Work
Reed (Lou) & John Cale Lyrics
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He lived alone with his mother, collecting gossip and toys
Every Sunday when he went to church
He'd kneel in his pew and say, "It's just work,
all that matters is work."
Andy was a lot of things, what I remember most
He'd say, "I've got to bring home the bacon, someone's
got to bring home the roast."
If I'd ask him he'd tell you straight out
It's just work, the most important thing is work
No matter what I did it never seemed enough
He said I was lazy, I said I was young
He said, "How many songs did you write?"
I'd written zero, I lied and said, "Ten."
"You won't be young forever
You should have written fifteen"
It's work, the most important thing is work
It's work, the most important thing is work
"You ought to make things big
People like it that way
And the songs with the dirty words - record them that way"
Andy liked to stir up trouble, he was funny that way
He said, "It's just work, all that matters is work"
Andy sat down to talk one day
He said decide what you want
Do you want to expand your parameters
Or play museums like some dilettante
I fired him on the spot, he got red and called me a rat
It was the worst word that he could think of
And I've never seen him like that
It's just work, I thought he said it's just work
Work, he'd said it's just work
Andy said a lot of things, I stored them all away in my head
Sometimes when I can't decide what I should do
I think what would Andy have said
He'd probably say you think too much
That's 'cause there's work that you don't want to do
It's work, the most important thing is work
Work, the most important thing is work
The song "Work" by Lou Reed and John Cale is a tribute to their former bandmate and manager, Andy Warhol. The lyrics reflect on Warhol's work ethic and his tendency to think of everything in terms of work. The opening lines, "Andy was a Catholic, the ethic ran through his bones," speaks to Warhol's devout Catholic upbringing, which instilled in him a strong sense of duty and work ethic.
The song also touches on Warhol's advice to Reed and Cale as musicians. Warhol urged them to make their art accessible to the masses, telling them to "make things big" and to record songs with "dirty words" because "people like it that way." He encouraged them to expand their parameters and not to limit themselves to playing in museums like "dilettantes."
In the second half of the song, Reed reflects on a conversation he had with Warhol about his own work ethic. Reed admits that he was lazy and didn't write enough songs. Warhol challenged him to work harder and to think about what was most important--work. Despite being fired by Reed, Warhol's words and teachings stayed with Reed, who sometimes uses them to motivate himself to work harder.
Overall, "Work" is a tribute to Andy Warhol's legacy as an artist and a mentor. It speaks to the importance of hard work and dedication, and the need to constantly challenge oneself to do better and to expand one's boundaries.
Line by Line Meaning
Andy was a Catholic, the ethic ran through his bones
Andy's Catholic upbringing was ingrained in his character and work ethic.
He lived alone with his mother, collecting gossip and toys
Andy lived with his mother and spent his time gathering information and trinkets.
Every Sunday when he went to church
Every week, Andy attended church.
He'd kneel in his pew and say, "It's just work, all that matters is work."
During church, Andy would reflect on the importance of work in his life.
Andy was a lot of things, what I remember most
Lou Reed remembers many things about Andy, but his work ethic stands out the most.
He'd say, "I've got to bring home the bacon, someone's
got to bring home the roast."
Andy believed it was his responsibility to provide for himself and his mother.
He'd get to the factory early
Andy was diligent about arriving early to work.
If I'd ask him he'd tell you straight out
It's just work, the most important thing is work
Andy believed that work was the most important aspect of his life and would tell anyone who asked.
No matter what I did it never seemed enough
He said I was lazy, I said I was young
Lou Reed could never live up to Andy's high standards and was criticized for being lazy, although he attributed it to his youth.
He said, "How many songs did you write?"
I'd written zero, I lied and said, "Ten."
Andy questioned Lou Reed's work as a songwriter, and Reed lied about his productivity.
"You won't be young forever
You should have written fifteen"
Andy encouraged Lou Reed to work harder and produce more, warning him that his youth wouldn't last forever.
It's work, the most important thing is work
Andy's mantra was that work was the most important aspect of life.
"You ought to make things big
People like it that way
And the songs with the dirty words - record them that way"
Andy encouraged Lou Reed to be bold and controversial in his work, believing it would garner more success.
Andy liked to stir up trouble, he was funny that way
He said, "It's just work, all that matters is work"
Andy enjoyed being provocative and always returned to the idea that work was the most important aspect of life.
