Lou Reed

[fox69]

"Modern Dance"

"Modern Dance"


Maybe I should go and live in Amsterdam
in a side street near a big canal
spend my evenings in the Van Gogh Museum
what a dream, Van Gogh Museum

Maybe its time to see Tangiers
a different life-style, some different fears
and maybe I should be in Edinburgh
in a kilt in Edinburgh

Doin' a modern dance
doin' a modern dance

Or maybe I should get a farm in southern France
where the winds are wispy and the villagers dance
and you and I we'd sleep beneath a moon
moon in June and sleep till noon

And maybe you and I could fall in love
regain the spirit that we once had
you'd let me hold you and touch the night
that shines so bright, so bright with fright

Doin' a modern dance
doin' a modern dance

Shit, maybe I could go to Yucatan
where women are women, a man's a man
ah, no one confused, ever loses place
with their place in the human race

Maybe I'm not cut out for city life
the smell of exhaust, the smell of strife
and maybe you don't wanna be a wife
it's not a life being a wife

Doin' a modern dance
doin' a modern dance

So maybe I should go to Tanganyika
where the rivers run, down mountains tall and steep
or go to India to study chants
and lose romance to a mantra's dance

I need a guru, I need some law
explain to me the things we saw
why it always comes to this
it's all downhill after the first kiss

Maybe I should move to Rotterdam
maybe move to Amsterdam
I should move to Ireland, Italy, Spain
Afghanistan where there is no rain

Or maybe I should just learn a modern dance
where roles are shifting the modern dance
you never touch you don't know who you're with
this week, this month, this time of year
this week, this month, this time of year

Doin' a modern dance
you don't know who you're with modern dance
I should move to Pakistan, go to Afghanistan
Dance, you don't know who you're with
dance, you don't know who you're with
modern dance
And maybe you don't wanna be a wife
it's not life being a wife
doin' a modern dance
you never touch you don't know who you're with
Dance, modern dance
the roles are shifting dance
you never touch you don't know who you're with
Dance, modern dance
maybe you don't wanna be a wife
it's not a life being a wife

 

[fox69]

"My Friend George"

"My Friend George"


Read in the paper 'bout a man killed with a sword
and that made my think of my friend George
People said the man was five foot six
sounds like George with his killing stick

Hey bro, what's the word
talkin' 'bout my friend George
Hey bro, what's the word
talkin' 'bout my friend George
You talkin' 'bout my friend George

I knew George since he's eight
I always thought that he was great
And anything that George would do
you know that I would do it too

George liked music and George liked to fight
he worked out in a downtown gym every night
I'd spar with him when work was done
we split lips but it was all in fun

Hey bro, what's the word
you talkin' 'bout my friend George
Hey bro, what's the word
talkin' 'bout my friend George
Talkin' 'bout my friend George

Next thing I hear George's got this stick
he's using it for more than kicks
I seen him down at Smalley's bar
he was wired up, I tried to calm him down

Avenge yourself he says to me
avenge yourself for humanity
Avenge yourself for the weak and the poor
stick it to these guys right through their heads

Well, the fight is my music, the stick is my sword
and you know that I love you, so please don't say a word
Can't you hear the music playing, the anthem, it's my call
and the last I seen of George was him
running through the door, I says -

Hey bro, what's the word
talkin' 'bout my friend George
Hey bro, what's the word
you talkin' 'bout my friend George
Talkin' 'bout my friend George

Hey bro, what's the word
you talkin' 'bout my friend George
Hey bro, what's the word
what me saying 'bout my friend George
Hey bro, what's the word
hear you talkin' 'bout my friend George
Hey bro, what's the word
I hear talkin' 'bout my friend George

 

[fox69]

"My House"

"My House"


The image of the poet's in the breeze
Canadian geese are flying above the trees
A mist is hanging gently on the lake
my house is very beautiful at night

My friend and teacher occupies a spare room
he's dead, at peace at last the wandering Jew
Other friends had put stones on his grave
he was the first great man that I had ever met

Sylvia and I got out our Ouija Board
to dial a spirit, across the room it soared
We were happy and amazed at what we saw
blazing stood the proud and regal name Delmore

Delmore, I missed all your funny ways
I missed your jokes and the brilliant things you said
My Dedalus to your Bloom, was such a perfect wit
and to find you in my house makes things perfect

I really got a lucky life
my writing, my motorcycle and my wife
And to top it all off a spirit of pure poetry
is living in this stone and wood house with me

The image of the poet's in the breeze
Canadian geese are flying above the trees
A mist is hanging gently on the lake
our house is very beautiful at night

