Lou Reed — What's Good
Album: Magic And LossAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 1729
Length: 3:16
Plays (last 30 days): 2
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Life's like a mayonnaise soda
And life's like space without room
And life's like bacon and ice cream
That's what life's like without you
Life's like forever becoming
But life's forever dealing in hurt
Now life's like death without living
That's what life's like without you
Life's like Sanskrit read to a pony
I see you in my mind's eye strangling on your tongue
What good is knowing such devotion
I've been around, I know what makes things run
What good is seeing eye chocolate
What good's a computerized nose
And what good was cancer in April
Why no good, no good at all
What good's a war without killing
What good is rain that falls up
What good's a disease that won't hurt you
Why no good, I guess, no good at all
What good are these thoughts that I'm thinking
It must be better, huh not to be thinking at all
A styrofoam lover with emotions of concrete
No not much, not much at all
What's good is life without living
What good's this lion that barks
You loved a life others throw away nightly
It's not fair, not fair at all
What's good?
Oh baby, what's good?
What's good?
What's good?
Not much at all
Hey baby, what's good?
What's good? Life's good
But not fair at all
And life's like space without room
And life's like bacon and ice cream
That's what life's like without you
Life's like forever becoming
But life's forever dealing in hurt
Now life's like death without living
That's what life's like without you
Life's like Sanskrit read to a pony
I see you in my mind's eye strangling on your tongue
What good is knowing such devotion
I've been around, I know what makes things run
What good is seeing eye chocolate
What good's a computerized nose
And what good was cancer in April
Why no good, no good at all
What good's a war without killing
What good is rain that falls up
What good's a disease that won't hurt you
Why no good, I guess, no good at all
What good are these thoughts that I'm thinking
It must be better, huh not to be thinking at all
A styrofoam lover with emotions of concrete
No not much, not much at all
What's good is life without living
What good's this lion that barks
You loved a life others throw away nightly
It's not fair, not fair at all
What's good?
Oh baby, what's good?
What's good?
What's good?
Not much at all
Hey baby, what's good?
What's good? Life's good
But not fair at all
Comments (99)add comment
Nothing like a dose of The Truth from Lou! I've adored his sly wry wit and jamming ways since I was a kid and heard his immortally irreverent "Holly came from Miami Eff Ell Aay..." I am so glad that I got to see him play in Shinjuku in Spring of 2005. He was full of entertaining stories, very down-to-Earth, and it was truly a fabulous show. I also met the lovely, talented and clever '"Violin" Sayaka' at a happening Cuban bar after, and she knew Antony H, who was singing and playing strings in Lou's entourage, so it was an incredibly indelible evening!
that's not what my momma said...https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic...
Lou Reed. Enough said.
SmackDaddy wrote:
Cool, nothing like a crack toke to show respect!
Me, I prefer Red Leb in my pipe - crack is for losers...
Cool, nothing like a crack toke to show respect!
Me, I prefer Red Leb in my pipe - crack is for losers...
This song perfectly describes the circumstances and my feelings of the recent passing of my beloved of 50 years.
What's good? RP is good. I've been a loyal listener since day 1. I remember downloading BG's listen app for KPIG back in the day.
What's good? RP is good. I've been a loyal listener since day 1. I remember downloading BG's listen app for KPIG back in the day.
What's good? This song.
Ropes wrote:
Praise for both artists.
When it started I thought, for a few seconds, it was James McMurtry.
Praise for both artists.
Miley what's good?
(So sorry, couldn't help myself, sincerely hope you don't know what I'm talking about)
(So sorry, couldn't help myself, sincerely hope you don't know what I'm talking about)
This is an outstanding album and should have received more attention ✌️
Bacon and ice cream could actually be good.
6-->7 Because those are some weird funny lyrics. Keeps me listening.
Great album under appreciated- only heard on RP!
Fabulous Lou😊
thewiseking wrote:
Lou never let being an amateur get in his way
and staying that way.Until the End of the World
We miss you Lou but your great songs live on within us,Rest in peace 🙏
Nice sound Lou
Love Lou
its on the soundtrack for the end of the world film
When it started I thought, for a few seconds, it was James McMurtry.
