The Velvet Underground - Run Run Run

The Velvet Underground and Nico

Studio album by The Velvet Underground & Nico

The Velvet Underground and Nico is the debut album by experimental rock band The Velvet Underground and vocal collaborator Nico. It was originally released in March 1967 by Verve Records, a subsidiary of MGM Records.

Recorded in 1966 during Andy Warhol's Exploding Plastic Inevitable multimedia event tour, The Velvet Underground and Nico would gain notoriety for its experimentalist performance sensibilities, as well as its focus on controversial subject matter in songs such as "Heroin".

Though largely ignored upon its release, it has since become one of the most influential and critically lauded rock albums in history, appearing as #13 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time[1] as well as being added to the 2006 National Recording Registry by the Librarian of Congress.

The Velvet Underground and Nico is sometimes referred to as the "banana album" as it features a Warhol print of a banana on the cover. Early copies of the album invited the owner to "Peel slowly and see"; peeling back the banana skin revealed a flesh-colored banana underneath. A special machine was needed to manufacture these covers (one of the causes of the album's delayed release), but MGM paid for costs figuring that any ties to Warhol would boost sales of the album.[6][3]

On the 1996 CD reissue, the banana image is on the front cover while the image of the peeled banana is on the inside of the jewel case, beneath the CD itself.

Much of the album's sound was conceived by John Cale, who stressed the experimental qualities of the band. Cale, who was influenced greatly by his work with La Monte Young, John Cage and the early Fluxus movement, encouraged the use of alternative ways of producing sound in music. Cale thought his sensibilities meshed well with Lou Reed's, who was already experimenting with alternative tunings. For instance, Reed had "invented" the ostrich guitar tuning for a song he wrote called "The Ostrich" for the short-lived band The Primitives. Ostrich guitar tuning consists of all strings being tuned to the same note. The method was utilized on songs "Venus in Furs" and "All Tomorrow's Parties". Often, the guitars were also tuned down a whole step, which produced a lower, fuller sound that Cale called "sexy".

Track History: The song was written on the back of an envelope by Lou Reed while he and the band were on their way to a gig at the Café Bizarre.[1] The song details a number of characters living in New York City, including Teenage Mary, Margarita Passion, Seasick Sarah, and Beardless Harry; all of whom are detailed using or seeking drugs. In addition to mentioning New York scenery such as Union Square and 47th Street, the song makes use of drug terms paired with religious imagery. The song is also well known because of Lou Reed's guitar solo, because of its 'total lack of convention'.

Lyrics: Teenage mary said to uncle dave
I sold my soul, must be saved
Gonna take a walk down to union square
You never know who youre gonna find there

You gotta run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy death and you
Tell you whatcha do

Marguerita passion had to get her fix
She wasnt well, she was getting sick
Went to sell her soul, she wasnt high
Didnt know, thinks she could buy it

And she would run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy death and you
Tell you whatcha do

Seasick sarah had a golden nose
Hobnail boots wrapped around her toes
When she turned blue, all the angels screamed
They didnt know, they couldnt make the scene

She had to run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy death and you
Tell you whatcha do

Beardless harry, what a waste
Couldnt even get a small-town taste
Rode the trolleys down to forty-seven
Figured he was good to get himself to heaven

cause he had to run, run, run, run, run
Take a drag or two
Run, run, run, run, run
Gypsy death and you
Tell you whatcha do

Category:

Music

Tags:

• The
• Velvet
• Underground
• 1966
• 1967
• Andy
• Warhol
• Lou
• Reed
• Banana
• Album
• Nico
• Rock

[JaggedSplinter]

This song makes me want to get a huge gang of friends round to my house and smoke joints the size of a Gorilla's middle finger.

Love it.

[MrBrooke66]

when she turned blue all the angels screamed

[lightngo]

Vinjak delirium and cover with some joints with match on PES game!

[richiek1992]

This sounds like a Vintage shop.

[ThePnutNo1]

...running.

[13Geffen]

ahhh YES good shit

[hermygagala]

@sctt44 Doesn't matter it doesn't have to be about anything. It's the fuckin Velvets the greatest psycedellic band of all time. By The way i don't know lol. Fuckin rock on man.

[hermygagala]

Fuckin Velvets How can you go wrong The Greatest Psycedellic band of all time. Fuckin rights.

[sctt44]

whats this song about????

[liviaa582]

i'll bet a hundred dollars that the kills got the title of their song 'gypsy death and you' from this song.

[mussman717word]

@BowskiBig

I wasn't referring to the "mumbling." I was referring to the style of blues this song presents, and some of Lou's phrasing here. And, fuck you for dissing Neil, you faggot.

[mussman717word]

@BowskiBig

This is the only Velvet song I commented on about Dylan, as far as my memory goes. Major props to you, sir, for mentioning Link Wray, though.