The Velvet Underground — I'm Waiting For The Man
Album: The Velvet Underground & NicoAvg rating:
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Length: 4:34
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I'm waiting for my man
Twenty-six dollars in my hand
Up to Lexington, 125
Feel sick and dirty, more dead than alive
I'm waiting for my man
Hey, white boy, what you doin' uptown?
Hey, white boy, you chasin' our women around?
Oh pardon me sir, it's the furthest from my mind
I'm just lookin' for a dear, dear friend of mine
I'm waiting for my man
Here he comes, he's all dressed in black
P.R. shoes and a big straw hat
He's never early, he's always late
First thing you learn is you always gotta wait
I'm waiting for my man
Up to a Brownstone, up three flights of stairs
Everybody's pinned you, but nobody cares
He's got the works, gives you sweet taste
Ah then you gotta split because you got no time to waste
I'm waiting for my man
Baby don't you holler, darlin' don't you bawl and shout
I'm feeling good, you know I'm gonna work it on out
I'm feeling good, I'm feeling oh so fine
Until tomorrow, but that's just some other time
I'm waiting for my man
Twenty-six dollars in my hand
Up to Lexington, 125
Feel sick and dirty, more dead than alive
I'm waiting for my man
Hey, white boy, what you doin' uptown?
Hey, white boy, you chasin' our women around?
Oh pardon me sir, it's the furthest from my mind
I'm just lookin' for a dear, dear friend of mine
I'm waiting for my man
Here he comes, he's all dressed in black
P.R. shoes and a big straw hat
He's never early, he's always late
First thing you learn is you always gotta wait
I'm waiting for my man
Up to a Brownstone, up three flights of stairs
Everybody's pinned you, but nobody cares
He's got the works, gives you sweet taste
Ah then you gotta split because you got no time to waste
I'm waiting for my man
Baby don't you holler, darlin' don't you bawl and shout
I'm feeling good, you know I'm gonna work it on out
I'm feeling good, I'm feeling oh so fine
Until tomorrow, but that's just some other time
I'm waiting for my man
Comments (311)add comment
This is song is so sloppy, so distorted, so repetitive. That sounds like a criticism, but it's not. I captures something elemental about rock and roll.
I am SO GLAD I got to see Lou jam his 3-Chord Magic (he joked about it himself!) for us in Shinjuku in spring of 2005! He was freakin' amazing, as was his entourage!
Visited Pittsburg recently for the first time. Made a beeline to the Warhol Museum where there was an immersive exhibit/homage to The Velvets and this album. The album played on repeat while on two screens on opposite sides of the room movies made during the sessions looped. Warhol was the "producer"; he gave them a recording studio and let them do whatever they wanted. He did push them to include Nico. They resisted at first. I like her songs. Leavens the thrash.
As I lingered in the exhibit I was awash in college memories. When I got to my little liberal arts college in 1980 my musical tastes had been formed by Big WAYS AM 610 radio in Charlotte, North Carolina. No Lou Reed. After I heard Yellow Banana everything changed.
I was struck by the realization that Reed and the band members are all the same age as my parents. Made my head spin.
As I lingered in the exhibit I was awash in college memories. When I got to my little liberal arts college in 1980 my musical tastes had been formed by Big WAYS AM 610 radio in Charlotte, North Carolina. No Lou Reed. After I heard Yellow Banana everything changed.
I was struck by the realization that Reed and the band members are all the same age as my parents. Made my head spin.
HUGE v.u. fan here.
i never got to see lou live, but i was lucky enough to see John Cale live at a great hole in the wall place in pittsburgh back in the mid 90's. unforgettable. he played most from his Fragments of a Rainy Season (i think that's what it was called) album. it was an absolutely beautiful show.
i never got to see lou live, but i was lucky enough to see John Cale live at a great hole in the wall place in pittsburgh back in the mid 90's. unforgettable. he played most from his Fragments of a Rainy Season (i think that's what it was called) album. it was an absolutely beautiful show.
cc_rider wrote:
It's an absolute classic but it sounds like a garage band hastily rehearsing for tonight's unexpected gig.
