White Light White Heat

Velvet Underground White Light White Heat Lyrics
1.White Light/ White Heat

(reed)

White light goin' messin' up my mind.
Don't you know it's gonna make me go blind.
White heat, it tickle me down to my toes.
Have mercy white light have it goodness knows.
White light goin' messin' up my brain.
White light, it's gonna drive me insane.
White heat, it tickle me down to my toes.
White light, i said now, goodness knows.
Ooo, white light.
Ooo, white heat.
Ooo, white light.
Ooo, white heat.

White light moved in me through my brain
White light gonna make-a me go insane
White light, tickled down to my toes
White light, i said now, goodness knows.
White light it lightens up my eyes
Don't you know it fills me up with surprise
White heat tickle down to my toes
White light, i'll tell you now, goodness knows.


2.The Gift

(reed, cale, morrison, tucker)

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 was three dog-eared
let
And two very expensive long-distance phone calls. true, when
school had ended and she'd returned to wisconsin, and he to
locust, pennsylvania. she had sworn to maintain a certain
fidelity, she w
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 quilt
protector,
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 mo
An the 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, unders
This. he had intuitively grasped every nook and cranny of her
psyche. he had made her smile, and she needed him, and he wasn't
there (aaahh..). the idea came to him on the thursday before the
mu
Parade was scheduled to appear. he had just finished mowing and
etching the edelsons lawn for a dollar fifty and had checked the
mailbox to see if there was at least a word from marsha. there w
Thing more than a circular form the amalgamated aluminum company
of america inquiring into his awing needs. at least they cared
enough to write.

It was a new york company. you could go anywhere in the mail.
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 a
Ly 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 s
Cardboard box, just right for a person of his built. he judged
that with a minimum of jostling he could ride quite comfortably.
a few airholes, some water, perhaps some midnight snacks and it
wo
Robably be as good as going tourist.

By friday afternoon, waldo was set. he was packed and the post
office had agreed to pick him up at three o'clock. he'd marked
the package 'fragile', and as he sat curled up inside, res
The foam rubber cushioning he'd thoughtfully included, he tried
to picture the look of awe and happiness on marshas face as she
opened the door, saw the package, tipped the deliverer, and then
o
It to see her waldo finally there in person. she would kiss him,
then, maybe they could see a movie. if he'd only thought of this
before. suddenly rough hands gripped his package and he felt hi
Barne up. he landed with a thud in a truck and then he 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'd said
t
E 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, wh
Lly could teach waldo - but that seemed like years ago. sheila
klein, her very, very best friend walked in through the porch
screen door and into the kitchen. 'oh, it's absolutely maudlin o
E.' 'ach, i know what you mean, i feel all icky!' marsha
tightened her cotton robe with the silk outer edge. sheila ran
her finger over some salt grains on the kitchen table, lick
R fingers and made a face. 'i'm supposed to take these salt
pills,' but she wrinkled her nose, 'they make me feel like
throwing up.' marsha started to pat herself under the c
An exercise she'd seen on television. 'g-d, don't even talk
about tha
T.' 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 attempted to touch her
S. 'i don't think i'll ever touch a daiquiri again.' she gave up
and sat down, this time nearer the table that supported the
telephone. 'maybe he'll call.' she said to sheila
Ance. sheila nibbled on a cuticle. 'after last night, i thought
maybe you'd be through with him.' 'i know what you mean, my g-d,
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 get tired of fighting with him, you know, and
after all he didn't really do anything friday and saturday
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'll
tell you, i feel the same way, and even after a while,&q
Here she bend forward in a whisper, 'wanted to,' and now she was
laughing very loudly.

