Street Hassle

Lou Reed

About Street Hassle

"Street Hassle" is a song recorded by Lou Reed for his 1978 album of the same name. It is 10 minutes and 56 seconds long and divided into three distinct sections: "Waltzing Matilda," "Street Hassle," and "Slipaway." Part one, "Waltzing Matilda," describes a woman picking up and paying a male prostitute. In Part Two, "Street Hassle," a drug dealer speaks at length about the death of a woman in his apartment to her companion. Part Three, "Slipaway," contains a brief, uncredited, spoken word section by Bruce Springsteen (from 9:02 to 9:39) and a dirge sung by Reed about love and death. It was recorded in E major. On the live album Animal Serenade, Reed says: "I wanted to write a song that had a great monologue set to rock. Something that could have been written by William Burroughs, Hubert Selby, John Rechy, Tennessee Williams, Nelson Algren, maybe a little Raymond Chandler. You mix it all up and you have 'Street Hassle'." Critics have described the song as being largely motivated by and representative of the end of Reed's three-year relationship with Rachel Humphreys, a trans woman who died in 1990, likely of AIDS, and was buried in NYC's Potter's Field. Biographer Anthony DeCurtis summarizes the song as “something of a requiem for Reed and Rachel's relationship.” In a 1979 article for Rolling Stone, Mikal Gilmore refers to Rachel as the "raison d'être" for the entire album.“Street Hassle" was included in 2008's The Pitchfork Media 500: Our Guide to the Greatest Songs from Punk to the Present. 


Year:
2004
6:59
54 

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Waltzing Matilda whipped out her wallet
The sexy boy smiled in dismay
She took out four twenties 'cause she liked round figures
Everybody's a queen for a day
Oh, babe, I'm on fire and you know how I admire your
Body why don't we slip away
Although I'm sure you're certain, it's a rarity me flirtin'
Sha-la-la-la, this way

Oh, sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la
Hey, baby, come on, let's slip away

Luscious and gorgeous, oh what a hunk of muscle
Call out the national guard
She creamed in her jeans as he picked up her means
From off of the formica topped bar
And cascading slowly, he lifted her wholly
And boldly out of this world
And despite people's derision
Proved to be more than diversion
Sha-la-la-la, later on

And then sha-la-la-la-la, he entered her slowly
And showed her where he was coming from
And then sha-la-la-la-la, he made love to her gently
It was like she'd never ever come
And then sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la
When the sun rose and he made to leave
You know, sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la
Neither one regretted a thing

Street hassle
Hey, that cunt's not breathing
I think she's had too much
Of something or other, hey, man, you know what I mean
I don't mean to scare you
But you're the one who came here
And you're the one who's gotta take her when you leave
I'm not being smart
Or trying to be cold on my part
And I'm not gonna wear my heart on my sleeve
But you know people get all emotional
And sometimes, man, they just don't act rational
They think they're just on TV

Sha-la-la-la, man
Why don't you just slip

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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


7 facts about this song

Historical Significance
"Street Hassle" is a song by American rock musician Lou Reed, featured on his eighth studio album of the same name released in 1978. - Notably, the song is one of the earliest uses of binaural recording technology in popular music production.
Song Composition
The song is over 11 minutes long, making it the longest track on the album. It's broken into three distinct sections: "Waltzing Matilda," "Street Hassle," and "Slipaway." Each section features a different rhythm, melody, and lyric content. - Lou Reed weaves a complex narrative with his lyrics, painting a gritty picture of urban life, loss, and love.
Notable Collaboration
Distinctively, "Street Hassle" includes a spoken-word segment performed by Bruce Springsteen. This part is considered as one of the earliest collaborations between the two iconic musicians. - However, Springsteen was not officially credited for his contribution due to contract restrictions with his record label.
Recognition and Contribution to Music
For many critics and fans, "Street Hassle" represents one of Lou Reed's most significant contributions to rock music, providing an uncompromising look at city life. - The track stands out due to its vivid lyrical imagery, unconventional structure, and innovative use of binaural technology. - In the book "Lou Reed: A Life," biographer Anthony DeCurtis notes the song as one of Reed's "most astonishing achievements."
Song Performance
"Street Hassle" is not often performed, likely due to its length and complex structure. Despite its rarity in the performance setlist, it remained a fan favorite. - The live versions often vary, with Reed sometimes introducing new verses or altering existing lyrics.
Influence on Other Artists
The song has influenced many artists, including The Killers. They often quote lyrics from "Street Hassle" in their song "A Dustland Fairytale" during live performances. - Thom Yorke of Radiohead cited "Street Hassle" as an influence on his songwriting, comparing it to a short film.
Cultural References
Verses from "Street Hassle" have been quoted and sampled in other media. Notably, the spoken word section performed by Bruce Springsteen is used in the opening credits of the film "He Died with a Felafel in His Hand." - The song's effect on listeners resonates in its use in key scenes on television shows like "The Deuce" on HBO.

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