You'll Know You Were Loved
Lou Reed · Other Songs - Lou Reed
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.

