The "Busload of Faith" with "Magic and Loss" are the vehicles we have left of Mr. Lou Reed. He died today, October 27, 2013, on Long Island, NY, after a courageous battle with liver cancer. At 71 years old, the poet, writer, singer, guitarist and cultural diplomat in some scenarios, left a legacy that was beyond music. His portraits of the human condition were seen, heard and experienced world wide, through his poetry, music, films, photography and human consultations.
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Pop music fans will hum along to "Take A Walk On The Wild Side" and Velvet Underground archivists will break out their banana bearing LP's to reminisce the songs that never left their heads. The Lou Reed I know was the ultimate cool. In the late 1980's, I not only listened to his music constantly, I'd randomly buy New York for people after having just a few conversations with them about music. His creation of the world through his own view made his work a translator for other artists. If you looked at an artist through the lens of Lou Reed, things you did not understand could be clear to you. But it was a one way passage, because no one could speak for Lou Reed.
After seeing Mr. Reed live in 2008, I learned more from the depth of his poetry than I realized was possible. His poetic songs were like painless knives that cut through your defenses, to bring your core to light. In awareness, there is hope, fire, transformation.
Below is the review of that show, and I will be posting again on his impact, as I get my thoughts together on this ground breaking artist, who influenced the walls of creation in punk, rock and indie music. His words and visions, I am sure, will continue to be integrated in songs and poetry, for generations to come.
"Linger on your pale blue eyes"
Live Review of the Calvin Theatre: Lou Reed, April 20th, 2008
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Magic and Loss: Lou Reed
When you pass through the fire, you pass through humble
You pass through a maze of self doubt
When you pass through humble, the lights can blind you
Some people never figure that out
You pass through arrogance, you pass through hurt
You pass through an ever present past
And it's best not to wait for luck to save you
Pass through the fire to the light
Pass through the fire to the light
Pass through the fire to the light
It's best not to wait for luck to save you
Pass through the fire to the light
As you pass through the fire, your right hand waving
There are things you have to throw out
That caustic dread inside your head
Will never help you out
You have to be very strong, 'cause you'll start from zero
Over and over again
And as the smoke clears there's an all consuming fire
Lyin' straight ahead
Lyin' straight ahead
Lyin' straight ahead
As the smoke clears there's an all consuming fire
Lyin' straight ahead
They say no one person can do it all
But you want to in your head
But you can't be Shakespeare and you can't be Joyce
So what is left instead
You're stuck with yourself and a rage that can hurt you
You have to start at the beginning again
And just this moment this wonderful fire
Started up again
When you pass through humble, when you pass through sickly
When you pass through I'm better than you all
When you pass through anger and self deprecation
And have the strength to acknowledge it all
When the past makes you laugh and you can savor the magic
That let you survive your own war
You find that that fire is passion
And there's a door up ahead not a wall
As you pass through fire as you pass through fire
Tryin' to remember it's name
When you pass through fire lickin' at your lips
You cannot remain the same
And if the building's burning move towards that door
But don't put the flames out
There's a bit of magic in everything
And then some loss to even things out
Some loss to even things out
Some loss to even things out
There's a bit of magic in everything
And then some loss to even things out
Songwriters
Lou Reed; Mike Rathke
Published by
SPIRIT ONE MUSIC
