Waiting For the Man
David Bowie
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I'm waiting for the man Twenty six dollars in my hand Up to Lexington, One Two Five So sick and dirty more dead than alive I'm waiting for the man Hey white boy, what you doing uptown? Hey white boy, you're chasing all the women around Oh pardon me sir it's furthest from my mind I'm just looking for a good friend of mine I'm waiting for the man Here he comes, he's all dressed in black PR shoes, and a big straw hat He's never early, he's always late First thing you learn is that you've always got to wait I'm waiting for the man Brown stone building and three flights of stairs Nobody stops you 'cause nobody cares He's got the works and he gives you sweet taste But then you've got to split because you've got no time to waste I'm waiting for the man Baby don't you holler, darling don't you scream and shout I'm feeling good, I'm going to work it on out I'm feeling good, I'm feeling so fine Until tomorrow but that's just another time I'm waiting for the man I'm waiting for the man Twenty six dollars lying there in my hand Up to Lexington, One Two Five five So sick and dirty more dead than alive I'm waiting for the man
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11 facts about this song
Song's Release"Waiting for the Man" was first released by The Velvet Underground in their debut album, "The Velvet Underground & Nico", in March 1967.
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David Bowie's VersionDavid Bowie covered "Waiting for the Man" multiple times throughout his career. It is said that he was greatly influenced by Velvet Underground and Lou Reed's music style.
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Inspiration Behind the SongThe song is about a person waiting for their drug dealer, popularly referred to as 'the man'. Lou Reed, the lead singer of Velvet Underground and the writer of the song, often explored themes of drug use and abuse in his songs.
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Lou Reed's PerformanceLou Reed regularly performed "Waiting for the Man" in concerts until his death in 2013. It is one of the most remembered songs of his career.
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Nico’s InvolvementAlthough Nico, the German singer, is credited in the album “The Velvet Underground & Nico”, she doesn’t actually participate vocally in the song "Waiting for the Man". Nico's primary involvement in the album was singing lead vocals on three tracks.
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Critical ReceptionThe song, "Waiting for the Man" is renowned for its musical style and daring themes. It is often cited as an influential track in the development of punk rock and other genres.
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Notable Ranking"Waiting for the Man" was ranked 159th best song of all time by "Rolling Stone" magazine in its "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" list.
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Cover VersionsThe song has been covered by many artists over the years, including well-known musicians like David Bowie, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (OMD), and Bauhaus, a testament to its enduring popularity.
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Bowie's TributeAfter Lou Reed's death in 2013, David Bowie performed "Waiting for the Man" as a tribute to Reed during his concerts.
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Music Technique"Waiting for the Man" is notable for its repetitive and straightforward chord progression, giving it a raw and gritty atmosphere that echoes the song's streetwise narrative.
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Documented RehearsalThe first known recording of "Waiting for the Man" was a demo by The Velvet Underground made during a rehearsal in John Cale's loft in July 1965. This recording was later included in the "Peel Slowly and See" box set released in 1995.
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Citation
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"Waiting For the Man Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/26655655/David+Bowie/Waiting+For+the+Man>.
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