Lousy voice, mediocre musical ability (at best!), simplistic, repetitive lyrics, and worst of all, glamorizes(?) drugs. Long Live ROCK 'N ROLL. Lou Reed and V.U. are the godfathers (and mother) of Punk. The inspiration for too many bands to count. Lou Reed made it okay for the nerds and geeks to make music too. 10. Duh. c.
It's an absolute classic but it sounds like a garage band hastily rehearsing for tonight's unexpected gig.
Some years ago, we accidentally got off a train into New York one stop too early. It was dusk and my partner thought the area looked a bit scary. I was bouncing up and down pointing at the sign on the corner of the street...'Lexington Avenue and 125th Street'. She didn't understand why I was so excited. We didn't wait...
GODLIKE!!! ICONIC!!!
bdwhitepm wrote:
Try Lou reed Rock and Roll Animal...The Intro/Sweet Jane is masterful.
Agree. Also try New York. Take the time and listen to the entire album at once.
Try Lou reed Rock and Roll Animal...The Intro/Sweet Jane is masterful.
Agree. Also try New York. Take the time and listen to the entire album at once.
Just uped this to 10
ICONIC!!!
Given their fame and the "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band." quote, I still struggled to give this my first "6". I've been listening to various forms of pop music for a long time and as they said in X-files, I want to believe. Is there a more accessible song or context for them?
ace-marc wrote:
You need context. The 6 VU songs have survived over 50 years. Check back on RP in 2071 and see what the status is. It could be the same, in which Billie earns her place.
Bill is trying hard to keep us up to date - some may be keepers, others - maybe not. I appreciate him challenging me to progress.
BTW - I like Billie Eilish. She's a fresh voice with fresh ideas.
RP plays only 6 songs from the amazing VU.
RP plays 6 songs from that joke Billie Eilish.
That is messed up!
You need context. The 6 VU songs have survived over 50 years. Check back on RP in 2071 and see what the status is. It could be the same, in which Billie earns her place.
Bill is trying hard to keep us up to date - some may be keepers, others - maybe not. I appreciate him challenging me to progress.
BTW - I like Billie Eilish. She's a fresh voice with fresh ideas.
So important to keep playing VU!! The young kids who think Billie Eilish, etc. are groundbreaking, just don't understand. Thx!
SDBob wrote:
"he's never early, He's always late"
Great line! This was cutting edge stuff in 1966.
I never understood the $26 line...
It's always been $20 a bag everywhere I've been 8)
Lou paid extra for "artisan"smack...
Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
Almost Famous
excellent, the Beatles wanted to Hold Your Hand but the VU had something else in mind
RP plays only 6 songs from the amazing VU.
RP plays 6 songs from that joke Billie Eilish.
That is messed up!
RP plays 6 songs from that joke Billie Eilish.
That is messed up!
rock n roll at its finest
Nope, this one is a complete classic. Happy to give it a 10. It's the epitome of the best garage rock, by somone who should know.
On_The_Beach wrote:
It's like the blink of an eye compared to your endless whining.
It’s one of these albums everyone should have a copy of in their collection
It's like the blink of an eye compared to your endless whining.
It’s one of these albums everyone should have a copy of in their collection
I love how raw that is
The Velvet Underground Without Nico..................perfection
Jelani wrote:
Try Lou reed Rock and Roll Animal...The Intro/Sweet Jane is masterful.
I have no idea what people find enjoyable about Lou Reed...other than the lyrics.
Try Lou reed Rock and Roll Animal...The Intro/Sweet Jane is masterful.
Maybe they were the Ramones of the '60's?
pope183 wrote:
....and Bowie would be the only redeeming factor...
My favorite version is Lou Reed and David Bowie together at Bowie's 50th birthday jam at MSG in 1997 seeing them do this song together = 5 out of 5 Stars ***** !
....and Bowie would be the only redeeming factor...
I have no idea what people find enjoyable about Lou Reed...other than the lyrics.
very rarerly such a monotonus steady riff can get me in its grip without getting bored or ittitated - so i geuss it can be rated as a true masterpiece then...
hayduke2 wrote:
Probably because all 30,000 felt they could play better than this crap.
