Waiting For the Man

Lou Reed, The Velvet Underground

About Waiting For the Man

"I'm Waiting for the Man" (sometimes titled "I'm Waiting for My Man") is a song by the American rock band the Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed. It was first released on their 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground & Nico. The song is about waiting on a streetcorner in Harlem, near the intersection of Lexington Avenue and 125th Street, in New York City and purchasing $26 worth of heroin (equivalent to $211 in 2019), sung from the point of view of the purchaser, who has presumably traveled to Harlem from another part of the city; the "man" in the title is a drug dealer. Along with traditional guitars, bass, and drums, the song also features pounding, percussive rock-and-roll barrelhouse-style piano. It is one of the band's more popular songs, and one of their many compositions featuring drugs as subject matter. After leaving the band in 1970, Lou Reed continued to incorporate it into his solo live performances. It was released as a single in October 1971 (with "There She Goes Again" on the B-side) credited to "Andy Warhol's Velvet Underground" on MGM Records. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it #159 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The song would go on to influence David Bowie in the writing of his 1977 song "'Heroes'". 


Year:
1988
7:06
530 

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I'm waiting for my man
Twenty-six dollars in my hand
Up to Lexington, 125
Feel sick and dirty, more dead than alive
I'm waiting for my man

Hey, white boy, what you doin' uptown?
Hey, white boy, you chasin' our women around?
Oh pardon me sir, it's the furthest from my mind
I'm just lookin' for a dear, dear friend of mine
I'm waiting for my 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 you always gotta wait
I'm waiting for my man

Up to a Brownstone, up three flights of stairs
Everybody's pinned you, but nobody cares
He's got the works, gives you sweet taste
Ah then you gotta split because you got no time to waste
I'm waiting for my man

Baby don't you holler, darlin' don't you bawl and shout
I'm feeling good, you know I'm gonna work it on out
I'm feeling good, I'm feeling oh so fine
Until tomorrow, but that's just some other time
I'm waiting for my man

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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 »

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Written by: LOU REED

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


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.
David Bowie's Version
David 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.
Inspiration Behind the Song
The 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.
Lou Reed's Performance
Lou 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.
Nico’s Involvement
Although 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.
Critical Reception
The 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.
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.
Cover Versions
The 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.
Bowie's Tribute
After Lou Reed's death in 2013, David Bowie performed "Waiting for the Man" as a tribute to Reed during his concerts.
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.
Documented Rehearsal
The 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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