Following Lou Reed’s firing of Andy Warhol as the producer of the Velvet Un… Read Full Bio ↴Following Lou Reed’s firing of Andy Warhol as the producer of the Velvet Underground, Lou tried to distance himself from the fame and “campy-ness” of the Factory that he once belonged to. The conversation described tells the story of Reed’s shifting persona from the glam rock of Warhol, to the storytelling of his albums, Berlin and New York. With the cutesy tone that can be found in earlier song such as "After Hours", and "I’m Sticking With You", Reed parodies the happenings of Warhol’s posse, as well as Warhol himself who was known for his long telephone conversations with his Superstars.

New York Telephone Conversation
Lou Reed Lyrics

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I was sleeping, gently napping, when I heard the phone
Who is on the other end talking, am I even home?
Did you see what she did to him, did you hear what they said?
Just a New York conversation, rattling in my head

Oh, my, and what shall we wear?
Oh, my, and who really cares?

Just a New York conversation, gossip all of the time
Did you hear who did what to whom? Happens all the time
Who has touched and who has dabbled here in the city of shows
Openings, closings, bad repartee, everybody knows

Oh, how sad, why do we call
Oh, I'm glad to hear from you all

I am calling, yes I'm calling just to speak to you

For I know this night will kill me, if I can't be with you
If I can't be with you

Overall Meaning

The song, ‘New York Telephone Conversation’ is a commentary on the culture of gossip in New York city. The song opens with the singer receiving a phone call and pondering the nature of the call. Through the conversation, the lyrics explore the idea of small talk and the routine of gossip; ‘Did you see what she did to him, did you hear what they said? Just a New York conversation, rattling in my head’. The lyrics reflect on the banality of such conversation and the constant chatter that fills the city. Lou Reed's sharp lyrics strip away the adulations often attributed to New York and reveal a world of possibility and disillusionment that can be both captivating and frustrating.

The refrain of the song, ‘Oh, my, and what shall we wear? Oh, my, and who really cares?’ encapsulates the very essence of the song's commentary. The focus on superficial things that often consume conversations and people's lives in New York City, and how it's disappointing. It reveals the idea that people are trying desperately to connect, but often end up drowning each other out with meaningless details. The conversational voyeurism Reed speaks of, completed with lines such as, ‘Did you hear who did what to whom?’ highlights the importance of small talk in the lives of those who live in the city. Reed's observations in this song are an insightful analysis that will continue to ring true long after its release.

Line by Line Meaning

I was sleeping, gently napping, when I heard the phone
I was in a state of restful sleep before the sound of the telephone woke me up

Who is on the other end talking, am I even home?
I don't know who is calling or if I am actually present in my own home

Did you see what she did to him, did you hear what they said?
Have you witnessed the actions of a certain female towards a certain male, and have you listened to the words exchanged between them?

Just a New York conversation, rattling in my head
This is merely a commonplace chat between the residents of New York, but it's stuck in my mind

Oh, my, and what shall we wear?
Oh my, what should we be attired in?

Oh, my, and who really cares?
Oh my, what's the point? Who actually cares?

Just a New York conversation, gossip all of the time
This is simply another discussion involving idle talk, something that occurs frequently in New York

Did you hear who did what to whom? Happens all the time
Have you heard about the actions taken by a certain someone towards another person? It occurs regularly

Who has touched and who has dabbled here in the city of shows
Who has made physical contact with or flirted with someone in this metropolis that's full of performances and spectacles?

Openings, closings, bad repartee, everybody knows
The launching of events, shutting down of businesses, and uninteresting remarks - this is all public knowledge

Oh, how sad, why do we call
Oh, what a miserable state of affairs. Why do we even phone each other?

Oh, I'm glad to hear from you all
Oh, I'm pleased to hear your voices

I am calling, yes I'm calling just to speak to you
I'm phoning, simply to chat with you

For I know this night will kill me, if I can't be with you
I realize that tonight will be excruciatingly difficult for me if I'm unable to keep you company

If I can't be with you
If I am not able to be in your presence

Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Lou Reed

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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