In 1982, musician Brian Eno famously stated that while The Velvet Underground & Nico initially only sold 30,000 copies, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band."
way cool album
way cool album
Probably because all 30,000 felt they could play better than this crap.
Fables85 wrote:
No, it's just that we have different tastes in music and think this drivel sucks. However, we can always count on VU fans piddling themselves over this tripe. FOAD.
The 32 people who gave this a rating of 1 to 6 have absolutely no clue of rock history and must surely be completely devoid of any good taste whatsoever.
The 12 who gave it a "sucko-barfo" rating of 1 should get their ears checked or qualify for death penalty.
The 12 who gave it a "sucko-barfo" rating of 1 should get their ears checked or qualify for death penalty.
No, it's just that we have different tastes in music and think this drivel sucks. However, we can always count on VU fans piddling themselves over this tripe. FOAD.
this is dog shit
As one critic said, The Velvets suck, but the suck in a charming way.
what we have to learn - drugs without death!
My favorite version is Lou Reed and David Bowie together at Bowie's 50th birthday jam at MSG in 1997 seeing them do this song together = 5 out of 5 Stars ***** !
Sounds like the 2002 re-release.
"First thing you learn is that you always got to wait". So true. 1970s. Heroin addiction. Damn.
Captures perfectly a part of the sad life of a addict. Brilliant song.
I think the monotonic sound of this song is trying to replicate the main character's drive to score some H.
Overrated
lemmoth wrote:
Bowie's version - which he performed many times - happens to be wonderful and reverential to one of his great influences.
I first heard it on the "Almost Famous" soundrack. It's a live take from the Santa Monica show in '72 during the height of Ziggy-Mania. It's really good.
Bowie's version - which he performed many times - happens to be wonderful and reverential to one of his great influences.
I first heard it on the "Almost Famous" soundrack. It's a live take from the Santa Monica show in '72 during the height of Ziggy-Mania. It's really good.
LinThizzy wrote:
It's like the blink of an eye compared to your endless whining.
i'm waiting for the man to end the earworm...in every part of this song, right from the beginning, it sounds like they are going into the end of the song and i expect fadeout.....but it never comes.
A fucking uninspired horrible jingle, sounds badly recorded and performed, that gets way overplayed on this station and that never seems to end.
A fucking uninspired horrible jingle, sounds badly recorded and performed, that gets way overplayed on this station and that never seems to end.
It's like the blink of an eye compared to your endless whining.
i'm waiting for the man to end the earworm...in every part of this song, right from the beginning, it sounds like they are going into the end of the song and i expect fadeout.....but it never comes.
A fucking uninspired horrible jingle, sounds badly recorded and performed, that gets way overplayed on this station and that never seems to end.
A fucking uninspired horrible jingle, sounds badly recorded and performed, that gets way overplayed on this station and that never seems to end.
zesty ! john cale era / some cale following this would be double zestyClassic Lou!
pre-punk.
kingart wrote:
"Not very innovative"? Really? Ask the hundreds of bands who would later emulate the Velvet Underground about that.
Repetitive, not very innovative.
But fun. Really NYC, during the 1960s urban scourge.
But fun. Really NYC, during the 1960s urban scourge.
"Not very innovative"? Really? Ask the hundreds of bands who would later emulate the Velvet Underground about that.
My parents truly hated this song. 
Repetitive, not very innovative.
But fun. Really NYC, during the 1960s urban scourge.
But fun. Really NYC, during the 1960s urban scourge.
Sheer brilliance.
there isn't anything i like about this draining, repetitive song. boring and hurts my ears. are there only 2 chords in this thing? worse than my neighbors garage band. yukko...
LinThizzy wrote:
OK .... but it sets up an interesting groove. Too much heroin? Or stepped-up down tempo-style beat?
Not enough soul? You are not getting into the groove.
No matter, VU is not for everyone.
Musically boring, bass line is the only happening thing going on, waaaaayyyyyy too much heroin and not enough soul.
OK .... but it sets up an interesting groove. Too much heroin? Or stepped-up down tempo-style beat?
