Lou Reed - Original Wrapper Lyrics

The original wrapper

I was sittin' home on the West End
Watchin' cable TV with a TV friend
We were watchin' the news, the world's in a mess
The poor and the hungry, a world in distress

Herpes, AIDS, the Middle East at full throttle
Better check that sausage, before you put it in the waffle
And while you're at it, check what's in the batter
Make sure that candy's in the original wrapper

Hey, pitcher, better check that batter
Make sure that candy's in the original wrapper

Hey, pitcher, better check the batter
Make powder in the original wrapper

White against white, black against Jew, it seems like it's 1942
The baby sits in front of MTV watching violent fantasies
While dad guzzles beer with his favorite sport
Then he finds his heroes are all coked up

Classic, original, the same old story
The politics of hate in a new surrounding
Hate if it's good and hate if it's bad
Don't make you mad

I'll keep yours baby I'll keep mine
Theres nothing sacred and nothing divine
Father, hit me, we're goin' full throttle
Check that sausage, before you put it in the waffle

While you're at it and while you're at it
And while you're at it
Make sure of the batter
Make sure the candy's in the original wrapper

I was born in the United States
And I grew up hard but I grew up straight
I saw a lack of morals and a lack of concern
A feeling that there's nowhere to turn

Yippies, hippies and upwardly mobile yuppies
Don't treat me like I'm some dumb lackey
'Cause the murderer lives while the victims die
I'd much rather see it an eye for an eye

A heart for a heart and a brain for a brain
And if this all makes you feel insane
Kick up your heels, turn the music up loud
Pick up your guitar and look out at the crowd

And say, "Don't mean to come on sanctimonious
But life's got me nervous and little pugnacious
Lugubrious so I give a salutation and rock on out to beat really stupid
Ohh, poop, ah, doo and how do you do
Gonna hit hop, gonna pop till drop"


Hey, pitcher, better check that batter
Make sure that candy's in the original wrapper

Hey, pitcher, better check that batter
Make sure that candy's in the original wrapper


Hey now pitcher, better check that batter
Make sure that candy's in the original wrapper

The original wrapper