Smalltown
Lou Reed & John Cale Lyrics

When you're growing up in a small town
When you're raised in a small town with limited opportunities

You say, "no one famous ever came from here"
People in small towns often feel insignificant and overlooked because no famous people have ever emerged from their community

And you think that you'll never escape it
Growing up in a small town can make someone feel trapped and hopeless about the possibility of leaving

Where did Picasso come from?
The artist wonders where famous artists come from and how they were able to emerge from small towns

There's no Michelangelo coming from Pittsburgh
The artist suggests that Pittsburgh, as a small town, is not likely to produce a legendary artist like Michelangelo

If art is the tip of the iceberg
If art represents the pinnacle of human achievement

I'm the part sinking below
The singer feels like they're drowning beneath the surface of mainstream society and culture

Bad skin, bad eyes, gay and fatty
The artist lists physical traits and sexual orientation that are discriminated against or ridiculed in small towns

People look at you funny
People in small towns often judge and ostracize those who don't conform to the norm

My father worked in construction
The artist's father had a blue collar job that didn't allow for much professional or social mobility

It's not something for which I'm suited
The singer doesn't feel suited for a similar career path or lifestyle

Getting out of here
The artist's main goal is to escape the small town and find a better life elsewhere

If they stare let them stare in New York City
The singer suggests that it's better to be noticed and criticized in a big city like New York than ignored and marginalized in a small town

At this pink eyed painting albino
The singer describes their own unique physical qualities that make them stand out in a small town

I'm no Dali coming from Pittsburgh
The singer doesn't think they have the talent or resources to become a celebrated artist

No adorable lisping Capote
The artist feels like they lack the charm or appeal of famous writers like Truman Capote

My hero, oh, do you think I could meet him?
The artist longs to meet someone who can inspire them to overcome the limitations of their small town and achieve greatness

I'd camp out at his front door
The singer would go to great lengths to connect with their hero and learn from their example

There's only one good thing about small town
There's only one positive aspect of living in a small town that the singer can think of

You hate it and you'll know you have to leave
Despite any attachments or memories associated with the small town, the artist knows they have to leave in order to achieve their dreams and escape its limitations