Not enough soul? You are not getting into the groove.
No matter, VU is not for everyone.
I really wish Bill followed this with something from the Modern Lovers..
LinThizzy wrote:
Subjectivism is subjective.
Musically boring, bass line is the only happening thing going on, waaaaayyyyyy too much heroin and not enough soul.
Subjectivism is subjective.
Musically boring, bass line is the only happening thing going on, waaaaayyyyyy too much heroin and not enough soul.
easy 10.
Recommended: VU Live in 69. The whole album is good but this cranks mo bettah.
Politically Correct Xtrestials
Dear God, Can you please tell me what's wrong with Kanaken ?
Last but not least, please tell me all about
Fair share, Copy rights and creative commons.
Dear God, Can you please tell me what's wrong with Kanaken ?
Last but not least, please tell me all about
Fair share, Copy rights and creative commons.
In 1982, musician Brian Eno famously stated that while The Velvet Underground & Nico initially only sold 30,000 copies, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band."
way cool album
way cool album
Proclivities wrote:
I guess they really "felt it" from all the times they went up to Harlem to score heroin.
It's really a long drive from Rockford, IL to NYC!
I guess they really "felt it" from all the times they went up to Harlem to score heroin.
It's really a long drive from Rockford, IL to NYC!
chadlymn wrote:
I guess they really "felt it" from all the times they went up to Harlem to score heroin.
Cheap Trick remade this song and I must say, it blows the original out of the water!
I guess they really "felt it" from all the times they went up to Harlem to score heroin.
Here he comes, HE'S ALL DRESSED IN BLACK!
Great song, but VU has much better ones like "Foggy Notion", "She's My Best Friend", "Beginning to See The Light", "Head Held High" to name a few. Someone mentioned Bowie's version of this tune from his Bowie at the Beeb CD. Bowie's version with Mick Ronson on lead guitar is fantastic!
steeler wrote:
Art is not just about technique. It also is about concepts, and mining the wells of the spirit and soul.
Art is not just about technique. It also is about concepts, and mining the wells of the spirit and soul.
And about the proper placement of phallic shaped fruits.
Chrisjea wrote:
Well if you get crucified, there will be two. Never got VU
Me three.
Well if you get crucified, there will be two. Never got VU
Me three.
paisleydancer66 wrote:
Wouldn't think of it! I always perk up when I hear that intro.
1st thing I learn is I can't wait to hear Lou start his vocal.
2nd thing I learn is it's disappointing not to hear Nico start crooning "Femme Fatale" once it's over.
be careful not to overrate this
Wouldn't think of it! I always perk up when I hear that intro.
1st thing I learn is I can't wait to hear Lou start his vocal.
2nd thing I learn is it's disappointing not to hear Nico start crooning "Femme Fatale" once it's over.
bronorb wrote:
Well if you get crucified, there will be two. Never got VU
I know I will get crucified, but here goes:
VU was very over-rated, IMHO. I have one of their albums on vinyl, probably listened to it 3 times since I purchased it in the 80's. This song is no different, monotone vocals and poor guitar-playing. Even the cover is lame.
Warhol was no artist, BTW.
VU was very over-rated, IMHO. I have one of their albums on vinyl, probably listened to it 3 times since I purchased it in the 80's. This song is no different, monotone vocals and poor guitar-playing. Even the cover is lame.
Warhol was no artist, BTW.
Well if you get crucified, there will be two. Never got VU
be careful not to overrate this
8 > 9
Lovely,
steeler wrote:
Art is not just about technique. It also is about concepts, and mining the wells of the spirit and soul.
Bravo.
Art is not just about technique. It also is about concepts, and mining the wells of the spirit and soul.
Bravo.
bronorb wrote:
Art is not just about technique. It also is about concepts, and mining the wells of the spirit and soul.
I know I will get crucified, but here goes:
VU was very over-rated, IMHO. I have one of their albums on vinyl, probably listened to it 3 times since I purchased it in the 80's. This song is no different, monotone vocals and poor guitar-playing. Even the cover is lame.
Warhol was no artist, BTW.
