"After Hours" is a 1969 song written by Lou Reed and originally performed by The Velvet Underground. It is the tenth and final track on their self-titled album. It is one of few songs with lead vocals by drummer Maureen Tucker, as Lou Reed stated the song was "so innocent and pure" that he could not possibly sing it himself. Tucker's vocals are accompanied by acoustic and bass guitar.
The song was re-recorded by Maureen Tucker with instrumentation by The Changelings in 2002. It was released on the single I'm Sticking with You / After Hours.
The lyrics for the song were later rewritten in 2006 for the Michel Gondry film The Science of Sleep under the title "If You Rescue Me". In the film, the character Stéphane dreams he is performing the song dressed as a kitten. The film's soundtrack features two versions of the song, one titled "If You Rescue Me (A Capella)" performed by Linda Serbu and one titled "If You Rescue Me (Chanson des Chats)" performed by Gael Garcia Bernal, Sacha Bourdo, Alain Chabat and Aurelia Petit.
R.E.M. performed the song whilst touring the album, Green, one performance being recorded on the Tourfilm DVD. Blind Melon singer Shannon Hoon sang it briefly at a concert. Meg White, of the White Stripes, covered the song on 12/31/2000 to conclude their New Year's Eve concert. Anthony Kiedis and John Frusciante, of Red Hot Chili Peppers, played the song in 1991 on a boat while being interviewed by the VPRO in Amsterdam, Holland. Rilo Kiley also recorded a version in 2002 for a split EP.
James Iha performed the song with A Perfect Circle on January 31 2004 on a tour in France after Maynard James Keenan challenged Americans in the audience to not use flash photography. He stated "We have a special treat for you. Maybe, Would you like a special treat? Here's the deal, its not free, nothing is. All of you people who are from here. The French people. Could you please tell the American people who are using the flash cameras. Clearly they are American coz their rude. Americans are the only ones who would do this. A flash camera at a show you know? James Iha will sing you a song, if you get those people to put those fucking cameras away..."
"After Hours" was a single released by The Bluetones from their 2002 compilation album, The Singles. It was also included on the band's 2006 compilation A Rough Outline: The Singles & B-Sides 95 - 03.