Lou never let being an amateur get in his way
dolfan wrote:
I know on the liner notes he writes something to the effect of "Between two Februarys I lost two friends." I thought one was Andy Warhol; the other could have been a parent.
As far as I remember this album was about famed songwriter Doc Pomus, who was a long-time friend, and a woman named Rita, who was a figure at Warhol's "Factory". "Songs for Drella" was the album dedicated to Warhol and recorded by Reed with John Cale.
I know on the liner notes he writes something to the effect of "Between two Februarys I lost two friends." I thought one was Andy Warhol; the other could have been a parent.
As far as I remember this album was about famed songwriter Doc Pomus, who was a long-time friend, and a woman named Rita, who was a figure at Warhol's "Factory". "Songs for Drella" was the album dedicated to Warhol and recorded by Reed with John Cale.
melody surprisingly upbeat for dark lyrics?
OMG soooo incredible!!! 
Definitely a source of inspiration for The Magnetic Fields, I think.
Cynaera wrote:
Webfoot wrote:
Wow, and this comment was right there.
I still miss Cynaera's kind comments.
RIP Lou Reed.
Good People will get you there : ) Peace All
This is frighteningly melodic for a Lou Reed song. I like Lou Reed's music - and this song is not NEARLY as boring/repetitive as "Passenger" by Iggy Pop, whose music I also love.
"What's good? Life's good - but not fair at all..." Typical sardonic Reed. I think I'm going to have to re-examine the "old" library of music I have, because apparently, I was too young to see the truth in the words when I had them hot off the press.
We live, we grow, we learn.
"What's good? Life's good - but not fair at all..." Typical sardonic Reed. I think I'm going to have to re-examine the "old" library of music I have, because apparently, I was too young to see the truth in the words when I had them hot off the press.
We live, we grow, we learn.
Webfoot wrote:
Wow, and this comment was right there.
I still miss Cynaera's kind comments.
RIP Lou Reed.
Good People will get you there : ) Peace All
Brilliant line
Life's like Sanskrit read to a pony
Life's like Sanskrit read to a pony
Lots of respect for some versions of Lou, in particular the Take No Prisoners album. But his latter stuff just wasn't noteworthy.
The last great Lou song was Blue Mask.
The last great Lou song was Blue Mask.
rating it Godlike out of pure Respect for Lou the Essential 
On_The_Beach wrote:
New York is excellent for sure, but my pick goes to the even darker Berlin.
Definitely not a soundtrack for the kid's birthday party. ; )
I'll give a vote for Berlin too, Beach.
New York is excellent for sure, but my pick goes to the even darker Berlin.
Definitely not a soundtrack for the kid's birthday party. ; )
I'll give a vote for Berlin too, Beach.
LowPhreak wrote:
New York is excellent for sure, but my pick goes to the even darker Berlin.
Definitely not a soundtrack for the kid's birthday party. ; )
Guys (and gals), if you like this I'm tellin' ya check out Lou's New York album if you haven't already, especially if you like analog sound since it was well recorded in all-analog - tubey and warm, and nicely detailed.
The overall material is dark and filled with Lou's famous brand of aggro, honesty, and biting sarcasm. His best album IMHO.
The overall material is dark and filled with Lou's famous brand of aggro, honesty, and biting sarcasm. His best album IMHO.
New York is excellent for sure, but my pick goes to the even darker Berlin.
Definitely not a soundtrack for the kid's birthday party. ; )
Guys (and gals), if you like this I'm tellin' ya check out Lou's New York album if you haven't already, especially if you like analog sound since it was well recorded in all-analog - tubey and warm, and nicely detailed.
The overall material is dark and filled with Lou's famous brand of aggro, honesty, and biting sarcasm. His best album IMHO.
The overall material is dark and filled with Lou's famous brand of aggro, honesty, and biting sarcasm. His best album IMHO.
"Little Jimmy Scott" is credited on this album. Not sure about this song. But his career was amazing. He performed with Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, Lester Young, Lionel Hampton, Charles Mingus, Quincy Jones, Bud Powell, Ray Charles, Wynton Marsalis, David Byrne, Reed, Flea, and Michael Stipe. And yes, he worked with Angelo Badalamenti on Twin Peaks.