VU was very over-rated, IMHO. I have one of their albums on vinyl, probably listened to it 3 times since I purchased it in the 80's. This song is no different, monotone vocals and poor guitar-playing. Even the cover is lame.
Warhol was no artist, BTW.
Art is not just about technique. It also is about concepts, and mining the wells of the spirit and soul.
bronorb wrote:
Do you want the left hand or the right hand done first?
I know I will get crucified, but here goes:
VU was very over-rated, IMHO. I have one of their albums on vinyl, probably listened to it 3 times since I purchased it in the 80's. This song is no different, monotone vocals and poor guitar-playing. Even the cover is lame.
Warhol was no artist, BTW.
VU was very over-rated, IMHO. I have one of their albums on vinyl, probably listened to it 3 times since I purchased it in the 80's. This song is no different, monotone vocals and poor guitar-playing. Even the cover is lame.
Warhol was no artist, BTW.
Do you want the left hand or the right hand done first?
hey bronorb,
I kind of get what you are saying.
It's just this kinds of songs capture a feel, a vibe, and moment in time....and that's the real buzz of the song.
I kind of get what you are saying.
It's just this kinds of songs capture a feel, a vibe, and moment in time....and that's the real buzz of the song.
I know I will get crucified, but here goes:
VU was very over-rated, IMHO. I have one of their albums on vinyl, probably listened to it 3 times since I purchased it in the 80's. This song is no different, monotone vocals and poor guitar-playing. Even the cover is lame.
Warhol was no artist, BTW.
VU was very over-rated, IMHO. I have one of their albums on vinyl, probably listened to it 3 times since I purchased it in the 80's. This song is no different, monotone vocals and poor guitar-playing. Even the cover is lame.
Warhol was no artist, BTW.
Nice!
"Hey White Boy"! "What choo doin' Uptown"?
Check out David Bowie's version (Disc 2) on 'Bowie at Beeb: Best Of BBC Radio 68-72'
Guaranteed to please!!
Guaranteed to please!!
Whhooooooo there's an echoooo
First RP tune of 2013.... it's going to be a good year!
Seminal - a word much overused, but appropriate in this case... VU didn't change the rules, they gave us a whole new set!
Seminal - a word much overused, but appropriate in this case... VU didn't change the rules, they gave us a whole new set!
Like version on live album better.
chadlymn wrote:
Bowie's version - which he performed many times - happens to be wonderful and reverential to one of his great influences.
Cheap Trick remade this song and I must say, it blows the original out of the water!
Bowie's version - which he performed many times - happens to be wonderful and reverential to one of his great influences.
The very definition of lyrical brilliance. 10
chadlymn wrote:
Now THAT'S funny......
Cheap Trick remade this song and I must say, it blows the original out of the water!
Now THAT'S funny......
chadlymn wrote:
Cheap Trick remade this song and I must say, it blows the original out of the water!
uh....you might want to g check that out again..
Song has fascinated me since I first discovered it years ago (probably RP) and I have acquired a number of versions. And I still get new revelations when listening; for instance, the clanking piano towards the end—no effort to change key or volume seems to add to the sense of urgency. Perfect. I probably hear that because of a personal sense of urgency. Not for drugs these days but nontheless...One of those magic songs.
Cheap Trick remade this song and I must say, it blows the original out of the water!
We're all waiting for something or someone.
How did Bill know that I'm Waiting for The Man? Oh, I forgot, Bill knows everything! Thanks Bill for always getting it right.
If he was waiting for his Woman, then the guitar playing would have been George Harrisonesque. However, Lou is waiting for his drug dealer (his 'Man') and so the guitar playing, staccato and ragged, is quite apropos, IMHO. Good song, has been for many years.
nicolewe wrote:
"I'll wait here one more hour (in the pouring rain) and then that guy can borrow the $50 from someone else!" —Caspar Milquetoast
i'm waiting for MY man...
"I'll wait here one more hour (in the pouring rain) and then that guy can borrow the $50 from someone else!" —Caspar Milquetoast
i'm waiting for MY man...
More_Cowbell wrote:
Please Mr.Cowbell,pay attention!
