Lou Reed Lyrics-18 – I thought I was … someone good (from “Perfect Day”) (Now Playing Week 4)
Just a perfect song. Simple and perfect.
I’ve always loved the lines, “You made me forget myself. I thought I was someone else, someone good.” Those lines say only a little, in elementary words. But they imply so very much.
The protagonist may believe he is not a very good person, but, in fact, he does care for others, and he obviously cares for the woman for whom he wrote this song. The sad thing is that, as Lou intones in the last lines, he’s going to lose this women, or at least alienate her. He knows that he will get only that which he deserves, and he repeats to himself “You’re going to reap just what you sow.”
But, in the end, he knows that even one day with her is a “Perfect Day.”
In 1997, the BBC featured this song in a promotional video, with a diverse line-up of great singers, each performing tiny snippets of the song. (See list of singers below.)
It was not only used as a not-so-subtle fundraiser for the BBC, but also released as a charity single for the BBC’s UK charity Children in Need. This version has sold over 1 million copies and raised over £2 million.
(The version at the link below is this BBC version, of which Lou said, “I have never been more impressed with a performance of one of my songs.”)
Perfect Day, Lou Reed and friends
(An impressive version of a simple, perfect song. Ignore the first 12 seconds.)
List of singers
- Lou Reed
- Bono
- Skye Edwards (Morcheeba)
- David Bowie
- Suzanne Vega
- Elton John
- Boyzone
- Lesley Garret
- Burning Spear
- Bono
- Sir Thomas Allen
- Heather Small
- Emmylou Haris
- Tammy Wynette
- Shane MacGowan
- Dr. John
- David Bowie
- Robert Cray
- Huey Morgan (Fun Loving Criminals)
- Ian Broudie (The Laughing Seeds)
- Gabrielle (aka Louise Gabrielle Bobb)
- Dr. John
- Dando (The Lemon Heads)
- Emmylou Haris
- Courtney Pine (playing the solo)
- Brett Anderson (Suede)
- (Unidentified choir)
- Joan Armatrading
- Laurie Anderson (Lou’s wife)
- Heather Small
- Tom Jones
- Lou Reed
Lou Reed, Anthology of Memorable Lyrics.
Today is perfect for this song. It is such a perfect and sad day.
I did not pass the recruitment process for that job. The technical written test was out of my capabilities.
Oh it such a perfect day...
You're going to reap just what you sow
I think part of the "message" of the song is that, even though we may be experiencing some problems in our life and even if some of those problems might have occurred earlier today or might occur later today, we should still realize that today is a "perfect day."
And if we look at each day in terms of the grand, overall scheme of things, we can surely see that each day is perfect.
Sorry to hear that you did not pass that test. But if it was "out of your capabilities," then maybe that job was not the right job for you.
And maybe, today or tomorrow or soon, a new opportunity is going to open up for you on another perfect day.
Sow goodness today.
Thanks for entering this week's #nowplaying!
I'm embarrassed to say that I've never heard this song before. I've listened to the Velvet Underground and Nico many, many times and obviously love it. I guess I need to expand my Lou Reed radar. Thanks so much for giving me this listening opportunity! Great song and lyrics.
Although it's a great song, it is not one of his most well-known songs. So far in this series, I've posted many Velvet songs. But I still have over 30 posts to go, and most of them are solo Lou Reed songs. Hope you can find them all.
I discovered this song in the movie
"The first day of the rest of your life"
very beautiful, and wonderfully well adapted to the scene it was a big moment of emotion! :)
This song is gorgeous. How could I not have met her before? Thank you for telling me about it.
hearttouching lyrics it is, sometimes i want music and sometimes lyrics, thanks for sharing
this music is very popular in the season, I really like the lyrics and rhythm of the music.
the music is incredible
wow...amazing post...i like music...thanks for sharing this post..best of luck.
soft song....i like it