Our house is very beautiful at night
our house is very beautiful at night
Our house is very beautiful at night

 

[fox69]

"My Old Man"

"My Old Man"


When I was a young boy in Brooklyn
going to public school
During recess in the concrete playground
they lined us up by twos
In alphabetical order, Reagan, Reed and Russo
I still remember the names
And stickball and stoopball were the only games
that we played

And I wanted to be like my old man
I, I wanted to grow up just like my old man
I wanted to be like my old man

I wanted to dress like, I wanted to be just like
I wanted to act like my old man
I wanted to be like, I wanted to act like
I wanted to be just like my old man

And then like everyone else I started to grow
And I didn't want to be like my father anymore
I was sick of his bullying
and having to hide under a desk on the floor
And when he beat my mother
it made me so mad I could choke

And I didn't want to be like my old man
I, I didn't even want to look like my old man
I didn't even want to seem like my old man

A son watches his father, being cruel to his mother
and makes a vow to return only when
He is so much richer, in every way so much bigger that -
- the old man will never hit anyone again

Like my old man (just like my old man)
like my old man
Like my old man (just like my old man)
like my old man
and can you believe what he said to me
he said, "Lou, act like a man" (walk like a man)
Why don't you act just like a man
act like your daddy, act like a man (just like my old man)
Oh, why don't you act just like a man
like your old man (walk like a man)
(Just like my old man)
(Just like my old man)

 

[fox69]

"My Red Joystick"

"My Red Joystick"


The first bite of the apple made Eve smart
the second bite taught her how to break men's hearts
The third bite taught her how to strut her stuff
but she never got to the fourth bite
that says "Enough is enough"

Enough is enough, baby, I've had enough of you
you can keep your dresses, you can keep your jewels
You can keep the color TV, those soaps just make me sick
all I'm asking you leave me is my little red joystick

My red joystick, my red joystick
all I'm asking you leave me is my little red joystick
My red joystick, my red joystick
all I'm asking you leave me is my little red joystick

Eve kissed Able, that's how he got murdered by Cain
Abraham gave up his son, to keep his wife away
And even the Lord Almighty
speaking from the trenches to the pits
spoke for all of mankind, when he said

Take the Porsche, take the kids
take the stocks, baby, take the rugs
Take those roses from my poor heart wilting
but, please, please, hey, please, leave me my red joystick

Leave me my red joystick, leave me my red joystick
Leave me my red joystick

Eve drank apple cider, Eve brewed good apple wine
Eve cooked up stewed apples, knew how to have a good time
She came into the bedroom, raised her skirts up high
she said, "If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, baby
give me a piece before I die"

Hey, Eve take a bite of my apple
I know you think you're pretty slick
the one thing I ask you to leave me is my red joystick

My red joystick, ooohhh, my red joystick
all I'm asking you leave me is my little red joystick
My red joystick, baby, my red joystick
all I'm asking you leave me is my little red joystick

My red joystick
hey ..., my red joystick
Ooohhh, red joystick
please, leave me my red joystick
... red joystick
please, leave me my red joystick
My red joystick
...
(My red joystick, my red joystick)

 

[fox69]

"Mystic Child"

"Mystic Child"


It was only the time of the newly born dead
with wispy cobwebs in your head
the polar moon looked out instead
goin' wild

Liquor shifting through the brain
the manic depressive goes insane
goin' wild
goin' wild

Desperate anger hits the streets
by the foul smelling river by the meat market
goin' wild
mystic child

Goin' wild
mystic child

In the winter with frozen toes
looking out the big windows
to fly
goin' wild

Situation X out of control
my eyes half opened like a mole
who smiles
goin' wild

Who smiles
goin' wild

In the mystic morning where the river meets
the hurdy-gurdy of the hip-hop beat
5 a.m. the viscous street

Oh, wild
goin' wild

Out the window like a flash
fallin' through a rooftop crash
blind
goin' wild

Sick and misty like a pup by the curb
he's throwin' up
wild
like a child

Goin' wild
like a child

If he can't have all that relates
to testify that he is great
he'll cut someone with a broken plate
stand upon the subway grate

And smile
goin' wild
goin' wild
with a smile

Holy morning
sun is up and someone
here has lost his cups

The dawn is tattered all cut up
goin' wild
like a mystic child

Like a mystic child

Sunday morning looking down from the rooftop
goin' wild with a smile
mystic child

Top of the world he's got it made
rings are gold, braids are jade
jumped to the street, he's got it made
goodbye, child