Lou is waiting for his Man !
Who is this Man that Lou is waiting for?
Please Mr.Cowbell,pay attention!
Lou is waiting for his Man !
sirdroseph wrote:
I love the sound he makes when he plays the guitar, therefore it is great to me, I could care less whether technically he is proficient. Stevie Ray Vaughn is one of the most technically proficient guitar players of all time, but I do not like his music therefore he is not great to me. Let me repeat, Lou Reed is a great guitar player, if this makes me stupid, then I will be stupid, but Lou Reed is still a great guitar player.
Word of advice: try not to get Stingray too agitated or he will subject you to one of his patented "all caps, large red font, non-sequitur" diatribes, which may result in massive eye strain and a possible ass cramp. . .
I love the sound he makes when he plays the guitar, therefore it is great to me, I could care less whether technically he is proficient. Stevie Ray Vaughn is one of the most technically proficient guitar players of all time, but I do not like his music therefore he is not great to me. Let me repeat, Lou Reed is a great guitar player, if this makes me stupid, then I will be stupid, but Lou Reed is still a great guitar player.
Word of advice: try not to get Stingray too agitated or he will subject you to one of his patented "all caps, large red font, non-sequitur" diatribes, which may result in massive eye strain and a possible ass cramp. . .
Stingray wrote:
Lou Reed...?
Lou read is a great guitar player?
That is a real-real stupid statement!
I love the sound he makes when he plays the guitar, therefore it is great to me, I could care less whether technically he is proficient. Stevie Ray Vaughn is one of the most technically proficient guitar players of all time, but I do not like his music therefore he is not great to me. Let me repeat, Lou Reed is a great guitar player, if this makes me stupid, then I will be stupid, but Lou Reed is still a great guitar player.
Lou Reed...?
Lou read is a great guitar player?
That is a real-real stupid statement!
I love the sound he makes when he plays the guitar, therefore it is great to me, I could care less whether technically he is proficient. Stevie Ray Vaughn is one of the most technically proficient guitar players of all time, but I do not like his music therefore he is not great to me. Let me repeat, Lou Reed is a great guitar player, if this makes me stupid, then I will be stupid, but Lou Reed is still a great guitar player.
cc_rider wrote:
Lou Reed may not be a guitar maestro, but I have seen him perform live many times and can attest that he is much more than "barely competent" (when he chooses to be). "Great" is perhaps a matter of opinion, but I agree with your last comment.
Uh, Lou Reed is NOT a great guitar player. He is barely competent, much less great. That said, he has been able to take the most rudimentary of musical foundations and turn it into genius.
Lou Reed may not be a guitar maestro, but I have seen him perform live many times and can attest that he is much more than "barely competent" (when he chooses to be). "Great" is perhaps a matter of opinion, but I agree with your last comment.
More Velvs!!!
Where is that guy? Sick of waitin'.
Thank you very much for the fine photo (John Cale in yellow shirt, standing out like the blond-haired Hamlet).To the listeners who dispute Mr Louis Reed's mastery of the electric guitar, I'd suggest they listen to "Forever Changed" from "Songs for Drella", the tribute album by him and Cale. Get the song's live performances caught on video around the net, if you can, too. Perhaps they'd hear something there. BTW, the electric guitar is a totally different instrument from the acoustic guitar.
IMG_8914-48 by Enrica Lodi Photoclick Superevviva!
Eurica Lodi
https://www.flickr.com/photos/superevviva/
A LIFE ALONG THE BORDERLINE. TRIBUTE TO NICO. Artists: John Cale, Lisa Gerrard, Soap & skin, Mark Linkou, Peter Murph, Mark Lanegan, Mercury Rev
All rights reserved.
sirdroseph wrote:
Dope schmope, he's a great guitar player even if he was Nancy Reagan!
Lou Reed...?
Lou read is a great guitar player?
That is a real-real stupid statement!
Dope schmope, he's a great guitar player even if he was Nancy Reagan!
Lou Reed...?
Lou read is a great guitar player?
That is a real-real stupid statement!
sirdroseph wrote:
Dope schmope, he's a great guitar player even if he was Nancy Reagan!
