‘Sweet Jane’ is a song by American rock band the Velvet Underground. Appearing on their fourth studio album Loaded (1970), the song was written by band leader and primary songwriter Lou Reed, who continued to incorporate the piece into live performances after he left the band. Reed wrote this song as a surreal look at the life of a rock star.
There are two distinct versions of ‘Sweet Jane’ with minor variations, spread over its first four releases. The first release of the song in November 1970 was a version recorded earlier that year and included on Loaded. In May 1972, a live version recorded in August 1970 appeared on the Velvet Underground's Live at Max's Kansas City; this had an additional bridge that was missing from the Loaded release. There were other changes to the song, including some of the lyrics - the original lyrics were, "Jane in her corset, Jack is in his vest, and me I'm in a rock n' roll band." Lou changed them to "Jack is in a corset, Jane is in a vest" to portray the wackiness of rock stars.
In February 1974, a live version recorded in December 1973 (similar to the Loaded version but with an extended intro and hard rock sound), appeared on Reed's Rock 'n' Roll Animal. The elaborate twin guitar intro on the Rock 'n' Roll Animal version was written by Steve Hunter and played by Hunter and Dick Wagner, two Detroit guitarists who would go on to play with Alice Cooper. Cash Box said that "this heavy rocker" has a "strong production and good hook" as well as "stunning lead guitar and Lou's inimitable vocals." Record World said that "With a style that generates pure excitement, sweet sounds abound!"
In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked it No. 335 on its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. In a 2011 update of the list, it appears at No. 342, and was moved up further to No. 294 in the 2021 iteration. In March 2005, Q placed ‘Sweet Jane’ at No. 18 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. Guitar World ranked ‘Sweet Jane’ at No. 81 on its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Solos.
Label – Atlantic
Songwriter – Lou Reed
Producers – Geoff Haslam, Shel Kagan, The Velvet Underground
SONG LYRICS
[Verse 1]Standin' on the corner
Suitcase in my hand
Jack is in his corset, Jane is in her vest
And me, I'm in a rock 'n' roll band
Huh
Riding in a Stutz Bear Cat, Jim
Ya know, those were different times
Oh, all the poets they studied rules of verse
And those ladies, they rolled their eyes
[Chorus]
Sweet Jane, woah
Sweet Jane, oh oh
Sweet Jane
[Verse 2]
Let me tell ya somethin', Jack, he is a banker
And Jane, she is a clerk
And both of them save their monies
Hah, and when, when they come home from work
Ooh, sittin' down by the fire, oh
The radio does play the classical music there, Jim
The March of the Wooden Soldiers
All you protest kids, you can hear Jack say
Get ready
[Chorus]
Sweet Jane, come on, baby
Sweet Jane, oh
Sweet Jane
[Verse 3]
Some people, they like to go out dancin'
And other peoples, they have to work, just watch me now
And there's even some evil mothers
Well, they're gonna tell you that everything is just dirt
You know that women never really faint
And that villains always blink their eyes, ooh
And that, ya know, children are the only ones who blush
And that life is just to die
But anyone who ever had a heart
Oh, they wouldn't turn around and break it
And anyone who ever played a part
Oh, they wouldn't turn around and hate it
[Chorus]
Sweet Jane, oh woah
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
[Bridge]
Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to her when he smiles
Heavenly wine and roses
Seem to whisper to her, hey, when she smiles
La, la, la, la-la-la
La, la, la, la-la-la
La, la, la, la-la-la
La, la, la, la-la-la[Outro]
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane
Sweet Jane