The Velvet Underground & Nico – Venus In Furs (1967)
The Velvets first album, The Velvet Underground & Nico, was released 50 years ago today, March 12, 1967.
The Velvet Underground were a rock band formed in New York, America, by singer / guitarist Lou Reed, Welsh multi-instrumentalist John Cale, guitarist Sterling Morrison, and drummer Angus MacLise (who was replaced by Moe Tucker in 1965.
Accompanied by German born vocalist Nico, the album was recorded in 1966 while the group were featured on Andy Warhol’s Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia event tour, which gained attention for its experimental performance sensibilities and controversial lyrical topics, including drug abuse, prostitution, sadism and masochism and sexual deviancy.
Most rock bands that have followed have been influenced by the Velvets, than by any other band in the history of music.
Venus In Furs was never released as a single but was the fourth track on side one of the debut album The Velvet Underground & Nico, and is one of my favourite Velvets tracks, but i love the whole album, i can remember that i was totally blown away by its sound the first time i played it.
The Velvet Underground & Nico – Venus In Furs – Lyrics
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girl child in the dark
Comes in bells, your servant, don’t forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Downy sins of streetlight fancies
Chase the costumes she shall wear
Ermine furs adorn the imperious
Severin, Severin awaits you there
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
Shiny leather in the dark
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
Severin, Severin, speak so slightly
Severin, down on your bended knee
Taste the whip, in love not given lightly
Taste the whip, now plead for me
I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Shiny, shiny, shiny boots of leather
Whiplash girl child in the dark
Severin, your servant comes in bells, please don’t forsake him
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