It was at this point that mr. jameison of the clarence darrow
post office rang the door bell of the large colored stucco frame
house. when marsha bronson opened the door, he helped her carry
the
Age in. he had his yellow and green slips of paper signed and
left with a fifteen cent tip that marsha had gotten out of her
mothers small beige pocket book in the den. 'what do you think i
' 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 fingernail over the
masking tape that ran down the center of the carton. 'why don't
yo
K at the return address and see who it is 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. 'it's from waldo.' 'that schmuck!' said sheila. waldo
trembled with expecta- tion. 'you might as well o
T,' said sheila. both of them tried to flip the stable flap.
'ah,' said marsha groaning. 'he must have nailed it shut.' they
tagged at the flap again. 'my god, you
A power drill to get this thing opened.' they pulled again. 'you
can't get a grip!' they both stood still, breathing heavily.
'why don't you get the scissors,' said shei
Arsha ran into the kitchen, but all she could find was a little
sewing scissors. then she remembered that her father kept a
collection of tools in the basement. she ran downstairs and when
she c
Ack, she had a large metal cutter in her hand. 'this is the best
i could find.' she was out of breath. 'here, you do it. i'm
gonna die.' she sank into a large fluffy couch an
Aled noisily. sheila tried to make a slit between the masking
tape and the end of the cardboard, but the blade was too big and
th
Ere was not enough room. 'g-ddamn this thing!' she said feeling
very exaspe- rated. then smiling 'i got an idea.' 'what?' said
marsha. 'just watch,' said
A touching her finger to her head.

Inside the package, waldo was transfixed with excitement that he
could hardly breathe. his skin felt prickly from the heat and he
could feel his heart beating in his throat. it would be soon. sh
Stood upright and walked around to the other side of the
package. then she sank down to her knees, grasped the cutter by
both hands, took a deep breath and plunged the long blade
through the mid
F the package, through the middle of the masking tape, through
the card- board through the cushioning and (thud) right through
the center of waldo jeffers head, which split slightly and
caused l
Rhythmic arcs of red to pulsate gently in the morning sun...


3.Lady Godivas Operation

(reed)

Lady godiva here dressed so demurely
Pats the head of another curly hair boy, just another toy
Sick with silence she weeps sincerly
Saying words that have oh so clearly been said
So long ago

Draperies wrapped gently around 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 funny faire
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 frace 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 and neatlypump air
The body lies bare
Shaed and hairless what onces 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 wight light

Doctor arrives with knife and baggage
Sees the growth as just so much cabbage
That now
Must 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 tubes 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 m count of ten -
The head won't move


4.Here She Comes Now

(reed, cale, morrison)

Here she ever comes now now
She ever comes now now
She ever comes now

Here she ever comes now now
She ever comes now now
She ever comes now

Oh oh, it look so good
She's made out of wood
Just look and see


5.I Heard Her Call My Name

(reed)

Ever since i was on cripples monday,
I've got my eyeballs on my knees.
I rapped for hours with mad mary williams,
She 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 it ain't the same.
When i wake up in the morning, mama,
I heard her call my name.
I know she's dead and long, gone.
I heard her call my name.
And then i felt my mind split open.

I know that she's long, dead and gone,
Still it ain't the same.
When i wake up in the morning, mama,
I heard her call my name.
I know she's dead and long, gone.
Still, i heard her call my name.
And then my mind split open.


6.Sister Ray

(reed,cale,morrison,tucker)

Duck and sally inside
(alt:a drug hit sally inside)
(alt:doc and sally inside)
Thanks to lenny laakso
They're cookin' for the down five
Who're starin' 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
Just like sister ray said

Rosey and miss rayon
They're busy waiting for her booster
Who just got back from carolina
Said she didn't like the weather
They're busy waiting for her sailor
Who's dressed in pink and leather
(alt: who said he's just as big as ever)
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 said i couldn't hit it sideways
Just like sister ray said

Cecil's got his new piece
He cocks and shoots it bang between three & four
He aims it at the sailor
Shoots him down dead on the floor
Aw, 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
She's busy sucking on a ding-dong
He's busy sucking on my ding-dong
Just like sister ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
I said i c-c-c-couldn't hit it sideways
I said i c-c-c-couldn't hit it sideways
Just like sister ray says

Who's that knocking
Who's that knocking on my chamber door
Could it be the police?
They come and take me for a ride-ride
But i haven't got the time-time
She's been sucking on my ding-dong
She's busy sucking on my ding-dong
Just like sister ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it sideways
I couldn't hit it sideways
Just like .... sister ray says