Having played guitar and sung in doo-wop groups in high school, Reed studied poetry at Syracuse University under Delmore Schwartz, and had served as a radio DJ, hosting a late-night avant garde music program while at college. After graduating from Syracuse, he went to work for Pickwick Records in New York City, a low-budget record company that specialized in sound-alike recordings, as a songwriter and session musician. A fellow session player at Pickwick was John Cale; together with Sterling Morrison and Angus MacLise, they would form the Velvet Underground in 1965. After building a reputation on the avant garde music scene, they gained the attention of Andy Warhol, who became the band's manager; they in turn became something of a fixture at The Factory, Warhol's art studio, and served as his "house band" for various projects. The band released their first album, now with drummer Moe Tucker and featuring German singer Nico, in 1967, and parted ways with Warhol shortly thereafter. Following several lineup changes and three more little-heard albums, Reed quit the band in 1970.
After leaving the band, Reed would go on to a much more commercially successful solo career, releasing twenty solo studio albums. His second, Transformer (1972), was produced by David Bowie and arranged by Mick Ronson, and brought him mainstream recognition. The album is considered an influential landmark of the glam rock genre, anchored by Reed's most successful single, "Walk on the Wild Side". After Transformer, the less commercial but critically acclaimed Berlin peaked at No. 7 on the UK Albums Chart. Rock 'n' Roll Animal (a live album released in 1974) sold strongly, and Sally Can't Dance (1974) peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard 200; but for a long period after, Reed's work did not translate into sales, leading him deeper into drug addiction and alcoholism. Reed cleaned up in the early 1980s, and gradually returned to prominence with The Blue Mask (1982) and New Sensations (1984), reaching a critical and commercial career peak with his 1989 album New York.
Reed participated in the re-formation of the Velvet Underground in the 1990s, and made several more albums, including a collaboration album with John Cale titled Songs for Drella which was a tribute to their former mentor Andy Warhol. Magic and Loss (1992) would become Reed's highest-charting album on the UK Albums Chart, peaking at No. 6.
He contributed music to two theatrical interpretations of 19th century writers, one of which he developed into an album titled The Raven. He married his third wife Laurie Anderson in 2008, and recorded the collaboration album Lulu with Metallica. He died in 2013 of liver disease. Reed has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice; as a member of the Velvet Underground in 1996 and as a solo act in 2015.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lou_Reed
Studio albums
Lou Reed (1972)
Transformer (1972)
Berlin (1973)
Rock 'n' Roll Animal (1974)
Sally Can't Dance (1974)
Metal Machine Music (1975)
Coney Island Baby (1975)
Rock and Roll Heart (1976)
Street Hassle (1978)
The Bells (1979)
Growing Up in Public (1980)
The Blue Mask (1982)
Legendary Hearts (1983)
New Sensations (1984)
Mistrial (1986)
New York (1989)
Magic and Loss (1992)
Set the Twilight Reeling (1996)
Ecstasy (2000)
The Raven (2003)
Hudson River Wind Meditations (2007)
Strawman
Lou Reed Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
to you who don't have anything at all
We who have so much more than any one man does need
and you who don't have anything at all, ah
Does anybody need another million dollar movie
does anybody need another million dollar star
Does anybody need to be told over and over
spitting in the wind comes back at you twice as hard
Strawman, going straight to the devil
Strawman, going straight to hell
Strawman, going straight to the devil
Strawman
Strawman
Strawman
Strawman, yes
Does anyone really need a billion dollar rocket
does anyone need a 60,000 dollars car
Does anyone need another president
or the sins of Swaggart parts 6, 7, 8 and 9, ah
Does anyone need yet another politician
caught with his pants down and money sticking in his hole
Does anyone need another racist preacher
spittin' in the wind can only do you harm, ooohhh
Strawman, going straight to the devil
Strawman, going straight to hell
Strawman, going straight to the devil
Strawman
Strawman
Strawman
Strawman
Does anyone need another faulty shuttle
blasting off to the moon, Venus or Mars
Does anybody need another self-righteous rock singer
whose nose he says has led him straight to God
Does anyone need yet another blank skyscraper
if you're like me I'm sure a minor miracle will do
A flaming sword or maybe a gold ark floating up the Hudson
when you spit in the wind it comes right back at you
Strawman, going straight to the devil
Strawman, going straight to hell
Strawman, going to the devil
Strawman, strawman
Strawman, ...., ah
Strawman
Strawman
In Lou Reed's song "Strawman," he takes aim at the excesses of American culture and the hypocrisy of those in power. The opening lines of the song address the stark contrast between those who have so much and those who have so little, with the implication that the former is undeserved. He goes on to question the need for more material goods, including million-dollar movies and stars, billion-dollar rockets, and 60,000-dollar cars. Reed also calls out politicians, racist preachers, and self-righteous rock singers, casting them all as unnecessary sources of noise in a world that needs much less of it.
