I am tired, I am weary
I could sleep for a thousand years
A thousand dreams that would awake me
Different colors made of tears
Kiss the boot of shiny, shiny leather
Shiny leather in the dark
Tongue of thongs, the belt that does await you
Strike, dear mistress, and cure his heart
It was a thrill in January 2011 to see Lou Reed perform a short set inside the Kimball Art Center during the Sundance Film Festival. Although he didn't perform "Venus in Furs," he performed a number of other Velvet Underground songs for a few hundred huddled together, escaping the snowstorm outside.
For some reason, many mornings when I would be awakened by my alarm clock at 5:50 every weekday during college, I would think of the "I am tired" lyrics. (I didn't so much think about kissing the boot of shiny, shiny leather, but I did shine my share of leather shoes in college.)
I wish I went to a different college, where perpas a dear mistress would strike or not strike.
Here is the live version taken from the band's reunion: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m22hw-kd19E
Here is the album version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwzaifhSw2c
And here is Lou at Sundance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eatcmxR7lY and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQPh3d3F5nE
