You'll Know You Were Loved

Lou Reed · Other Songs - Lou Reed

Some things come to he who waits

but all is lost if you hesitate

And I was never one to wait

you'll know you were loved



You can hire great lawyers, you can speak to your friends

you can say he did this and that some things don't change

Unwrap the present and burn the remains

but you'll know you were loved



Now you take Roscoe, he ain't much

people say things are ruined after his touch

It's like a tar was dripping from his brush

but you'll know you were loved



Or Stan or Jake emerging from your past

from those love affairs that didn't last

But me, I'll give it my last gasp

and you'll know you were loved



A parrot, a donkey, a dog, a bone

some of us never had a home

And if we did we left it long ago

and didn't know we were loved



Empty as a wooden clock

left in the woods at twelve o'clock

Insides all rusted and spring is popped

but you'll know you were loved



Even when you sleep at night

inside your heart will cry

You can never say goodbye

when you know you were loved



Under-achievers of the world unite

You have nothing to lose except your fright

And together we can perhaps past the night

when you know you were loved



And together we can perhaps past the night

when you know you were loved

You'll Know You Were Loved

Lou Reed's "You'll Know You Were Loved" stands as a poignant exploration of memory and loss, characteristic of his later work. Released on the 2007 compilation *American Poet*, the track reflects Reed's enduring ability to distill complex emotional states into concise, evocative phrasing. The song's minimalist arrangement allows the lyrics to carry significant weight, capturing the quiet resignation often found in Reed's mature catalog. As part of his extensive discography spanning from punk rock to art rock, this recording exemplifies his commitment to poetic storytelling and his unique voice in American music. The piece serves as a testament to his ability to address universal themes of human connection and the passage of time with both intimacy and detachment.