I'm Waiting for the Man

The Velvet Underground

About I'm 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'". 


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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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The Velvet Underground

The Velvet Underground was an American rock band formed in New York City. First active from 1964 to 1973, their best-known members were Lou Reed and John Cale, who both went on to find success as solo artists. Although experiencing little commercial success while together, the band is often cited by many critics as one of the most important and influential groups of the 1960s. An often-repeated statement, made by Brian Eno in a 1982 interview, is that while the first Velvet Underground album may have sold only 30,000 copies in its early years, "everyone who bought one of those 30,000 copies started a band." more »

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Written by: LOU REED

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Original Artists
"I'm Waiting for the Man" is originally a song by The Velvet Underground from their 1967 debut album, "The Velvet Underground & Nico."
Lou Reed's Role
The song was written by Lou Reed, who was the principal songwriter and lead vocalist of The Velvet Underground.
Nico's Involvement
Nico, a German singer and model, was a collaborator on the debut album, but she did not perform on the track "I’m Waiting for the Man."
Challenging Subject
The song's lyrics reference a man going to buy heroin from a dealer, making its content quite controversial during the time of its release.
Inspiration
Lou Reed said in interviews that he drew inspiration for the song from his own experiences and observations in New York City's drug culture.
David Bowie's Cover
David Bowie covered "I'm Waiting for the Man" numerous times throughout his career, including a version on his 1973 album "Pin Ups."
Influence
The influence of "I’m Waiting for the Man" is significant. It has been hailed as one of the greatest songs of all time and has been widely covered by artists from various genres.
Musically Simple
Despite its heavy subject, the song is simply structured, with two chords, played on a repeating riff.
Live Performances
The Velvet Underground often performed "I’m Waiting for the Man" in concert, and it was one of their most popular songs live.
Album Infamy
"The Velvet Underground & Nico" continues to be regarded as one of the most influential rock albums of all time, despite initial poor sales and widespread indifference or hostility from contemporary critics.

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