I'm Waiting for the Man

Lou Reed

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'". 


Year:
1987
3:39
75 
#2

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I'm waiting for my man
Got 26 dollars in my hand
Up to lexington 125
Feelin' sick and dirty
Huh, I'm waiting for my man

Hey white boy, what you doin' uptown
Hey white boy, you chasin' my women around
Pardon me sir, it's furthest from my mind
I'm just waitin' for a dear-dear friend of mine
I'm waiting for my man, come on

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 that you always gotta wait
I'm waiting for my man

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

Hey baby, don't you holler, don't you ball and shout
I'm feeling good, I'm gonna work it on out
I'm feeling good, feeling so fine
Until tomorrow, but that's just some other time
I'm waiting for my man
I'm waiting for my man
I'm waiting for my man
Man-man-man-man-man-man-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 »

5 fans

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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