The Original Wrapper
Lou Reed
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I was sittin' home on the west end Watchin' cable tv with a female friend We were watchin' the news, the world's in a mess The poor and the hungry, a world in distress Herpes, aids, the middle east at full throttle Better check that sausage, before you put it in the waffle And while you're at it, check what's in the batter Make sure that candy's in the original wrapper Hey, pitcher, better check that batter Make sure that candy's in the original wrapper Reagan says abortion's murder While he's looking at cardinal o'connor Look at jerry falwell louis farrakhan Both talk religion and the brotherhood of man They both sound like they belong in teheran Watch out, they're goin' full throttle Better check that sausage, before you stick it in the waffle And while you're at it better check, what's in the batter Make sure that candy's in the original wrapper Hey, pitcher, better check that batter Make sure that candy's in the original wrapper White against white, black against jew It seems like it's 1942 The baby sits in front of mtv Watching violent fantasies While dad guzzles beer with his favorite sport Only to find his heroes are all coked up Classic, original, the same old story The politics of hate in a new surrounding Hate if it's good and hate if it's bad And if this all don't make you mad I'll keep yours and I'll keep mine Nothing sacred and nothing divine Father, bless me, we're at full throttle Better check that sausage, before you put it in the waffle And while you're at it better check that batter Make sure the candy's in the original wrapper Hey, pitcher, better check that batter Make sure that candy's in the original wrapper, hey, hey I was born in the united states And I grew up hard but I grew up straight I saw a lack of morals and a lack of concern A feeling that there's nowhere to turn Yippies, hippies and upwardly mobile yuppies Don't treat me like I'm some dumb lackey 'cause the murderer lives while the victims die I'd much rather see it an eye for an eye A heart for a heart, a brain for a brain And if this all makes you feel a little insane Kick up your heels, turn the music up loud Pick up your guitar and look out at the crowd, and say, - - "don't mean to come on sanctimonious But life's got me nervous and little pugnacious Lugubrious so I give a salutation And rock on out to beat really stupid Ohh, poop, ah, doo and how do you do Hip hop gonna bop till I drop." Watch out world, comin' at you full throttle Better check that sausage, before you put it in the waffle And while you're at it better check that batter Make sure the candy's in the original wrapper Hey, hey, pitcher, better check that batter Make sure the candy's in the original wrapper Hey, pitcher, better check that batter Make sure the candy's in the original wrapper, hey, hey, hey
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Written by: LEWIS ALLEN REED, LOU REED
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Artist Recognition"The Original Wrapper" is a song written and performed by Lou Reed, an influential American musician, songwriter and record producer renowned for his distinctive storytelling and poetic style.
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Album PlacementThe song is from Lou Reed's fifteenth studio album, "Mistrial", released in June 1986. The album overall received a mixed response, and it marked the end of Reed's recording contract with the RCA label.
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Single Success"The Original Wrapper" was one of the singles released from the album, and it reached number 31 on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart in America.
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Genre ClassificationThe song is an example of Reed's experiment with Drum programming and stands out for its fusion of rock and hip-hop.
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Video DetailsThe music video for "The Original Wrapper" is a unique piece of 80s nostalgia that features Reed rapping lyrics in a variety of settings including a supermarket and a party.
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ControversyThe song caused some controversy, as some critics have seen it as Reed's attempt to cash in on the rap trend emerging into the mainstream during the 80s.
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Distinctive FeaturesUnlike most of Reed's previous work, it features spoken word verses that emulate the style of rap, which was an emerging music genre at the time.
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Critical ReceptionWhile some critics and fans found the song's lyrics light-hearted and refreshing, others considered it to be one of Reed's weakest efforts. Despite mixed reviews, "The Original Wrapper" remains a noteworthy track in Reed’s discography.
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Song ThemeThe song is about the variety of people Reed encounters around New York, and it’s filled with humourous observations about 1980s American life.
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Pop Culture ReferenceThe title is a pun referring to Reed as a 'rapper', playing off the fact that Reed was one of the first artists to use a form of spoken word in his music in the 60s and 70s, making him an 'original wrapper.'
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PerformanceIn live performances, Reed embellished the rapped verses of “The Original Wrapper” with additional freestyle lyrics.
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Citation
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"The Original Wrapper Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 4 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/3121098/Lou+Reed/The+Original+Wrapper>.
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