“I’ll Be Your Mirror” has always held a special place in my heart. I believe that I first really heard it when it was part of a mix CD given to me in Chicago. Though the song had been one of my favorites off of the Andy Warhol/Banana Velvet Underground with Nico album, it took the context of the song amongst the others on that mix to really take it all in. Fast forward a decade plus and I’m hearing the song differently, and deeper still. Its now become one of the songs that are part of our story.

The magic that is us, I want to capture all the moments I can and record them – in songs, in playlists, in journal pages, in conversations, and in memories. This is so different than anything/everything I’ve ever experienced in my life. This love is like no other. It’s some kind of big magic.

“I’ll Be Your Mirror” by The Velvet Underground, with Nico
from the Self-Titled album (1967)

“When you think the night has seen your mind,
that inside you’re twisted and unkind,
let me stand to show that you are blind.
Please put down your hands.
Cause I see you.”

“I’ll Be Your Mirror” appeared first on the Velvet’s 1967 debut, The Velvet Underground, and Nico”. The song came out previously as a single with “All Tomorrow’s Parties”, in 1966. (from Wikipedia)

Lou has been quoted as saying he wrote “I’ll Be Your Mirror” for Nico, who sings lead on the track. His inspiration for the song apparently came about after Nico approached Reed after a sow in 2965, saying:

“Oh Lou, I’ll be your mirror.”

Here’s Lou performing “I’ll Be Your Mirror” live, in 1997: