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The meaning of the lyrics of the song "White Light/White Heat" by the artist "Velvet Underground"

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The lyrics of "White Light/White Heat" by The Velvet Underground use "white light" as a metaphor for an intense, overwhelming, and potentially destructive experience, most likely related to heavy drug use, perhaps heroin.

The lyrical protagonist experiences conflicting emotions: on one hand, he is terrified of the intensity of the "white light" ("blind me," "driving me insane," "have mercy…stop it"), but on the other hand, he feels a morbid attraction to it ("the stuff is going inside," "I really like it," "come on, do it").

"The heat rising," which "tickles" his legs, is another image pointing to drug intoxication, perhaps the feeling of a "rush."

The lyrics contain fragments of hallucinations, paranoia ("look here, look there—you know this trip won't end well," "those guys are on speed…mumbling about wanting to kill their mothers"), which also indicates an altered state of consciousness.

"White light" consumes the protagonist, he loses control, becoming a slave to addiction. The ending of the song is bleak: "she's coming, she's here… I have to chase after them"— the protagonist is doomed to an endless chase for a fix, for the ephemeral "white light."

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, Ooo 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 suprise

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

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