***Rest in Peace to Holly [Woodlawn] who came from Miami, F-L-A, and who Lou first mentions in the opening lines of the song*** **Congratulations (a long overdue one at that) to the Newest Member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Lou Reed!** *So sad to hear about Lou's passing today at the age of 71. There will never be another one like you Lou. A true original and pioneer. Like The Who said in their Facebook status: "Walk On the Peaceful 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 artist talks so openly about subjects such as oral sex, transvestites, and drug use, there weren't very many others. He was writing about things in a style 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 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

• published: 19 Nov 2009
• views: 19139690