Was lucky & blessed enough to see him jam an incredible show in Shinjuku, Tokyo in spring of '05; was 10 years ago, yet IMMORTAL!
Stingray wrote:
Actually, you don't!
Except for VU very overrated, I think!
Actually, you don't!
King of Grunge?
westslope wrote:
Cool, nothing like a crack toke to show respect!
Yup.
Raised a pipe to Lou Reed last night.
Cool, nothing like a crack toke to show respect!
What a storyteller....
Peotic, delivered as only Lou can. Good rthym guitar and nice little lead. What's good. Life's good so was this little side trip
Except for VU very overrated, I think!
I am a huge of LR ... great to hear him on RP, and a song I had previously missed.
The philosophical Lou.
Less bitter, but still with considerable bite.
Less bitter, but still with considerable bite.
Requiescat in pace, Lewis.
Life's like bacon and ice cream. That's what life's like without you.
LOU, you'll live on forever in the interchangeable quantum electro-magnetic state of many gigs of brutally insightful music, finely nuanced wordsmithery, and incredible tunemanship in my Library, and the whole world celebrates your life's work as the masterpiece it was and is!
Farewell, Lou. You will be missed.
RedGuitar wrote:
Love his "Rock and Roll Animal" CD. RIP, Lou.
Yup.
Raised a pipe to Lou Reed last night.
Rock and Roll Heaven just got vastly more interesting.
Lou was a man truly deserving of the oft-overused superlative - GENIUS.....
Lou was a man truly deserving of the oft-overused superlative - GENIUS.....
So long Lou. What's Good? The public psyche is all the better thanks to your contributions.
Let's do what you fear most
That from which you recoil
But which still makes your eyes moist
Let's do what you fear most
That from which you recoil
But which still makes your eyes moist
Thank you. A good choice for today (day one of a world without Lou Reed).
Love his "Rock and Roll Animal" CD. RIP, Lou.
R.I.P. LOU REED ... We hardly knew ya....
REED ... We hardly knew ya.... Cynaera wrote:
Wow, and this comment was right there.
I still miss Cynaera's kind comments.
RIP Lou Reed.
This is frighteningly melodic for a Lou Reed song. I like Lou Reed's music - and this song is not NEARLY as boring/repetitive as "Passenger" by Iggy Pop, whose music I also love.
"What's good? Life's good - but not fair at all..." Typical sardonic Reed. I think I'm going to have to re-examine the "old" library of music I have, because apparently, I was too young to see the truth in the words when I had them hot off the press.
We live, we grow, we learn.
"What's good? Life's good - but not fair at all..." Typical sardonic Reed. I think I'm going to have to re-examine the "old" library of music I have, because apparently, I was too young to see the truth in the words when I had them hot off the press.
We live, we grow, we learn.
Wow, and this comment was right there.
I still miss Cynaera's kind comments.
RIP Lou Reed.
RIP Lou.
This album was an anthem to me for a couple of years after it was release. Beautiful, dark.
This album was an anthem to me for a couple of years after it was release. Beautiful, dark.
Peaceful journeys Lou.
RIP
Thanks Bill for playing this today!
Appropriate for today, but sad.
A good album indeed, however VERY DARK. I guess an album about death, is meant to be dark.
Sometimes I love Lou Reed and sometimes I f**king loath him - this is great !
This is frighteningly melodic for a Lou Reed song. I like Lou Reed's music - and this song is not NEARLY as boring/repetitive as "Passenger" by Iggy Pop, whose music I also love.
"What's good? Life's good - but not fair at all..." Typical sardonic Reed. I think I'm going to have to re-examine the "old" library of music I have, because apparently, I was too young to see the truth in the words when I had them hot off the press.
We live, we grow, we learn.
"What's good? Life's good - but not fair at all..." Typical sardonic Reed. I think I'm going to have to re-examine the "old" library of music I have, because apparently, I was too young to see the truth in the words when I had them hot off the press.
We live, we grow, we learn.
