Sister Ray
The Velvet Underground
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Doc and Sally inside They're cooking for the down five Who's staring at Miss Rayon Who's busy licking up her pig pen I'm searching for my mainline I said I couldn't hit it sideways I said I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, just like Sister Ray said Whip it on Rosie and Miss Rayon They're busy waiting for her booster Who just got back from Carolina She said she didn't like the weather They're busy waiting for her sailor Who's big and dressed in pink and leather He's just here from Alabama He wants to know a way to earn a dollar I'm searching for my mainer I said I couldn't hit it sideways I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, just like Sister Ray said Play it on Cecil's got his new piece He cocks and shoots it between three and four He aims it at the sailor Shoots him down dead on the floor Oh, you shouldn't do that Don't you know you'll stain the carpet? Now don't you know you'll stain the carpet And by the way, have you got a dollar? Oh, no, man, I haven't got the time-time Too busy sucking on a ding-dong She's busy sucking on my ding-dong Oh, she does just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I said I c-c-c-ouldn't hit it sideways I c-c-c-c-c-c-couldn't hit it sideways Oh do it, do it, oh just, just, just do it, bless Sister Ray sir, go on! Oh Now, who is that knocking? Who's knocking at my chamber door? Now could it be the police? They come and take me for a ride-ride Oh, but I haven't got the time-time Hey, hey, hey, she's busy sucking on my ding-dong She's busy sucking on my ding-dong Oh, now, do it just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I couldn't hit it sideways I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, now, just like Oh, just like Oh, just like Oh, just like Oh, just like Oh, just like Doc and sally inside, now move it along! Cooking for the down five Who's staring at Miss Rayon, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it! licking up pig pen I've been s-s-s-s-searching for my mainline I couldn't hit it sideways I couldn't hit it sideways Just like Oh, just like, do it, do it, do it! Just like Just like that Just like Now Rosie and Miss Rayon They're busy waiting for her booster She's just back from Carolina She says she's bound to meet a sailor I said you haven't got the time-time You're busy sucking on my ding-dong You're busy sucking on my ding-dong Now, just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I said I couldn't hit it sideways Whip it on me Jim, whip it on me Jim Whip it on me Jim, whip it on me Jim Said I couldn't hit it sideways, oh, do it! Yeah, just like, yeah just like Sister Ray said I said now Cecil's got his new piece He cocks and shoots it, bang! between three and four He aims it at the sailor He shoots him down dead on the floor Oh, you shouldn't do that, don't you know you'll hit the carper, don't you know you'll mess the carpet Oh, she hasn't got the time-time Busy sucking on his ding-dong She's busy sucking on his ding-dong Yeah, just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline Couldn't hit it sideways Couldn't hit it sideways Now just like Now just like Now just like, like Sister Ray said, now do it to him! Doc and Sally inside They're busy cooking for the down five, oh Who's staring at Miss Rayon Busy licking up her pig pen I'm busy searching for my mainline I said I couldn't hit it sideways I said I couldn't hit it sideways Now just like Now just like I said oh, oh, just like Am-ph-ph-ph-ph-phetamine
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: Sterling Morrison, Maureen Tucker, John Cale, Lou Reed
Lyrics © GARNANT MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
14 facts about this song
Release Date"Sister Ray" was originally released in January 1968.
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AlbumIt is a part of the iconic album "White Light/White Heat" by The Velvet Underground.
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Song LengthThe song is 17 minutes and 27 seconds long, making it one of the longest songs by the band.
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LyricsThe lyrics of the song deal with controversial themes such as drug usage, violence, and sexual behavior.
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Composer"Sister Ray" was composed by the entire band, including John Cale, Sterling Morrison, Lou Reed, and Maureen Tucker.
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Playing StyleIt is characterized by its continuous, cacophonous wall of sound, unusual even for the band's experimental style.
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Live PerformancesDuring live performances, the band often used "Sister Ray" as a jamming song, extending its already long duration even further.
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Name OriginThe title "Sister Ray" was inspired by a character from the play "The Blacks" by Jean Genet.
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Studio RecordingThe song was reportedly recorded in a single take, and the recording engineer left midway through the song due to its intense noise level.
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Legacy"Sister Ray" is considered as a pivotal influence on the development of genres like punk, noise rock, and industrial music.
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CoversVarious other artists have covered "Sister Ray" over the years, including Joy Division, Grateful Dead, and Sonic Youth.
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Pioneer SongIt was unconventional at its time of release and is regarded as a pioneer in the use of feedback, distortion, and other audio effects.
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Variation in PerformancesThe Velvet Underground's performances of the song often varied greatly, with different lyrics and structures.
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Song Structure"Sister Ray" is notable for lacking a traditional verse-chorus-verse structure.
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Citation
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