Lady Godiva's Operation
Fatima Mansions
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(Lyrics / Music--Lou Reed) Published by MGM Music ([???]) ("Get your fingers in.") Lady Godiva, dressed so demurely Pats the head of another curly-haired boy A spurting pink toy Sick with silence, she weeps sincerely Saying words that have all so clearly been said ("You will do--") So long ago ("--what I tell you.") [...] Here today now and dipped in the water Making love to every poor daughter's son Isn't it fun? "Doctor is coming," the nurse thinks SWEETLY Turning on the machines that NEATLY PUMPS AIR ("Make the incision at the base of the skull.") The body lies bare ("I want you to think of me as someone you can come to with your problems.") Shaved and hairless, what once was SCREAMING Now lies silent and almost sleeping The brain must have got away Strapped securely to the white table Beneath the gauze the body will wither and writhe Underneath the white light Doctor arrives with knife and baggage Sees the growth as just so much cabbage ("Take the bone saw--") That must now be cut away ("--and cut around the perimeter.") Now comes the moment of great, great decision Doctor is making the first incision One goes here and one goes there "Ether tubes are leaking", says someone who's sloppy Patient, it seems, is not so well sleeping The screams echo up the hall Don't panic, someone give him pentathol instantly Doctor removes the blade cagily so from the brain By my count of ten--the head won't move ("And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen--the human brain.") Haaaaa!! Here we go, everybody!! All you fucking bastards!! Yeah!! Haha!! Oh, oh, Lady Godiva My queen of the killing floor Oh, oh, Lady Godiva [...?] in a butcher store La la la la la...
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13 facts about this song
Origin of the Song"Lady Godiva's Operation" is originally a song by The Velvet Underground, an American rock band formed in New York City. The song was later covered by the Irish band, Fatima Mansions.
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Album ReleaseIt is a part of the band’s second studio album "White Light/White Heat," which was released on January 30, 1968.
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Song DurationThe track runs for four minutes and 54 seconds.
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Style of MusicThe Velvet Underground is known for its experimental style and "Lady Godiva's Operation," is representative of that style. It features avant-garde lyrics and a shifting narrative perspective.
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Lyrics ContentThe lyrics of the song provides a detailed, unsettling narrative of a surgical procedure gone wrong.
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Fatima Mansions' CoverPost-punk band Fatima Mansions, led by singer Cathal Coughlan, delivered their own version of "Lady Godiva's Operation" on their 1992 album, "Valhalla Avenue."
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Evocative Nature of the SongThe song's graphic surgical imagery and shifting perspective from third to first person has been noted for creating aural anesthesia, making the listener feel as if they are the one receiving the operation.
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Lou Reed's InspirationIt has been suggested that the song's evocative lyricism reflects the experiences of frontman Lou Reed’s stay in a mental hospital.
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Song ReceptionDespite its dark narrative and unconventional elements, "Lady Godiva's Operation" is considered one of the standout tracks from the "White Light/White Heat" album and has achieved cult status among fans.
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Homage to Lady GodivaThe song’s title refers to an 11-century English noblewoman, Lady Godiva, known for her legendary nude ride through Coventry. Nonetheless, the lyrics of the song do not directly relate to her story.
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Unique StructureInstead of the conventional verse-chorus-verse format, the song primarily consists of two longer verses separated by an instrumental break.
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Diverse InstrumentationThe Velvet Underground's version of the song prominently features John Cale’s viola and Lou Reed's ostrich guitar, an instrument whose strings are all tuned to the same note.
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Music InfluenceEven though "Lady Godiva's Operation" never became a mainstream hit, it has influenced many artists in a variety of genres including alternative rock, punk and garage rock.
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Citation
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"Lady Godiva's Operation Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 26 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/4780671/Fatima+Mansions/Lady+Godiva%27s+Operation>.
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