Sweet Jane

It is hard, enticing even, to not think of ANY Velvet song as referring to Heroin somehow. And that’s not due to assumption. That first album in particular is riddled with multiple layers in which Lou was either overtly or covertly referencing Heroin. But here's the catch: that’s not a criticism. That was just Lou’s reality at the time, and H was a big part of it. Was he using during the Loaded years? Who knows. But it amazing how so many tortured artists weave their heroin obsessions into their lyrics (see “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Under the Bridge” etc. etc.). Hank Williams loved alcohol, look at all of his songs. So we are right in at least questioning whether this is yet another song about heroin. However the basic “import” or global feeling of the song suggests hope, living for the moment, an overall “fuck you” to conventional living and that once you are able to discard cultural boxes, the freedom you’ll feel is…delicious (e.g. a Wall Street Pig to a Poet). In this sense, it is a song about living authentically, honestly, as you are, despite societal oppression, telling you everyday you should be someone else than who you really are. And that is why it is so appealing. It makes you feel that feeling free is the ultimate goal, that the purpose of life is to be happy, instead of greedy, rat-race, materialism and “the man with the most toys wins,” mentality. Fuck those 1 % ‘ing assholes. This is your life. You wanna life the rest of it in shame, self-hatred and misery, constantly comparing yourself to some unrealized “American Dream” manipulation? You see, that’s the “gist” of the song, and the lyrics take a second priority to the feeling of it. As for “Sweet Jane,” it’s impossible not to at least imagine she’s a metaphor for heroin. Heroin is the ultimate human escape, the perfect condition, so this could be part of the song. But it is also a song about getting older. The older you get, the more settling down becomes a reality, and Lou is saying that’s okay too. Whatever turns your crank man! Just remember, the purpose of life is to be happy, and this is the gift this song offers.