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Lou Reed — What's Good
Album: Magic And Loss
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 1847









Released: 1992
Length: 3:18
Plays (last 30 days): 1
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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
Comments (99)add comment
 kenmo wrote:
Me, I prefer Red Leb in my pipe - crack is for losers...
 
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.


{#Mrgreen}
Posted 9 months ago by kurtster    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 9 months ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 that's not what my momma said...https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic...
Posted 1 year ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Lou Reed. Enough said.
Posted 1 year ago by itsme_bygolly    [ Reply ]
 SmackDaddy wrote:

Cool, nothing like a crack toke to show respect!{#Nyah}


Me, I prefer Red Leb in my pipe - crack is for losers...
Posted 2 years ago by kenmo    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 2 years ago by kenmo    [ Reply ]
What's good?  This song. 
Posted 2 years ago by mgilhuly    [ Reply ]
 Ropes wrote:

When it started I thought, for a few seconds, it was James McMurtry.




Praise for both artists.
Posted 2 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
Miley what's good?

(So sorry, couldn't help myself, sincerely hope you don't know what I'm talking about)
Posted 2 years ago by Spiderwoman    [ Reply ]
This is an outstanding album and should have received more attention ✌️
Posted 2 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
Bacon and ice cream could actually be good.
Posted 3 years ago by Typesbad    [ Reply ]
6-->7 Because those are some weird funny lyrics. Keeps me listening. 
Posted 3 years ago by dmcanany    [ Reply ]
Great album under appreciated- only heard on RP!
Posted 3 years ago by walkerpub    [ Reply ]
Fabulous Lou😊
Posted 4 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
 thewiseking wrote:
Lou never let being an amateur get in his way
 and staying that way.


Posted 4 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
Until the End of the World
Posted 4 years ago by inmanart    [ Reply ]
We miss you Lou but your great songs live on within us,Rest in peace 🙏
Posted 4 years ago by Easyrider    [ Reply ]
Nice sound Lou
Posted 4 years ago by dublanica    [ Reply ]
Love Lou
Posted 5 years ago by stephen.king12101    [ Reply ]
its on the soundtrack for the end of the world film
Posted 5 years ago by ecojot    [ Reply ]
When it started I thought, for a few seconds, it was James McMurtry.
Posted 5 years ago by Ropes    [ Reply ]
Lou never let being an amateur get in his way
Posted 5 years ago by thewiseking    [ Reply ]
 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.
Posted 5 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
melody surprisingly upbeat for dark lyrics?
Posted 5 years ago by mmartinwhite1938    [ Reply ]
OMG soooo incredible!!! {#Rolleyes}
Posted 6 years ago by junebaby65    [ Reply ]

Posted 6 years ago by ch83575    [ Reply ]
Definitely a source of inspiration for The Magnetic Fields, I think.
Posted 6 years ago by Rashley    [ Reply ]
  Cynaera wrote:
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.

  
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
Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
Brilliant line

Life's like Sanskrit read to a pony 
Posted 7 years ago by kingart    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 7 years ago by Steely_D    [ Reply ]
rating it Godlike out of pure Respect for Lou the Essential   {#Notworthy}
Posted 7 years ago by hayduke2    [ Reply ]
 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. {#High-five}
Posted 7 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
 LowPhreak wrote:
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.
 
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.  ; )
Posted 7 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 8 years ago by LowPhreak    [ Reply ]
"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.
Posted 9 years ago by colt4x5    [ Reply ]
Was lucky & blessed enough to see him jam an incredible show in Shinjuku, Tokyo in spring of '05; was 10 years ago, yet IMMORTAL!
Posted 9 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]
 Stingray wrote:
Except for VU very overrated, I think!

 
Actually, you don't!
Posted 9 years ago by h8rhater    [ Reply ]
King of Grunge?
 
Posted 9 years ago by hempmandan    [ Reply ]
 westslope wrote:

Yup.  

 

Raised a pipe to Lou Reed last night.  



 
Cool, nothing like a crack toke to show respect!{#Nyah}
Posted 9 years ago by SmackDaddy    [ Reply ]
What a storyteller....
 
Posted 9 years ago by hempmandan    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 9 years ago by martinc    [ Reply ]
Except for VU very overrated, I think!
Posted 10 years ago by Stingray    [ Reply ]
I am a huge of LR ... great to hear him on RP, and a song I had previously missed.
Posted 10 years ago by GTT    [ Reply ]
The philosophical Lou. 


