Dirty Blvd.

Lou Reed

About Dirty Blvd.

"Dirty Blvd." is a Lou Reed song from his 1989 album, New York. The song contrasts the poor and the rich in New York City, and topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for four weeks in early 1989. Live versions appear on Perfect Night: Live in London and Animal Serenade. "Dirty Blvd." was one of the four songs Reed performed with David Bowie on the latter's 50th birthday celebration in 1997. The song features a three-chord progression, a repeated sequence of G D A D.


Year:
1998
6:06
940 
#3

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Pedro lives out of the Wilshire Hotel
he looks out a window without glass
The walls are made of cardboard, newspapers on his feet
his father beats him 'cause he's too tired to beg

He's got 9 brothers and sisters
they're brought up on their knees
it's hard to run when a coat hanger beats you on the thighs
Pedro dreams of being older and killing the old man
but that's a slim chance he's going to the boulevard

He's going to end up, on the dirty boulevard
he's going out, to the dirty boulevard
He's going down, to the dirty boulevard

This room cost 2,000 dollars a month
you can believe it man it's true
somewhere a landlord's laughing till he wets his pants
No one here dreams of being a doctor or a lawyer or anything
they dream of dealing on the dirty boulevard

Give me your hungry, your tired your poor I'll piss on 'em
that's what the Statue of Bigotry says
Your poor huddled masses, let's club 'em to death
and get it over with and just dump 'em on the boulevard

Get to end up, on the dirty boulevard
going out, to the dirty boulevard
He's going down, on the dirty boulevard
going out

Outside it's a bright night
there's an opera at Lincoln Center
movie stars arrive by limousine
The klieg lights shoot up over the skyline of Manhattan
but the lights are out on the Mean Streets

A small kid stands by the Lincoln Tunnel
he's selling plastic roses for a buck
The traffic's backed up to 39th street
the TV whores are calling the cops out for a suck

And back at the Wilshire, Pedro sits there dreaming
he's found a book on magic in a garbage can
He looks at the pictures and stares at the cracked ceiling
"At the count of 3" he says, "I hope I can disappear"

And fly fly away, from this dirty boulevard
I want to fly, from dirty boulevard
I want to fly, from dirty boulevard
I want to fly-fly-fly-fly, from dirty boulevard

I want to fly away
I want to fly
Fly, fly away
I want to fly
Fly-fly away (Fly a-)
fly-fly-fly (-way, ooohhh...)
Fly-fly away (I want to fly-fly away)
fly away (I want to fly, wow-woh, no, fly away)

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Lou Reed

Lewis Allan "Lou" Reed (born March 2, 1942) is an American rock musician, songwriter, and photographer. He is best known as guitarist, vocalist, and principal songwriter of The Velvet Underground, and for his solo career, which has spanned several decades. Though the Velvet Underground were a commercial failure in the late 1960s, the group has gained a considerable cult following in the years since its demise and has gone on to become one of the most widely cited and influential bands of the era. As the Velvet Underground's principal songwriter, Reed wrote about subjects of personal experience that rarely had been examined so openly in rock and roll, including sexuality and drug culture. more »

5 fans

Written by: LEWIS ALLEN REED, LOU REED

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Incorrect Artist
Despite the common perception, "Dirty Blvd." is actually a solo song by Lou Reed, not a collaboration with David Bowie, although they have worked together in the past.
Album Release
"Dirty Blvd." is part of Lou Reed's 1989 album, titled "New York."
Chart Performance
The song registered remarkable success as it topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for four weeks in 1989.
Song Theme
"Dirty Blvd." is reflective of Lou Reed's often dark and gritty narrative songwriting style. The lyrics discuss the harsh realities of life in New York City, particularly for the marginalized individuals.
Acclaim
The Rolling Stone magazine recognized the song as one of the standout tracks from the "New York" album, attributing its success to the 'details of urban life's grimmer side'.
Bowie Connection
While David Bowie didn't contribute directly to "Dirty Blvd.", he was notably a close friend and collaborator of Lou Reed. Bowie even produced Reed's transformer album, which included the popular Reed song, "Walk on the Wild Side." Their artistic styles often intersected, and they greatly influenced each other's work.
Cover Versions
It's interesting to note that numerous artists have covered "Dirty Blvd." over the years, including Alejandro Escovedo and the band Luna, showcasing its lasting influence in the music scene.
Album Concept
“New York,” the album that features "Dirty Blvd.," was described by Reed as a type of literary novel, exploring various aspects of New York City life. Each song is intended to be a chapter in that novel.
Tribute
After Lou Reed’s death in 2013, artists like Phish and Pearl Jam performed "Dirty Blvd." in tribute to the late musician.
Quality Recognition
The album "New York" was awarded the gold certification by RIAA and "Dirty Blvd." as its lead single played a significant role in this achievement.

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