Andy's Chest
Lou Reed
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If I could be anything in the world that flew I would be a bat and come swooping after you And if the last time you were here, things were a bit askew Well, you know what happens after dark When rattlesnakes loose their skins and their hearts And all the missionaries loose their bark All the trees are calling after you And all the venom snipers after you Are all the mountains boulder after you If I could be anything of the things in this world that bite Instead of being a tethered ocelot on a leash I'd rather be your kite And be tied to the end of your string And flying in the air, babe, at night Because you know what they say about honey bears When you shave off all their baby hair You've got a hairy minded big bare bear And all the bells are rolling out for you And stones are all erupting out for you And all the cheap bloodsuckers are flying after you Yesterday, Daisy Mae and Biff were grooving down the street And just like in a movie, her hands became her feet Her belly button was her mouth Which meant she tasted what she'd speak But the funny thing is what happened to her nose It grew until it reached all of her toes Now, when people say her feet smell, they mean her nose And curtains laced with diamonds, dear, for you And kingdom's Christian sailors (soldiers), dear, for you And melting ice cap mountains, dear, for you And knights in flaming silver robes for you And bats, that with a kiss turn prince for you Swoop, swoop, oh, baby, rock, rock ...
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Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
21 facts about this song
Album Classification"Andy's Chest" is a song by American rock musician Lou Reed, initially recorded by his band, The Velvet Underground.
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Song InfluenceThe song was inspired by "Valerie Solanas," the woman who shot artist "Andy Warhol" in 1968. It was included in Reed's attempt to cover and express the shocking and disturbing incident through this song.
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Record LabelThe track was not released in the band's initial phase under their original record label, "Verve Records."
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Initial IntentOriginally, "Andy's Chest" was intended for The Velvet Underground's unreleased fourth album under Verve, which was often referred to as the "Lost Album."
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Song ReleaseIt eventually got an official release on the band's 1985 outtakes compilation album "VU".
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Reed's Solo VersionLou Reed later re-recorded "Andy's Chest" for his second solo album, "Transformer," produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson in 1972.
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Style ClassificationThe song is classified as a Rock genre, specifically falling under the styles of Art Rock and Glam Rock during Reed's solo version.
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Lyric MetaphorThe strange and surreal lyrics were Reed's metaphorical way of dealing with the chaotic and traumatic event surrounding his close associate, Warhol.
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LegacyThe song is considered to be one of Reed's best-known works and has been covered by several artists over the years.
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Length VariationThe Velvet Underground's original version was 2:49 minutes long, while Reed's solo interpretation on Transformer ran a bit longer at 3:17 minutes.
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Varied ReceptionReception to the song has varied over the years, with some critics finding its lyrics too abstract and others lauding it as a brave and expressive encapsulation of a significant historical event.
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Release Information"Andy's Chest" is a song by American musician Lou Reed from his second studio album, "Transformer," released in 1972.
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Original RecordingThe Velvet Underground, Reed's rock band, originally recorded the track in 1969 for their unreleased fourth album, "IV" or "Lost Album."
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Song InspirationThe song was written after the attempted assassination of Reed’s friend and mentor, pop artist Andy Warhol. Hence, the title "Andy's Chest."
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Song About WarholThe track draws upon a number of Warhol's Factory regulars and superstars for its lyrical content, including Edie Sedgwick and Candy Darling.
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Album Producers"Transformer," the album the song is featured on, was co-produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson, both of whom had been profoundly influenced by Reed's work.
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Song StyleMusically, "Andy’s Chest" features a catchy, upbeat melody that contrasts with the darker themes present in the lyricism.
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Song TitleThe song title is derived from the fact that Warhol was shot in the chest during the assassination attempt.
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Velvet Underground VersionThe original Velvet Underground version of "Andy’s Chest," recorded in 1969, remained officially unreleased until it was included in the band’s "VU" compilation in 1985.
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Failed Commercial SuccessDespite the star power behind the album, "Transformer," and its now classic status, the individual track "Andy's Chest" didn't achieve notable chart success upon its initial release.
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Cultural InfluenceToday, "Andy's Chest" is well recognized and respected as an important piece in the catalogue of Lou Reed's career and has played a significant role in shaping alternative rock music.
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Citation
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