Goodbye, child
mystic child
goin' wild
like a mystic child

Goodbye
goodbye
Goin' wild, ah
goin' wild
Like a mystic child
holy morning
sun is up and someone
Going wild
like a mystic, like a mystic, like a mystic -
- Child
goin'-goin', goin'-goin' wild
Like a mystic child
Oh-oh-oh, oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh, oh
Jumped to the street

 

[fox69]

"N.Y. Stars"

"N.Y. Stars"


The stock is empty
in our eyeball store
All we got left
a few cataracts and sores
The faggot mimic machine
never had ideas
Mission impossible
they self destruct on fear

On a standard New York night
ghouls go to see their so called stars
A fairly stupid thing
to pay 5 bucks for a 4th rate imitators

They say, I'm so empty
no surface, no depth
Oh, please, can I be you
your personality's so great
Like new buildings
square tall and the same
Sorry, Miss Stupid
didn't you know it was a game
I'm just waiting
for them to hurry up and die
It's really getting to crowed here
help me New York stars

Contributions accepted all the same
We need new people store
remember, we're very good at games

 

[fox69]

"New Sensations"

"New Sensations"


I don't like guilt be it stoned or stupid
drunk and disorderly I ain't no cupid
Two years ago today I was arrested on Christmas Eve

I don't want pain, I want to walk not be carried
I don't want to give it up, I want to stay married
I ain't no dog tied to a parked car

Ooohhh, new sensations
Ooohhh, new sensations

Talkin' 'bout some new sensations
Talkin' 'bout some new sensations

I want the principles of a timeless muse
I want to eradicate my negative views
And get rid of those people who are always on a down

It's easy enough to tell what is wrong
but that's not what I want to hear all night long
Some people are like human tuinals

Ooohhh, new sensations
Ooohhh, ooohhh, new sensations

Talkin' 'bout some new sensations
Talkin' a new sensations

I took my GPZ out for a ride
the engine felt good between my thighs
The air felt cool, it's was forty degrees outside

I rode to Pennsylvania near the Delaware Gap
sometimes I got lost and had to check the map
I stopped at a roadside diner for a burger and a coke

There were some country folk and some hunters inside
somebody got themselves married and somebody died
I went to the juke box and played a hillbilly song

They was arguing about football as I waved and went outside
and I headed for the mountains feeling warm inside
I love that GPZ so much, you know that I could kiss her

Ooohhh, new sensations
Ooohhh, ooohhh, new sensations

Talkin' 'bout your new sensations
Talkin' new sensations

Ooohhh, new sensations
Ooohhh, new sensations
Ooohhh, new sensations
Ooohhh, new sensations
Ooohhh, new sensations
...

 

[fox69]

"New York Telephone Conversation"

"New York Telephone Conversation"


I was sleeping, gently napping
when I heard the phone
Who is on the other end talking
am I even home

Did you see what she did to him
did you hear what they said
Just a New York conversation
rattling in my head

Oh, oh, my, and what shall we wear
Oh, oh, my, and who really cares

Just a New York conversation
gossip all of the time
Did you hear who did what to whom
happens all the time

Who has touched and who has dabbled
here in the city of shows
Openings, closings, bad repartee
everybody knows

Oh, how sad and why do we call
Oh, I'm glad to hear from you all

I am calling, yes I am calling
just to speak to you
For I know this night will kill me
if I can't be with you

If I can't be with you

 

[fox69]

"No Chance (Regret)"

"No Chance (Regret)"


It must be nice to be steady, it must be nice to be firm
it must be nice never to move off the mark
It must be nice to be dependable and never let anyone down
it must be great to be all the things you're not
It must be great to be all the things that I'm not

I see you in the hospital your humor is intact
I'm embarrassed by the strength I seem to lack
If I was in your shoes, so strange that I am not
I'd fold up in a minute and a half
I'd fold up in a minute and a half

And I didn't get a chance to say goodbye
No I didn't get a chance to say goodbye

It must be nice to be normal, it must be nice to be cold
It must be nice not to have to go, oh, up or down
But me I'm all emotional, no matter how I try
You're gone and I'm still here alive
You're gone and I'm still alive

And I didn't get a chance to say goodbye
No, I didn't get a chance to say goodbye

There are things we say we wish we knew and in fact we never do
But I'd wish I'd known that you were going to die
Then I wouldn't feel so stupid, such a fool that I didn't call
And I didn't get a chance to say goodbye
I didn't get a chance to say goodbye

No there's no logic to this, who's picked to stay or go
If you think too hard it only makes you mad
But your optimism made me think you really had it beat
So I didn't get a chance to say goodbye
I didn't get a chance to say goodbye
No, I didn't get a chance to say goodbye
I didn't get a chance to say goodbye