White light, White light goin' messin' up my mind
White light, and don't you know its gonna make me go blind
White heat, aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, Oh have mercy white light have it goodness knows

White light, White light goin' messin' up my brain
White light, Aww white light its gonna drive me insane
White heat, Aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, Aww white light I said now goodness knows, do it

Hmm hmm, White light
Aww I surely do love to watch that stuff tip itself in
Hmm hmm, White light
Watch that side, watch that side don't you know it gonna be dead in the drive
Hmm hmm, White heat
Hey foxy mama watchin' her walk down the street
Hmm hmm, White light
Come up side your head gonna make a deadend on your street

White light, White light moved in me through my brain
White light, White light goin' makin' you go insane
White heat, Aww white heat it tickle me down to my toes
White light, Aww white light I said now goodness knows

White light, Aww white light it lighten up my eyes
White light, don't you know it fills me up with surprise
White light, Aww white heat tickle me down to my toes
White light, Aww white light I tell you now goodness knows, now work it

Hmm hmm, White light
Aww she surely do moves me
Hmm hmm, White light
Watch that speed freak, watch that speed freak everybody gonna go and make it every week
Hmm hmm, White heat
Aww sputter mutter everybody gonna go kill their mother
Hmm hmm, White light
Here she comes, here she comes, everybody get 'n gone make me run to her


Lyrics submitted by capitol76

White Light/White Heat Lyrics as written by Lou Reed

Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

White Light/White Heat song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    It is "Watch that speed freak / Watch that speed freak / Gonna shoot it up every night of the week!" in the live version but the studio version is: "Watch that side, watch that side don't you know it gonna be dead in the drive"

    King of Some Islandon October 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is such an awesome song.... why is there only one comment?

    mynameismikeon May 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Yes it´s rather well known. This is a song about shoting illigal stuff. Have anyone heard Bowies version of the song. That version blows me away everytime I hear it.

    Rebelcaton August 26, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I have four versions of this song... the album version, a live one, a live one with just Lou, and the David Bowie one. Have to say, the one on the WL/WH album is probably the weakest, it's just so much better live! I kinda like the David Bowie one, especially the line: 'White Light make me sing like Lou Reed/ White light gonna fulfil my EVERY need!'

    Coney_island_babyon February 14, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i would surely love to hear bowies version, but the album version is good, i love it.

    david is wearingon April 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Come to think of it, this whole song is about the rush from shooting meth.

    MagicNineon November 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It sounds a speed / meth ad, must have been a total shock for 1968.

    I particularly love that ugly background noise during the verses - the guitar. Next to a Jerry Lee Lewis-like piano pounding, it's the perfect match.

    Santiagofon March 18, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is actually about when lou reed was 17. His parents sent him in for electroshock therapy for displaying homosexual tendencies. So, basically this song is describing what it was like.

    matttcon February 17, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "watch that speed freak, gonna shoot it up every night of the week"

    Gee, hmmm, I wonder what this song is about.

    rosalyreon November 09, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The title and hook (as well as somewhat musically) sounds like it might have been inspired by George Jones' 1959 rockabilly hit 'White Lightning', which is about moonshine.

    Changing the meaning to a certain different kind of drug (heroine/amphetamines), it is performed appropriately more punk and faster.

    I'm actually a bit surprised that this connection has apparently never been made before.

    terrycraigon May 17, 2015   Link

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