Velvet Underground : White Light, White Heat

(White light) White light goin' messin' up my mind

(White light) And don't you know it's gonna make me go blind

(White heat) Aw, white heat it tickle me down to my toes

(White light) Ooh have mercy white light have it goodness knows (White light) White light goin' messin' up my brain (White light) Aw, white light it's gonna drive me insane (White heat) Aw, white heat it tickle me down to my toes (White light) Aw, white light I said now goodness knows, do it

Hmm hmm, white light

Aw, I surely do love to watch that stuff tip itself in

Hmm hmm, White light

Watch that side, watch that side don't you know it gonna be dead in the drive

Hmm hmm, White heat

Hey foxy mama watchin' her walk down the street

Hmm hmm, White light

Come up side your head gonna make a dead end on your street (White light) White light goin' messin' up my brain (White light) Aw, white light it's gonna drive me insane (White heat) Aw, white heat it tickle me down to my toes (White light) Aw, white light I said now goodness knows, do it White light, White light goin' messin' up my brain White light, Aw, white light it's gonna drive me insane White heat, Aw, white heat it tickle me down to my toes White light, Aw, white light I said now goodness knows, do it Hmm hmm, White light Aw, I surely do love to watch that stuff tip itself in Hmm hmm, White light Watch that side, watch that side don't you know it gonna be dead in the drive Hmm hmm, White heat Hey foxy mama watchin' her walk down the street Hmm hmm, White light Come up side your head gonna make a dead end on your street

