Lou Reed - Walk On The Wild Side

"Walk On The Wild Side" from Lou Reed's 1972 second solo album, Transformer, after leaving the Velvet Underground did not chart in the top 10 on Billboard. Some of the songs that year that did chart in the top 10 were: Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Alone Again (Naturally)," Mac Davis "Don't Get Hooked On Me," and Wayne Newton "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast." I'd say "Walk On The Wild Side" is just as memorable, if not more so than those ones. My favorite part of the song is probably the saxophone solo at the end 3:44.

To say the least, this song was highly controversial when it came out considering it is about transvestites who come to NYC for prostitution. They would say to their potential customers, "Take a walk on the wild side!" Lou Reed once said about the song: "I always thought it would be fun to introduce people to characters they maybe hadn't met before, or hadn't wanted to meet." What an amazing storyteller and lyrical genius Lou Reed was.

Try to find another song from this time period where the artists talks about "giving head," I doubt you can find another! He was writing about things that, frankly, almost no other artist at that time would even consider writing or singing about. Lou was well before his time, and has inspired countless artists from all genres. What a classic, classic song! Still no song like it to this day. What other artist other than Lou could get away with lyrics like: "And the colored girls go doo do doo, doo do doo, doo do doo"?! The lyrics are way too clever and fun not to post in the description so here they are:

Lyrics:

Holly came from Miami, F.L.A.
Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she
She says, 'Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side'
He said, 'Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side'

Candy came from out on the island
In the backroom she was everybody's darlin'
But she never lost her head
Even when she was giving head
She says, 'Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side'
He said, 'Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side'

And the colored girls go
Doo do doo, doo do doo, doo do doo

Little Joe never once gave it away
Everybody had to pay and pay
A hustle here and a hustle there
New York City's the place where they said
'Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side'
I said, 'Hey Joe, take a walk on the wild side'

Sugar plum fairy came and hit the streets
Lookin' for soul food and a place to eat
Went to the Apollo, you should've seen 'em go go go
They said, 'Hey sugar, take a walk on the wild side'
I said, 'Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side'
Alright, huh

Jackie is just speeding away
Thought she was James Dean for a day
Then I guess she had to crash
Valium would have helped that bash
She said, 'Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side'
I said, 'Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side'

And the colored girls say
Doo do doo, doo do doo, doo do doo

• Category

  Music

[petermosherthepoet]

Lou Reed is an American treasure and should be enjoyed whenever possible.

[Princeboy99]

Thank you for the kind words. That is much appreciated, especially since many people come on here and don't post kind words. It's nice to see people who truly RESPECT Lou and his music. A lot of amazing music in our lifetime has been influenced by Lou and his unique style and it's a wonderful thing!

[Zach Ihle]

im sorry but i love that atcq sampled this...

[Princeboy99]

Yes, I hear that. ATCQ sampled a few great classic rock songs in their day. They usually did a good job with them as well, unlike most Hip-Hop samples of Classic Rock and Oldies. That being said, nothing beats this original song right here. This song is so bad ass in every way, and there's no doubt about it that it pissed a lot of conservative people off back in 1972. That's vintage Lou Reed though for you, in true Rock and Roll style: he could care less what anyone thinks

[tarusha3]

oh god.. i´m so happy that i have good taste of music.. love it :)

[FridayThe13thJasonX]

*coloured* Who do you Americans think they are changing our language? (:

[FelipeDexi]

thanks for the nice photo slide, i enjoyed it a lot. ^_^

[Scott Utley]

lou is american - so it's colored girls

[Scott Utley]

first time? wow that's genius you just heard - and you are heading for the most wonderful life

[tsudneveSCold]

This is a nicer side of Lou I haven't heard (I am pretty young still). Nice chilled song, I like it. Just keep away from that Lulu type stuff. That was awful...

[Josh Campbell]

wow, just listened to this for the first time...great song..blew my mind.

[kentishsteve]

A great bass player

[FridayThe13thJasonX]

coloured girls