Lou Reed: His 10 Best Tracks

3. Heroin

Reed was, at the very core, a realist. In a time where 'flower power' and pro-drug counterculture was at a peak in the west, he hit with hard, excessively negative lyrics that painted a picture of true addiction. 'Heroin' is a masterpiece made of words that practically beg the punk generation to arise. However, it was met with controversy at the time of its release; lines such as ''Cause it makes me feel like a man, when I put a spike in my vein' led to accusations that Reed was glorifying and glamorising drugs and drug culture, when in fact, he wanted the opposite: 'Heroin, be the death of me. It's my wife and it's my life.' The overall repetitive nature, tempo shifts, two chord structure and length of 'Heroin' is a perfect example of Reed and The Velvet Underground at their best.