The Gift

| Waldo Jeffers had reached his limit. It was now mid August, which meant that he had been separated from Marsha for more than two months. Two months, and all he had to show were three dog-eared letters and two very expensive long distance phone calls. True when school had ended and she had returned to Wisconsin and he to Locust, Pennsylvania she had sworn to maintain a certain fidelity. She would date occasionally but merely as amusement. She would remain faithful. But lately, Waldo had begun to worry. He had trouble sleeping at night, and when he did, he had horrible dreams. He lay awake at night, tossing and turning underneath his pleated quilted protector, tears welling in his eyes as he pictured Marsha, her sworn vows overcome by liquor and the smooth soothing of some Neanderthal, finally submitting to the final caresses of sexual oblivion. It was more than a human mind could bear. Visions of Marsha's faithlessness haunted him. Daytime fantasies of sexual abandon permeated his thoughts, and the thing was, they wouldn't understand how she really was. He, Waldo, alone understood this. He had intuitively grasped every nook and cranny of her psyche. He'd made her smile, she needed him, and he wasn't there. The idea came to him on the Thursday before the Mummer's parade was scheduled to appear. He'd just finished mowing and edging Edison's lawn for a dollar fifty and then checked the mailbox to see if there was at least a word from Marsha. There was nothing but a circular from The Amalgamated Aluminum Company of America inquiring into his awning needs. At least they cared enough to write. It was a New York company. You can go anywhere in the mails. Then it struck him. He didn't have enough money to go to Wisconsin in the accepted fashion, true, but why not mail himself? It was absurdly simple. He would ship himself, parcel post special delivery. The next day Waldo went to the supermarket to purchase the necessary equipment. He bought masking tape, a staple gun, and a medium sized cardboard box just right for a person of his build. He judged that with a minimum of jostling, he could ride quite comfortably. A few air holes, some water, perhaps some midnight snacks, and it would probably be as good as going tourist. By Friday afternoon, Waldo was set. He was thoroughly packed and the post office had agreed to pick him up at three o'clock. He had marked the package "fragile" and as he sat curled up inside, resting on the foam rubber cushioning he'd thoughtfully included, he tried to picture the look of awe and happiness on Marsha's face as she opened her door, saw the package, tipped the deliverer, and then opened it to see her Waldo finally there in person. She would kiss him, and then maybe they could see a movie. If he'd only thought of this before. Suddenly rough hands gripped his package and he felt himself borne up. He landed with a thud in a truck and was off. Marsha Bronson had just finished setting her hair. It had been a very rough weekend. She had to remember not to drink like that. Bill had been nice about it, though. After it was over, he said he still respected her, and after all it was certainly the way of nature, and even though, no, he didn't love her, he did feel an affection for her. And after all they were grown adults. Oh, what Bill could teach Waldo. But that seemed many years ago. Sheila Klein, her very very best friend walked in through the porch screen door and into the kitchen. "Oh God, it's absolutely maudlin outside." "Ahh, I know what you mean, I feel all icky." Marsha tightened the belt on her cotton robe with the silk outer edge. Sheila ran her finger over some salt grains on the kitchen table, Licked her finger and made a face. "I'm supposed to be taking these salt pills, but" she wrinkled her nose "they make me feel like throwing up." Marsha started to pat herself under the chin, an exercise she'd seen on television. "God, don't even talk about that." She got up from the table and went to the sink, where she picked up a bottle of pink and blue vitamins. "Want one? Supposed to be better than steak," and then attempted to touch her knees. "I don't think I'll ever touch a Daiquiri again." She gave up and sat down, this time nearer the small table that supported the telephone. "Maybe Bill will call," she said to Sheila's glance. Sheila nibbled on her cuticle. "After last night, I thought you'd be through with him." "I know what you mean. My god, he was like an octopus, hands all over the place!" she gestured raising her arms upwards in defense. "The thing is, after a while you're tired of fighting with him you know, and after all I didn't really do anything Friday and Saturday, so I kind of owed it to him, you know what I mean." She started to scratch. Sheila was giggling with her hand over her mouth. "I tell you, I felt the same way and even, after a while," here she bent forward in a whisper, "I wanted to." Now she was laughing very loudly. It was at this point that Mr Jameson, of the Clarence Darrow Post Office, rang the doorbell of the large stucco-covered frame house. When Marsha Bronson opened the door, he helped her carry the package in. He had his yellow and his green slips of paper signed, and left with a fifteen cent tip that Marsha had gotten out of her mother's small beige pocketbook in the den. "What do you think it is?" Sheila asked. Marsha stood with her arms folded behind her back. She stared at the brown cardboard carton that sat in the middle of the living room. "I don't know." Inside the package, Waldo quivered with excitement as he listened to the muffled voices. Sheila ran her nail over the masking tape that ran down the center of the carton. "Why don't you look at the return address and see who it's from." Waldo felt his heart beating. He could feel the vibrating footsteps. It would be soon. Marsha walked around the carton and read the ink-scratched label. "Ahh, God, It's from Waldo!" "That schmuck," said Sheila. Waldo trembled with expectation. "Well, you might as well open it," said Sheila, and both of them tried to lift the stapled flap. "Oh", said Marsha groaning, "he must have nailed it shut." They tugged on the flap again. "My god you need a power drill to get this thing open." They pulled again. "You can't get a grip." They both stood still breathing heavily. "Why don't you get a scissor," said Sheila. Marsha ran into the kitchen, but all she could find was a little sewing scissor. Then she remembered that her father kept a collection of tools in the basement. She ran downstairs, and when she came back up, she had a large sheet-metal cutter in her hand. "This is the best I could find." She was very out of breath. "Here, you do it, I think I'm gonna die." She sank into her large fluffy couch and exhaled noisily. Sheila tried to make a slit between the masking tape and the end of the cardboard flap, But the blade was too big and there wasn't enough room. "Goddamn this thing," she said, feeling very exasperated. Then, smiling, "I got an idea." "What?" said Marsha. "Just watch," said Sheila, touching her finger to her head. Inside the package, Waldo was so transfixed with excitement that he could barely breathe. His skin felt prickly from the heat and he could feel his heart beating in his throat. It would be soon. Sheila stood quite upright and walked around to the other side of the package. Then she sank down to her knees, grasped the cutter by both handles, took a deep breath, and plunged the long blade through the middle of the package, through the masking tape, through the cardboard, through the cushioning, and right through the center of Waldo Jeffers' head which split slightly and caused little rhythmic arcs of red to pulsate gently in the morning sun.

Lady Godiva's Operation

Lady Godiva here dressed so demurely Pats the heads of another curly-hair boy Just another toy Sick with silence, she weeps sincerely Saying words that have all so clearly been said So long ago Draperies wrapped gently round her shoulder Life has made her that much bolder now That she's found out how Dressed in silk, latin lace and envy Pride and joy of the latest penny fair Pretty passing care Hair today now dipped in the water Making love to every poor daughter's son Isn't it fun Now today, propping grace with envy Lady Godiva peers to see if anyone's there And hasn't a care Doctor is coming the nurse thinks sweetly Turning on the machine that neatly pump air The body lies bare Shaved and hairless what once was screaming Now lies silent and almost sleeping The brain must have gone away Strapped securely to the white table Ether caused the body to wither and writhe Underneath the white light Doctor arrives, with knife and baggage Sees the growth as just so much cabbage That must now be cut away Now comes the moment of great, great decision The doctor is making his first incision One goes here, one goes there "The ether tube's 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 his blade cagily so from the brain By my count of ten, the head won't move

Here She Comes Now

Dsus4

| |

Dsus4

| Now, if she ever comes now, now If she ever comes now, now If she ever comes now |