Life's like Mayonaisse Soda...
If this were anyone but Lou Reed they'd be banned from the airwaves. It's just terrible. And I made the mistake of buying the whole album... can we even call the tripe populating it "songs"?
miahfost wrote:
Lewis Allan Reed. Seems geniune which is a rariety.
What's Good? Certainly not you Mr. Reed. If that is your real name.
Lewis Allan Reed. Seems geniune which is a rariety.
I remember this song from the Until the End of the World OST. It's a decent song in a great album.
LOVE
What's Good? Certainly not you Mr. Reed. If that is your real name.
rolf wrote:
Understatement.
<...> kind of boring
Understatement.
TreborG2 wrote:
I'll match that.
I'll donate 10 bucks just to get this song off the play list!
< Edited By TreborG2 at 7:39 am on 5/08/2003 > How about $15 !!?Edited By TreborG2 at 7:40 am on 5/08/2003
< Edited By TreborG2 at 7:39 am on 5/08/2003 > How about $15 !!?Edited By TreborG2 at 7:40 am on 5/08/2003
I'll match that.
dolfan wrote:
I know on the liner notes he writes something to the effect of "Between two Februarys I lost two friends." I thought one was Andy Warhol; the other could have been a parent.
I believe this album had to do with the deaths of the songwriter Doc Pomus, who had helped Lou Reed out when he first started, and Rotten Rita, who was a member of Warhol's Factory.
I know on the liner notes he writes something to the effect of "Between two Februarys I lost two friends." I thought one was Andy Warhol; the other could have been a parent.
I believe this album had to do with the deaths of the songwriter Doc Pomus, who had helped Lou Reed out when he first started, and Rotten Rita, who was a member of Warhol's Factory.
_Donna wrote:
I know on the liner notes he writes something to the effect of "Between two Februarys I lost two friends." I thought one was Andy Warhol; the other could have been a parent.
I love Magic and Loss! I think this was written after his mom and/or dad passed away.
I know on the liner notes he writes something to the effect of "Between two Februarys I lost two friends." I thought one was Andy Warhol; the other could have been a parent.
I just love Lou Reed's strummin!
great CD
I love Magic and Loss! I think this was written after his mom and/or dad passed away.
GODLIKE.
not bad, only kind of boring
Wow. This song is taking a real beating from this listeners. Just to stem the negative tide, I\'ll give it a 10 even though it\'s more like a 7 or 8 to me. I mean, it\'s a friggin\' decent rock song for crying out loud. :p
Might help to think of him as a poet with a rhythmical/semi-musical backing. If you still think he\'s crap then fairy snuff...but I guess I trust his integrity, if that means what I want it to mean. All power to his elbow, even when it\'s tennissed.
I'll donate 10 bucks just to get this song off the play list!
< Edited By TreborG2 at 7:39 am on 5/08/2003 >
How about $15 !!?
...lifes like sucking wind on a microphone and driving everyone else absolutely nutzo!
Not very memorable.
What song was this again?
Regardless of the (possibly) meaningful lyrics, I see no redeeming qualities in this song (or any other Lou Reed songs, come to think of it).
Never did understand why guys like Lou have large followings, yet musicians with WAY more to offer sit unnoticed by the vast majority. I realize other people admire his stuff, but I've just never seen the merit in his work.
This is an outstanding album. It has to be heard from start to finish. Lou put this together as a tribute to two friends who died of cancer in the same year. It\'s an exercise in exorsizing grief. I can see how one piece may not stand alone . When I hear it, I can picture it in context and it still moves me. Sardonic wit. A pleasure.
Boring. At this point in my life I am really focused on sound quality. The band really doesn\'t do anything so it\'s all up to Lou\'s voice.. and frankly.. he\'s not that great.
\'What\'s good? Not much at all\'....including this song.
sorry.. I just hate this song.. the music is horrid.. the lyrics.. well there are certainly worse.. but still.. the song on its own.. yuck :( sorry to be the downer..
Yeah, I always liked the Red better than the Blonde Leb.
When it came to the 'lumbo bud, the gold and the red were both good, different but each good in their own way.