"Heroin" by The Velvet Underground (1967)
This song is not a pro-drug statement, but neither is it a drug condemnation. It allows the listener to form an abject stance on his/her own based on the material presented. The song, to me, depicts the rush that one gets from an injection. Things get crazy, life becomes muffled, and music turns into sonic sounds and random chords thrown together in a hodgepodge. The life of a heroin junkie is surely a confusing and unplanned one. It almost seems to me that the song would sound different every time depending on the amount and type of drugs consumed by Lou and the rest of the band. One could wager that the song that emerged on the record was the product of a drug fueled musical inspiration. But the subject matter is certainly not cause for snubbing. In fact, The Velvet Underground should be lauded for taking on such a controversial subject matter in a completely stoic and almost understated way. As mentioned, it's not trumpeting the glories of heroin, but rather showing the effects through music. It's a tall order to be sure, but the band is quite successful.
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