Less bitter, but still with considerable bite.      
Posted 10 years ago by steeler    [ Reply ]
Requiescat in pace, Lewis. 
Posted 10 years ago by hencini    [ Reply ]
{#Drummer}   {#Bananajam}{#Guitarist}
Posted 10 years ago by Peter_Bradshaw    [ Reply ]
Life's like bacon and ice cream. That's what life's like without you.
Posted 10 years ago by Grammarcop    [ Reply ]
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!
Posted 10 years ago by coloradojohn    [ Reply ]


Farewell, Lou. You will be missed.
Posted 11 years ago by On_The_Beach    [ Reply ]
 RedGuitar wrote:
Love his "Rock and Roll Animal" CD.  RIP, Lou.

 

Yup.  

 

Raised a pipe to Lou Reed last night.  


Posted 11 years ago by westslope    [ Reply ]
Rock and Roll Heaven just got vastly more interesting.

Lou was a man truly deserving of the oft-overused superlative - GENIUS.....
Posted 11 years ago by lemmoth    [ Reply ]
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 
Posted 11 years ago by tomatoslayer    [ Reply ]
Thank you. A good choice for today (day one of a world without Lou Reed). 
Posted 11 years ago by Vicey    [ Reply ]
Love his "Rock and Roll Animal" CD.  RIP, Lou.
Posted 11 years ago by RedGuitar    [ Reply ]
R.I.P. LOU {#Bananajam}REED ... We hardly knew ya....
Posted 11 years ago by TAI    [ Reply ]
 Cynaera wrote:
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.

 
Wow, and this comment was right there.


I still miss Cynaera's kind comments. 

RIP Lou Reed. 
Posted 11 years ago by Webfoot    [ Reply ]
RIP Lou.

This album was an anthem to me for a couple of years after it was release. Beautiful, dark.

 
Posted 11 years ago by birdland    [ Reply ]
Peaceful journeys Lou. 
Posted 11 years ago by shellbella    [ Reply ]
RIP
Posted 11 years ago by finoufk    [ Reply ]
Thanks Bill for playing this today!
Posted 11 years ago by joanbcn    [ Reply ]
Appropriate for today, but sad.
Posted 11 years ago by njr    [ Reply ]
A good album indeed, however VERY DARK. I guess an album about death, is meant to be dark.
Posted 12 years ago by Stranglersfan    [ Reply ]
Sometimes I love Lou Reed and sometimes I f**king loath him - this is great !

Posted 12 years ago by MannAudioltd    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 12 years ago by Cynaera    [ Reply ]
Want an even more terrible idea?  Try this!

https://www.loureedmetallica.com/lulu.php
 
 

Posted 12 years ago by ick    [ Reply ]
Life's like Mayonaisse Soda...{#Puke}
Posted 12 years ago by ColdMiser    [ Reply ]
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"?

Posted 12 years ago by lafcadio    [ Reply ]
 miahfost wrote:
What's Good? Certainly not you Mr. Reed. If that is your real name.
 
Lewis Allan Reed. Seems geniune which is a rariety.

Posted 13 years ago by horstman    [ Reply ]
I remember this song from the Until the End of the World OST.  It's a decent song in a great album.
Posted 13 years ago by Mpayan    [ Reply ]
LOVE
Posted 13 years ago by motorichi    [ Reply ]
What's Good? Certainly not you Mr. Reed. If that is your real name.
Posted 13 years ago by miahfost    [ Reply ]
 rolf wrote:
<...> kind of boring
 
Understatement.

Posted 13 years ago by aelfheld    [ Reply ]
 TreborG2 wrote:
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
 
I'll match that.
Posted 13 years ago by Jelani    [ Reply ]
 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.

Posted 13 years ago by Proclivities    [ Reply ]
 _Donna wrote:
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.
Posted 14 years ago by dolfan    [ Reply ]

I just love Lou Reed's strummin!{#Bananajam}


Posted 14 years ago by sirdroseph    [ Reply ]
great CD
Posted 14 years ago by peacockangel    [ Reply ]
I love Magic and Loss!  I think this was written after his mom and/or dad passed away.

Posted 14 years ago by _Donna    [ Reply ]
GODLIKE.
Posted 14 years ago by Bosami    [ Reply ]
not bad, only kind of boring
Posted 18 years ago by rolf    [ Reply ]
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
Posted 21 years ago by veegez    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 21 years ago by missjanuary    [ Reply ]
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 !!?
Posted 21 years ago by TreborG2    [ Reply ]
...lifes like sucking wind on a microphone and driving everyone else absolutely nutzo!
Posted 21 years ago by TreborG2    [ Reply ]
Not very memorable. What song was this again?
Posted 21 years ago by Leslie    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 21 years ago by tg3k    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 22 years ago by birdland    [ Reply ]
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.
Posted 22 years ago by CoolbeaN    [ Reply ]
\'What\'s good? Not much at all\'....including this song.
Posted 22 years ago by splendy    [ Reply ]
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..
Posted 22 years ago by TreborG2    [ Reply ]