Dirty Blvd.
Lou Reed
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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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Written by: LEWIS ALLEN REED, LOU REED
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Incorrect ArtistDespite 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.
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Album Release"Dirty Blvd." is part of Lou Reed's 1989 album, titled "New York."
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Chart PerformanceThe song registered remarkable success as it topped the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart for four weeks in 1989.
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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.
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AcclaimThe 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'.
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Bowie ConnectionWhile 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.
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Cover VersionsIt'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.
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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.
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TributeAfter Lou Reed’s death in 2013, artists like Phish and Pearl Jam performed "Dirty Blvd." in tribute to the late musician.
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Quality RecognitionThe 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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Citation
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"Dirty Blvd. Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 25 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1974751/Lou+Reed/Dirty+Blvd.>.
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