I can now see that you're incredibly moronic. Its been such a long time and by now its fair to say you don't have an argument your just looking at how0 I've spelt things and what words I've used even when those words are perfectly applicable. Would you care to start again, here's my question. WHAT MAKES YOU SUPERIOR? Go. (Implying you wont just go 'hahahaha look, he used the word superior')

[zaynzaynzayn]

this makes me love JESUS

[mergs8690]

i dont think this song is really about religion or Christianity. It's a metaphor for something much bigger.

[enzothebaker9]

@mergs8690 I have heard that said before, "Its not about jesus. Its a metaphor." Anyone who has made that claim has never explained what is this supposed metaphor. Instead, rather than give an honest interpretation of the song, they are using the song as a pretense to push their own agenda. They begin with the premise, this song cannot possibly be about Jesus, and then go onto conclude that it must therefore be a metaphor.

[mergs8690]

@enzothebaker9 i never said that it wasn't about jesus, maybe it is. i just said that I don't think that it is. i have no problem with religion, and if lou reed meant for this to be a religious song then good for him, it's an amazing song. but for me, it just doesn't really fit lou reed or the whole 'factory's' persona to sing about christianity. among them were transvestites and homosexuals, drug users, nonconformists, and overall they were pretty sexually explicit.

[enzothebaker9]

Your opinion is irrelavent. It doesnt matter what you think. No one is listening.

[mergs8690]

@enzothebaker9 okay buddio, sorry i guess i just forgot how hard it is to have a non-hateful and thoughtful conversation with people so full of themselves and their own beliefs.

[enzothebaker9]

@mergs8690 I dont hate you. You don't warrent hate. I have contempt for you. My beliefs have nothing to do with the way I feel about you. You are a nobody. You think you are a somebody. You are absolutely forgetable, insignificant. But you believe in your own significance. You are deluded. You are duped into thinking that thinking makes you relevent. It doesnt. You are irrelevant.

[rogums]

@enzothebaker9 Im listening to his/her opinion, It's just as relevant as yours, you think their insignificant, explain how you have come to the conclusion that you are less so?

[enzothebaker9]

@rogums Right. As far as you're concerned, everyone's opinion is equally valid. You give your esteem away shamelessly--to anyone and everyone. When you flood the market with paper money, you end up with inflated currency. Worthless. Like you.

[rogums]

@enzothebaker9 And yet all that paper money is exactly the same? What, you think your gold? You still have not given a reason for you're supposed superiority.

[zaynzaynzayn]

@mergs8690 It's obviously not a "christian" song in the conventional sense, but it is a sort of postmodern peaen to Jesus-as-holy-lover insofar as Reed pleeds to believe in a transcendent good that might "save" him from the dark human condition (aetheticized by The Factory culture) and enlighten him as to his "divine" purpose--which of course he found as one of the great rock artists. Note the similarity to "Candy Says" regarding the self's relationship with the body.

[PilesOfVinyls]

I'm an atheist, and yeah, I think this song is great, and I love VU. So what?

[GigsixstringOfficial]

...

[MsCrystal321]

jesus is a prominant thing in my life. ithis has been my fave song since i heard it on my cousins pink ipod

[sakkadam4]

i like the fucked up background and yeah this is metaphorical im pretty sure lou reed was not a bible thumping ass hole crumb haha this song is deep though im in love with the velvet underground

[rainspirit100]

@sakkadam4 lou truly was NOT a bible thumper, believe he is jewish - could be wrong, regardless he is a genius period

[wyverful]

Never heard them before but I'm imediately in love!

[britdemmen]

powerful picture

[jesuscat29]

This is exactly what i need right now.

[MurrayyMint]

I hate organised religion, especially Christianity, but this song is the bee's bollucks...

[rbh1138]

@MurrayyMint Why hate Love? That's what its about. If someone has been mean to you they weren't a true christian.

[rainspirit100]

@MurrayyMint it's not about religion or Christianity

[rainspirit100]

@MurrayyMint it's not about christianity nor is it about religion, so you are free and clear to enjoy Lou and the rest at their best

[MariaFabiani]

i don't like jesus

but i like this song

[winstonbarbe]

@MariaFabiani why would you dislike Jesus?

[urheadonastick]

@MariaFabiani

Dont like Jesus?Kind of like disliking peace and happiness aint it?

[22yonkers]

@urheadonastick

no it would be nothing like disliking peace and happiness

[urheadonastick]

@22yonkers

Jesus taught about peace n' happiness.

[wbaranful]

@MariaFabiani One cannot truly dislike Jesus, one can only reject him. If you do dislike him, you not he is the source of the dislike

[MariaFabiani]

@wbaranful

thanks, i'll think a lot about your words...

[Scoresby]

@wbaranful That's idiotic. Your statement is based entirely on the assumption that he is the son of God. For us atheists, Jesus is another historical figure, and we are thus free to like or dislike him as we choose. I don't like or dislike Jesus, but I reject your logic.

[dios420]

@wbaranful well i think you are miss informed. free will was given to man for this very reason. humans are free to do as they like whether believers or not.