Uh, Lou Reed is NOT a great guitar player. He is barely competent, much less great. That said, he has been able to take the most rudimentary of musical foundations and turn it into genius.I remember how crazy I have been for their double-album (70's).
Not even sure now if it was "LIVE" or not.
Anyway...
when listening to that (main) song now, I wonder,
how I could ever like it.
It does not even have punk-quality, as was said back then!
It's just simple and,....not good!
Not even sure now if it was "LIVE" or not.
Anyway...
when listening to that (main) song now, I wonder,
how I could ever like it.
It does not even have punk-quality, as was said back then!
It's just simple and,....not good!
Anax wrote:
It's not as if this is a newly-composed song.
I'm tired of hearing about Lou's dope habit, and I'll bet he's tired of it, too.
It's not as if this is a newly-composed song.
PLAY MORE OF THE VELVS!!!!
Anax wrote:
Dope schmope, he's a great guitar player even if he was Nancy Reagan!
I'm tired of hearing about Lou's dope habit, and I'll bet he's tired of it, too.
Dope schmope, he's a great guitar player even if he was Nancy Reagan!
bam23 wrote:
Nope, I assure you he is waiting for his man with $26 in his hand, Lou doesn't fool around with artsy fartsy pretentious bullshit like that. Great freeking song, Lou roks!!!! 10!!!!
It just occurred to me: Is this a sort of parody of a song about someone waiting for a girl? Obviously the basic idea is that of a junkie desperate to score. But, considering the 1950s to early 60s feel of the sound and the fact that Lou Reed is rather more than a simplistic rock and roller, might there be more to this than the obvious?
Nope, I assure you he is waiting for his man with $26 in his hand, Lou doesn't fool around with artsy fartsy pretentious bullshit like that. Great freeking song, Lou roks!!!! 10!!!!
bam23 wrote:
I don't think so. His VU lyrics tended to be straightforward slice-of-life narratives.
It just occurred to me: Is this a sort of parody of a song about someone waiting for a girl? Obviously the basic idea is that of a junkie desperate to score. But, considering the 1950s to early 60s feel of the sound and the fact that Lou Reed is rather more than a simplistic rock and roller, might there be more to this than the obvious?
I don't think so. His VU lyrics tended to be straightforward slice-of-life narratives.
twitterpated wrote:
i might re-read that one again.
I read this book called "Please Kill Me" which was about the punk movement. Lou Reed figured into the scene quite significantly. I was surprised, and laughed when I read it, that he was known as "Lou Lou" by many people. The reason why is explained in the book. :)
i might re-read that one again.
It just occurred to me: Is this a sort of parody of a song about someone waiting for a girl? Obviously the basic idea is that of a junkie desperate to score. But, considering the 1950s to early 60s feel of the sound and the fact that Lou Reed is rather more than a simplistic rock and roller, might there be more to this than the obvious?
chadlymn wrote:
Cover versions of this - Bowie & Lou at Bowie's 50th birthday - Oh yeah
Cheap Trick did an awesome version of this song!!!
Cover versions of this - Bowie & Lou at Bowie's 50th birthday - Oh yeah
twitterpated wrote:
Great book and very accurate - at least relative to what I witnessed with my own eyes at Max's. CB's, the Mudd Club etc. in those years.
I read this book called "Please Kill Me" which was about the punk movement. Lou Reed figured into the scene quite significantly. I was surprised, and laughed when I read it, that he was known as "Lou Lou" by many people. The reason why is explained in the book. :)
Great book and very accurate - at least relative to what I witnessed with my own eyes at Max's. CB's, the Mudd Club etc. in those years.
Who is this Man that Lou is waiting for?
Now we're talking.
Always amazing to check the time stamp on this masterpiece.
Always amazing to check the time stamp on this masterpiece.
Very nice!!
I'm tired of hearing about Lou's dope habit, and I'll bet he's tired of it, too.
Cheap Trick did an awesome version of this song!!!
This is song is so sloppy, so distorted, so repetitive. That sounds like a criticism, but it's not. I captures something elemental about rock and roll.
Very well stated!