The song's title refers to the idea of a figurative "straw man," or an argument or idea that is easily defeated or debunked. In this case, Reed is using the term to refer to the false idols of American culture that he sees as being without substance or value. He is making the point that relying on these kinds of things is ultimately futile and may even be harmful since it only serves to distract us from what is truly important.
Overall, "Strawman" is a scathing commentary on the state of American society in the late 1980s, and it is still relevant today. Through his lyrics, Lou Reed reminds us that we need to be careful about what we prioritize and what we glorify, as not all of it is worth our time or attention.
Line by Line Meaning
We who have so much to you who have so little
Those of us who are privileged must offer support to those who have less.
to you who don't have anything at all
Specifically speaking to those who lack basic necessities.
We who have so much more than any one man does need
The wealthy have more than they could possibly use while others lack necessities.
and you who don't have anything at all, ah
Continuing to address those without necessities.
Does anybody need another million dollar movie
Questioning the societal focus on luxury and excess, including expensive movies.
does anybody need another million dollar star
Continuing the questioning of the necessity and value of celebrity culture.
Does anybody need to be told over and over
Highlighting the repetitiveness of societal messages and questioning their utility.
spitting in the wind comes back at you twice as hard
Warning that negative actions or words towards others will ultimately harm oneself as well.
Strawman, going straight to the devil
Referring to and condemning a false argument or belief that exists solely to be defeated.
Strawman, going straight to hell
Further condemnation of the false belief system and its negative consequences.
Does anyone really need a billion dollar rocket
Rhetorically questioning the value of lavish spending on space exploration.
does anyone need a 60,000 dollars car
Questioning the need and value of luxury automobiles.
Does anyone need another president
Skepticism of the need for another leader in a flawed political system.
or the sins of Swaggart parts 6, 7, 8 and 9, ah
Referencing the hypocrisy and scandal of televangelist Jimmy Swaggart and questioning the need to pay attention to it.
Does anyone need yet another politician
Highlighting the corrupt nature of politics in general and questioning the necessity of further political figures.
caught with his pants down and money sticking in his hole
Referring to specific instances of political scandal and corruption.
Does anyone need another racist preacher
Questioning the value and harm of extremist religious figures.
spittin' in the wind can only do you harm, ooohhh
Reiterating the earlier warning that negative actions or words towards others will ultimately harm oneself as well.
Does anyone need another faulty shuttle
Questioning whether the risks and costs of space exploration are worth it.
blasting off to the moon, Venus or Mars
Giving specific examples of space exploration destinations.
Does anybody need another self-righteous rock singer
Questioning the value and ego of certain musicians who espouse self-righteous beliefs.
whose nose he says has led him straight to God
Criticizing the arrogance and self-importance of some religious rock stars.
Does anyone need yet another blank skyscraper
Questioning the value and purpose of tall buildings that lack individuality or character.
if you're like me I'm sure a minor miracle will do
Suggesting that small, everyday miracles would be sufficient for most individuals rather than grandiose displays of wealth or power.
A flaming sword or maybe a gold ark floating up the Hudson
Referencing biblical stories of powerful or miraculous occurrences and contrasting them with modern societal trivialities.
when you spit in the wind it comes right back at you
Reiterating the earlier warnings about negative actions or words towards others ultimately harming oneself as well.
Strawman
Repeating the condemnation of false beliefs and arguments that exist to be defeated.
Strawman
Continuing to condemn the false belief system.
Strawman
Repeating yet again the condemnation of the false belief system.
Strawman, yes
Affirming and summarizing the condemnation of false beliefs and systems throughout the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind