Street Hassle
Lou Reed
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Waltzing Matilda whipped out her wallet The sexy boy smiled in dismay She took out four twenties 'cause she liked round figures Everybody's a queen for a day Oh, babe, I'm on fire and you know how I admire your Body why don't we slip away Although I'm sure you're certain, it's a rarity me flirtin' Sha-la-la-la, this way Oh, sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la Hey, baby, come on, let's slip away Luscious and gorgeous, oh what a hunk of muscle Call out the national guard She creamed in her jeans as he picked up her means From off of the formica topped bar And cascading slowly, he lifted her wholly And boldly out of this world And despite people's derision Proved to be more than diversion Sha-la-la-la, later on And then sha-la-la-la-la, he entered her slowly And showed her where he was coming from And then sha-la-la-la-la, he made love to her gently It was like she'd never ever come And then sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la When the sun rose and he made to leave You know, sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la Neither one regretted a thing Street hassle Hey, that cunt's not breathing I think she's had too much Of something or other, hey, man, you know what I mean I don't mean to scare you But you're the one who came here And you're the one who's gotta take her when you leave I'm not being smart Or trying to be cold on my part And I'm not gonna wear my heart on my sleeve But you know people get all emotional And sometimes, man, they just don't act rational They think they're just on TV Sha-la-la-la, man Why don't you just slip
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
7 facts about this song
Historical Significance"Street Hassle" is a song by American rock musician Lou Reed, featured on his eighth studio album of the same name released in 1978.
- Notably, the song is one of the earliest uses of binaural recording technology in popular music production.
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Song CompositionThe song is over 11 minutes long, making it the longest track on the album. It's broken into three distinct sections: "Waltzing Matilda," "Street Hassle," and "Slipaway." Each section features a different rhythm, melody, and lyric content.
- Lou Reed weaves a complex narrative with his lyrics, painting a gritty picture of urban life, loss, and love.
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Notable CollaborationDistinctively, "Street Hassle" includes a spoken-word segment performed by Bruce Springsteen. This part is considered as one of the earliest collaborations between the two iconic musicians.
- However, Springsteen was not officially credited for his contribution due to contract restrictions with his record label.
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Recognition and Contribution to MusicFor many critics and fans, "Street Hassle" represents one of Lou Reed's most significant contributions to rock music, providing an uncompromising look at city life.
- The track stands out due to its vivid lyrical imagery, unconventional structure, and innovative use of binaural technology.
- In the book "Lou Reed: A Life," biographer Anthony DeCurtis notes the song as one of Reed's "most astonishing achievements."
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Song Performance"Street Hassle" is not often performed, likely due to its length and complex structure. Despite its rarity in the performance setlist, it remained a fan favorite.
- The live versions often vary, with Reed sometimes introducing new verses or altering existing lyrics.
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Influence on Other ArtistsThe song has influenced many artists, including The Killers. They often quote lyrics from "Street Hassle" in their song "A Dustland Fairytale" during live performances.
- Thom Yorke of Radiohead cited "Street Hassle" as an influence on his songwriting, comparing it to a short film.
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Cultural ReferencesVerses from "Street Hassle" have been quoted and sampled in other media. Notably, the spoken word section performed by Bruce Springsteen is used in the opening credits of the film "He Died with a Felafel in His Hand."
- The song's effect on listeners resonates in its use in key scenes on television shows like "The Deuce" on HBO.
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Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
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"Street Hassle Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1082124/Lou+Reed/Street+Hassle>.
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