[simbatjk]

@MariaFabiani jesus loves you lol

[JN5B11]

@MariaFabiani jesus likes you

[allmikau]

@MariaFabiani What a coincidence, I like Jesus, but I don't like this song :P

[Recyclingninja]

You know, I may not believe in God. But I believe in Jesus.

[DrGoat06]

@Recyclingninja Interesting, what do you mean friend ?

[floydus666]

If you look closely you can see Ringo Starr

[animegalc4]

@floydus666 stoned

[rainspirit100]

@floydus666 actually that's Paul (Lol)

[rainspirit100]

@floydus666 if you look closely you can see pale blue eyes, on a femme fatale on a sunday morning doing heroin

[NoRulesInNam]

Song's been stuck in ymy head lately.

[mrallcz]

Piekne.

[TheHolymcgill]

sounds like a prayer

[723cielo]

Lol at the picture

[Heytrigger]

This is such a beautiful song it brings me to tears every time I hear it. It's so powerful yet so simple.

[MiaColorOfChaos]

This is great. Six lines of lyrics and each verse still sounds different. Love it.

[revbricenichols]

Great song. nothing brings me up like a good underground song

[kosmischesynth]

wow, I got the first album a while back, I like it alot, but it wasn't quite my thing. I gave up on the Velvets after that really, but this is entirely different to what I imagined they'd sound like, in fact its a work of genius!

[WhiteLight1515]

Didn't know this song until bout 10 years ago.. Tears me apart to hear it..

My son reinterduced me to this band and Lou Reed..

Miss him so so much..

Music brings him back to me for a while...

[andrew18651]

i think this song's a bit like heroin in the fact that its not about what it seems. You don't have to be a christian or believe in any God to get it.

[mussman717word]

@andrew18651

I don't believe anyone has clarified the truth under that debate like you just have. Congratulations, good sir, you know your shit.

[mandolinroad]

@andrew18651 Exactly. I'd be very surprised indeed if this was a serious hymn to Jesus christ. In fact I think I could bet my right nut that it's not.

[brutuscassius1]

@mandolinroad: I guess it could be about Jesus as a philosophical and moral figure but I doubt it is about the church and religion in a wider sense - at around this time Lou Reed was (or adopted the persona of) a gay drug user, hardly likely he would embrace, or be embraced by, an organized religion at the time this song was written.

[buddaski]

masterpiece.

[krustymegadragon]

i'm not religious, but, i love this song......

[SHOEGAZEFAN73]

It's not about religion.

[LOGAN8362]

@SHOEGAZEFANyou'rean ignorant antireligious bigot.

reed always said he never knew where the songs he wrote came from, he believed they had a spiritual or cosmic source, though he was not religious. he performed the song sincerely. he performed for the late pope a few years back.

the film is a catholic view of the passion.

the blind boys of alabama rereleased the song with lou as a gospel standard recently.

[723cielo]

I read somewhere that Lou Reed did perform for the Vatican though, in 2000. Guess he's Christian now? Wouldn't surprise me cuz he's a Pisces, and if you read description of Pisces you'd think "ideal Christian."

[WILLOW5033]

This song is far better than any song by an actual Chiristian band that I have ever heard.

[SOMOGYI8230]

To-to-totally agreed!

[Sum1OverTheRainbow]

uhm lou reed's jew right?

[MowgliX]

well, he was born into a Jewish family, but so what? Religion is baloney anyway, whether you are a Christian, Jew or Moslem, it's all historical garbage.

[dcwishing]

haha...yes you are!

[praha111]

you fucking tards there arent damn christians

[boxwi]

VU is one of the best Christian bands of all-time, if not THE best. Praise them and God bless Andy Warhol who art in heaven.

[anabashaman]

Is that sarcasm I smell, or the stench of ignorance?

[SyrianSan]

i'll say sarcasm, hard to catch on youtube, full of jackasses

[cleanplasticchild]

@boxwi You are hilarious.

[MrCletus92]

inquetante l'immagine

[Bradius123]

I love this song so much . and I am an atheist.

[buswalita]

Me too...but isn't it supposed to be tongue in cheek

[gregorvonkallahann]

I wouldn't say "tongue in cheek" exactly--but it IS ironic considering the source. Lou was not only a demimondain, he was an artist/intellectual and was raised a Jew. Still there are all levels of sincerity, and there's no reason to think that Lou wasn't operating on one or more of them.

[GrungeRock1991]

I have so many memories of my father playing this in the car as a boy. Only recently did I hear them for the first time since I was about 5. 12 years later I still love this album. This song brings me to tears.

[hacarlos]

@GrungeRock1991 it s a beautiful song indeed.

It seems you are one of the people who will try to keep good music alive... rock on!

[twanjf]

@GrungeRock1991 I love your comment. This has been my 5 year old daughter's favorite song on the album since she was 3. She still asks for "the Jesus song" and "the 123 song" (after hours) all the time in the car so I have to keep this CD in the car at all times. If it weren't for her getting hooked on it, I would have largely past over this amazing song due to my own prejudices.