Andy sat down to talk one day
He said decide what you want
Do you want to expand your parameters
Or play museums like some dilettante
Andy had a serious conversation with Lou Reed about his career aspirations, encouraging him to decide between pushing boundaries or becoming a sellout.
I fired him on the spot, he got red and called me a rat
It was the worst word that he could think of
And I've never seen him like that
Lou Reed fired Andy after their conversation, causing Andy to erupt in anger.
It's just work, I thought he said it's just work
Work, he'd said it's just work
Lou Reed reflects on Andy's mantra of work being the most important thing in life and how it affected their relationship.
Andy said a lot of things, I stored them all away in my head
Sometimes when I can't decide what I should do
I think what would Andy have said
Lou Reed remembers all of the advice and criticism Andy gave him, and uses it to guide his decisions when he's unsure.
He'd probably say you think too much
That's 'cause there's work that you don't want to do
It's work, the most important thing is work
Work, the most important thing is work
Lou Reed imagines what Andy would say to him now, reminding him that work is the most important thing in life and urging him to stop overthinking and get to work.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JOHN DAVIES CALE, LOU REED
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elena Emily Cociorva
LYRICS
Andy was a Catholic
The ethic ran through his bones
He lived alone with his mother
Collecting gossip and toys
Every Sunday when he went to Church
He'd kneel in his pew and say
It's work
All that matters is work
Andy was a lot of things
What I remember most he'd say
I've got to bring home the bacon
Someone's got to bring home the roast
He'd get to the Factory early
If you'd ask him he'd tell you straight out
It's just work
No matter what I did it never seemed enough
He said I was lazy, I said I was young
He said, How many songs did you write
I'd written zero, I'd lied and said, Ten
You won't be young forever
You should have written fifteen
It's work
The most important thing is work
You ought to make things big
People like it that way
And the songs with the dirty words
Record them that way
Andy liked to stir up trouble
He was funny that way
He said, It's just work
Andy sat down to talk one day
He said decide what you want
Do you want to expand your parameters
Or play museums like some dilettante
I fired him on the spot
He got red and called me a rat
It was the worst word that he could think of
And I've never seen him like that
It's just work
I thought he said it's just work
Andy said a lot of things
I stored them all away in my head
Sometimes when I can't decide what I should do
I think what would Andy have said
He'd probably say you think too much
That's cause there's work that you don't want to do
It's work
The most important thing is work
It's work
The most important thing is work
Elena Emily Cociorva
LYRICS
Andy was a Catholic
The ethic ran through his bones
He lived alone with his mother
Collecting gossip and toys
Every Sunday when he went to Church
He'd kneel in his pew and say
It's work
All that matters is work
Andy was a lot of things
What I remember most he'd say
I've got to bring home the bacon
Someone's got to bring home the roast
He'd get to the Factory early
If you'd ask him he'd tell you straight out
It's just work
No matter what I did it never seemed enough
He said I was lazy, I said I was young
He said, How many songs did you write
I'd written zero, I'd lied and said, Ten
You won't be young forever
You should have written fifteen
It's work
The most important thing is work
You ought to make things big
People like it that way
And the songs with the dirty words
Record them that way
Andy liked to stir up trouble
He was funny that way
He said, It's just work
Andy sat down to talk one day
He said decide what you want
Do you want to expand your parameters
Or play museums like some dilettante
I fired him on the spot
He got red and called me a rat
It was the worst word that he could think of
And I've never seen him like that
It's just work
I thought he said it's just work
Andy said a lot of things
I stored them all away in my head
Sometimes when I can't decide what I should do
I think what would Andy have said
He'd probably say you think too much
That's cause there's work that you don't want to do
It's work
The most important thing is work
It's work
The most important thing is work
Martha Garvey
Saw this live. So amazing. Please put John Cale in the title.
Orlando Moreira
Martha Garvey
Elijah Shanor
this is one of the reasons Lou reed is one of the best lol
Exodus Exodus
WHAT A MUSIC VIDEO!!!! amazing!
..............and a great song too! DUH!
Marcos A. Mendes
The best LOU REED & JOHN CALE!!
Donnie Shamblin
I can't believe that I've never heard this!
How charming 😁
Ruby_Quijano
good tune to start a good morning😃
Make Sushi 1
Great channel
Catur Tri
If john out of tempo, this gonna be disaster. But well they do this clearly awesome! Rip lou