Dsus4

| Now, if she ever comes now, now If she ever comes now, now If she ever comes now, now |

| Oh, it looks so good Oh, she's made out of wood

Just look and see |

Dsus4

| Now, if she ever comes now, now If she ever comes now, now If she ever comes now Now, if she ever comes now, now If she ever comes now, now If she ever comes now Oh, it looks so good Oh, she's made out of wood Just look and see |

Dsus4

| Oh, it's made out of wood Just look and see now If she ever comes, if she ever comes now Now, now, now, now If she ever, ever, ever comes now, now If she ever, ever, ever comes now, now If she ever comes now, now, now, now If she ever, if she ever, if she ever If she ever comes now, now, now If she ever, if she ever, if she ever If she ever, if she ever comes now, now If she ever, if she ever

I Heard Her Call My Name

Here she comes now, now

Gone, gone, gone

Ready, ready, ready, ready, ready

Got my eyes wide open

Ever since I was on cripples Monday

Got my eyeballs on my knees, aw, my baby walkin'

After hours with Mad Mary Williams

Said she never understood a word from me, because...

I know that she cares about me

I heard her call my name

And I know that she's long dead and gone

Still she ain't the same

When I wake up in the morning mama

I heard her call my name

I know that she's gone, gone, gone

I heard her call my name

And then my mind split open...

Here she comes now, now

Gone, gone, gone

Ready, ready, ready, ready, ready

Got my eyes wide open

Ever since I was on cripples Monday

Got my eyeballs on my knees, aw, my baby walkin'

After hours with Mad Mary Williams

Said she never understood a word from me, because...

I know that she cares about me

I heard her call my name

And I know that she's long dead and gone

Still she ain't the same

When I wake up in the morning mama

I heard her call my name

I know that she's gone, gone, gone

I heard her call my name

And then my mind split open...

Sister Ray

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| Duck and Sally inside They're cooking for the down five |

| Who's staring at Miss Rayon Who's busy licking up her pig pen |

| I'm searching for my mainline |

| I said I couldn't hit it sideways I said I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, just like Sister Ray said Whip it on |

| Rosie and Miss Rayon They're busy waiting for her booster Who just got back from Carolina She said she didn't like the weather They're busy waiting for her sailor Who's drinking dressed in pink and leather He's just here from Alabama He wants to know a way to earn a dollar I'm searching for my mainer I said I couldn't hit it sideways I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, just like Sister Ray said Play it on Cecil's got his new piece He cocks and shoots it between three and four He aims it at the sailor Shoots him down dead on the floor Oh, you shouldn't do that Don't you know you'll stain the carpet Now don't you know you'll stain the carpet And by the way, have you got a dollar Oh no man, I haven't got the time, time Too busy sucking on a ding-dong She's busy sucking on my ding-dong Oh, she does just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I said I couldn't hit it sideways I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, do it, do it Oh, just, just, just, just, just, just like Sister Ray said ... Oh Now who is that knocking Who's knocking at my chamber door Now could it be the police They come and take me for a ride, ride Oh, but I haven't got the time, time Hey, hey, hey, she's busy sucking on my ding-dong She's busy sucking on my ding-dong Oh, now do it just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I couldn't hit it sideways I couldn't hit it sideways Oh now just like Oh just like Oh just like Oh just like Oh just like Oh just like Duck and Sally inside, now move it on Cooking for the down five Who's staring at Miss Rayon Do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, hey Licking up her pig pen I'm just searching for my mainline I couldn't hit it sideways I couldn't hit it sideways Just like, oh Just like, do it, do it, do it Just like Just like, hey Just like Now Rosie and Miss Rayon They're busy waiting for her booster She's just back from Carolina She said she bound be a sailor I said she haven't got the time, time You're busy sucking on my ding-dong You're busy sucking on my ding-dong Now just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I said that couldn't hit it sideways Whip it on me Jim Whip it on me Jim Whip it on me Jim Whip it on me Jim Said I couldn't hit it sideways, oh do it Now just like, just like Sister Ray said I said now Cecil's got his new piece He cocks and shoots it bang between three and four He aims it at the sailor He shoots him down dead on the floor Oh, you shouldn't do that Don't you know you'll rip the carpet Don't you know you'll mess the carpet Oh, she hasn't got the time, time Busy sucking on the ding-dong She's busy sucking on ding-dong Now just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline Couldn't hit it sideways Couldn't hit it sideways Now just like Now just like Now just like Yeah, Sister Ray said, hey, do it, do it Duck and Sally inside They're busy cooking for the down five, ah Who's staring at Miss Rayon Who's busy licking up her pig pen I'm busy searching for my mainline I said I couldn't hit it sideways I said I couldn't hit it sideways Now just like Now just like I said, oh, oh, just like Amphetamine