Sister Ray
Lou Reed · Other Songs - Lou Reed
They took her forty down five
Who's laying in the graveyard
She's licking up her pig pen
Oh, you shouldn't do that
Don't you know you'll stain the carpet
Oh man, don't you know you'll stain the carpet
Ain't that just like sister ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
Oh babe, I couldn't hit it sideways
Yeah-yeah-yeah-yeah, I couldn't hit it, hit it sideways
Then i, woh-oh, not that just like sister ray said
Now rosie's got a new piece
She cocks and shoots it bang between three and four
Oh, she aims it at the sailor
Shoots her down dead on the floor
You shouldn't do that
Now don't you know you'll stain the carpet
No baby, don't you know you'll stain the carpet
And by the way you got a dollar
I'm searching for my mainline
'cause, baby-baby, hit it, oh, sideways
Hey baby now, I couldn't hit it sideways
Now ....
Oh baby, it's like sister ray said
Give it to me, babe
Who is that knocking
Who's knocking on my chamber door
Could it be the police
They come and take me for a ride
I haven't got the time-time
She's, ah baby, sucking on my ding-dong
She's sucking on my ding-dong
Oh, just like sister ray said
But I'm searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it, oh, side, oh, sideways
I said I couldn't, I couldn't
I couldn't hit it sideways
Just like
Baby, just like that
Baby, just like now
'cause just like sister ray
About Sister Ray
Lou Reed's "Sister Ray" stands as a defining masterpiece of the 1972 album *Transformer*, showcasing his ability to blend rock with avant-garde experimentation. The track features a distinctive, looping guitar riff that builds into a chaotic, psychedelic crescendo, reflecting the band's exploration of sound as an end in itself rather than mere accompaniment. Recorded during a period when Reed was pushing the boundaries of the electric guitar, the song captures a frenetic energy that anticipates the noise rock movement of the 1980s. Its structure, characterized by abrupt shifts in tempo and volume, creates a hypnotic and unsettling atmosphere that remains a staple of progressive and experimental rock. The recording exemplifies Reed's commitment to capturing the raw, unfiltered intensity of live performance, cementing his legacy as a visionary figure in American music history.