[mandolinroad]

@GrungeRock1991 What a cool fucking dad! this is not your typical car music. One of my favorite records btw.

[pascual92]

@GrungeRock1991 your dad has taste

[ProzorVerloc1]

simply great

[TattooedMonk021]

salvame, mi dios

[HuckMeHard]

Jesus! Help me Jesus!!!

[BlackLaval]

Jesús, ayúdame a encontrar un lugar adecuado para mí.

Jesús, ayúdame a encontrar un lugar adecuado para mí.

Ayúdame en mi debilidad, pues estoy cayendo fuera de tu Gracia.

Y todo se repite.

[NoRosesForMe]

help me in my weakness - cause im fallin out of Grace.

amen

[silviafarfallina]

Lou reed doesn't answer to prayer. He requires you to sacrifice 12 chickens and dance naked in the rain.

[bishopaz]

u kno one is never to old to learn.lou reed is a great writer. wonderfull song

[NicoDraak74]

I think it's just a cold turkeyed junky looking for a different way of life.

[deadzeppelin]

bingo!

[chiniwillly]

this is a beautiful heart touching song

[jimfarrowlove]

does anyone know the story behind this song? Why on earth did the depraved druggies, the Velvet Underground, write this touching Christian song?

[songcycle67]

jesus is more of a metaphor for some kind of salvation. It's a bit tongue in cheek, but definitely very serious.

[charlesmiddleton]

Its alot better than the shit christian bands youre used to then i suppose is the implication.

[jimfarrowlove]

Actually don't listen the shit Chrisitian bands ( I prefer Gregorian chant or Russian liturgical), and that wan't the implication. Just like the song, and wonder what it was that compelled Lou Reed to write it - whether or not he had/has any authentic Christian feeling.

[charlesmiddleton]

ah, well then i owe you an apology. i was under the impression that you were some ignorant dogmatist who couldnt comprehend that "depraved druggies" could have written such a song. once again, i apologize.

[monachos81]

Yeah, Russian liturgical chant! w00t!! (Znamenny is my favorite.)

But yes, I love Velvet Underground, and this song is amazing. Sufjan Stevens is also really good non-shit Christian music. I think "praise bands" and so-called Christian rock music are just noise with no substance or art or discernable creativity, and they alienate people and annoy God.

God listening to praise bands ----> >:-(

[lightbulbs67]

Another really good band that writes Christian music is mewithoutYou. I know the name is cheesy, but they are very original, at least their third album is. It's called Brother, Sister.

[jestiferjestifer]

@lightbulbs67 Another good band that writes Christian music is not the Velvet Underground, so fuck off.

[lightbulbs67]

@jestiferjestifer I was replying to a conversation that was already taking place in the comments. For some reason it didnt show up as a reply. Calm the hell down. I know the Velvet Underground aren't a christioan band. I'm not stupid.

[lightbulbs67]

@jestiferjestifer It was supposed to be a reply to monachos81.

[FogBoz]

@jestiferjestifer Anyone who places a spike into a vein is far from christian,LOL, The birds wrote a song called Jesus is alright with me, their sure not Cristians,LOL

[cleanplasticchild]

@FogBoz They're not Christians... not "their". Also, who says that someone struggling with drug addiction is not a Christian? Nice.

[SOMOGYI8230]

The byrds, LOL

[rainspirit100]

@FogBoz Trust me there are MANY christian junkies, go to an NA meeting sometime

[rainspirit100]

@rainspirit100 no thanks i'll stick with AA the original and it works

[rainspirit100]

@FogBoz that would be the BYRDS

[alexgoldish]

@monachos81 :)

[rainspirit100]

@monachos81 good comment but i don't think God gets annoyed, yet you made me laugh

[mussman717word]

@monachos81

Fucking right.

[jimfarrowlove]

Never suggested that he wasn't important. As far as the term "depraved druggies" - if you know anything about the Factory of that era, you'd know that wouldn't have been an insult to them - they reveled in depravity and drugs and were proud of it and wore it like a badge. Didn't suggest that God was restricted to anyone or anything. I use to listen to that song all time w/friends - we felt like it applied to us at the time. I guess people can embrace the song for what purpose they want.

[MrShuggieTodd]

@jimfarrowlove Has anybody answered this interesting question yet (about the story behind thos intriguing song )  ?

[TorpedoSam88]

Lou Reed is Jewish - which explains why he wrote this song...

?

[crayyawn]

i doubt it is literal

[MystSilverDragon]

Never heard this one before, great song!

[ANApoland]

the song is soooo beautiful! I can't stop listening....

[Raymantico]

Once upon a time every song by VU was astonishing--none more so than this...

a prayer.

[clucaspik]

Glen Campbell has recorded this song on his brand new CD.

[bluntsafety]

Wow. Cool. Thanks.

[BipolarPics]

really? that I've GOT to hear.

[basketcase3]

The most simple and beautiful, yet most POWERFUL song by them...

Thanks for posting : )

[drgonzito613]

velvet underground rocks