- Sister Ray
The Velvet Underground Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Doc and Sally inside
They're cooking for the down five
Who's staring 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
Oh, just like Sister Ray said
Whip it on

Rosie and Miss Rayon
They're busy waiting for her booster
Who just got back from Carolina
She said she didn't like the weather
They're busy waiting for her sailor
Who's big and dressed in pink and leather
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 couldn't hit it sideways
Oh, just like Sister Ray said
Play it on

Cecil's got his new piece
He cocks and shoots it between three and four
He aims it at the sailor
Shoots him down dead on the floor
Oh, 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
Too busy sucking on a ding-dong
She's busy sucking on my ding-dong
Oh, she does just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
I said I c-c-c-ouldn't hit it sideways
I c-c-c-c-c-c-couldn't hit it sideways
Oh do it, do it, oh just, just, just do it, bless Sister Ray sir, go on!
Oh

Now, who is that knocking?
Who's knocking at my chamber door?
Now could it be the police?
They come and take me for a ride-ride
Oh, but I haven't got the time-time
Hey, hey, hey, she's busy sucking on my ding-dong
She's busy sucking on my ding-dong
Oh, now, do it just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it sideways
I couldn't hit it sideways
Oh, now, just like
Oh, just like
Oh, just like
Oh, just like
Oh, just like
Oh, just like

Doc and sally inside, now move it along!
Cooking for the down five
Who's staring at Miss Rayon, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it!
licking up pig pen
I've been s-s-s-s-searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it sideways
I couldn't hit it sideways
Just like
Oh, just like, do it, do it, do it!
Just like
Just like that
Just like

Now Rosie and Miss Rayon
They're busy waiting for her booster
She's just back from Carolina
She says she's bound to meet a sailor
I said you haven't got the time-time
You're busy sucking on my ding-dong
You're busy sucking on my ding-dong
Now, just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
Whip it on me Jim, whip it on me Jim
Whip it on me Jim, whip it on me Jim
Said I couldn't hit it sideways, oh, do it!
Yeah, just like, yeah just like Sister Ray said
I said now Cecil's got his new piece
He cocks and shoots it, bang! between three and four
He aims it at the sailor
He shoots him down dead on the floor
Oh, you shouldn't do that, don't you know you'll hit the carper, don't you know you'll mess the carpet

Oh, she hasn't got the time-time
Busy sucking on his ding-dong
She's busy sucking on his ding-dong
Yeah, just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
Couldn't hit it sideways
Couldn't hit it sideways
Now just like
Now just like
Now just like, like Sister Ray said, now do it to him!

Doc and Sally inside
They're busy cooking for the down five, oh
Who's staring at Miss Rayon
Busy licking up her pig pen
I'm busy searching for my mainline
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
Now just like
Now just like




I said oh, oh, just like
Am-ph-ph-ph-ph-phetamine

Overall Meaning

The Velvet Underground’s song “Sister Ray” is a 17-minute-long, chaotic rock song that describes a wild party that goes awry. The lyrics detail the events of a group of people cooking for the down five (people in need), and various encounters with Rosie, Miss Rayon, and a sailor. The singer is searching for his “mainline,” a reference to a vein for intravenous drug use. Cecil, one of the party-goers, shoots the sailor with his gun, but rather than helping the sailor, the group is more focused on whether the carpet will be stained as a result. The song ends with the sound of knocking, which may indicate that the police are coming to arrest the singer. The repetition of the phrase “just like Sister Ray said” emphasizes the reckless, hedonistic lifestyle of the party-goers.


The song paints a picture of a chaotic and dangerous atmosphere, where drugs and violence are commonplace. It has been interpreted to be a commentary on the Vietnam War and the counterculture movement of the time. The song’s structure is also significant, as it is largely improvised and was recorded in one take with no overdubs.


Line by Line Meaning

Doc and Sally inside
Two people, Doc and Sally, are inside a place which is not specified.


They're cooking for the down five
Doc and Sally are preparing food for a group of people who are in a lower position in life, referred to as 'the down five.'


Who's staring at Miss Rayon
One of the people present is looking at a person named Miss Rayon, who is the center of attention.


Who's busy licking up her pig pen
Miss Rayon is doing something vulgar, like licking her dirty surroundings like a pig would.


I'm searching for my mainline
The artist is looking for his primary source of an addictive drug like heroin.


I said I couldn't hit it sideways
The singer seems to be saying that he is unable to inject the drug in a non-standard way, making a reference to a sexual innuendo.


Oh, just like Sister Ray said
The singer exclaims that his actions are in line with what someone named Sister Ray has said in the past, which is unclear.


Whip it on
The artist urges someone named Jim to proceed with something.


Rosie and Miss Rayon
Two people present, Rosie and Miss Rayon, are mentioned again.


They're busy waiting for her booster
Rosie and Miss Rayon are waiting for their drug dealer to arrive.


Who just got back from Carolina
The drug dealer has recently returned from a location called Carolina.


She said she didn't like the weather
The drug dealer said that the weather at Carolina was not to her liking.


They're busy waiting for her sailor
Rosie and Miss Rayon are waiting for someone referred to as 'her sailor,' who is not identified.


Who's big and dressed in pink and leather
The sailor is a large person wearing pink clothes made of leather, which is unconventional.


He's just here from Alabama
The sailor has recently arrived from a state called Alabama.


He wants to know a way to earn a dollar
The sailor is asking for advice on how to make money.


Now, who is that knocking?
Someone can be heard knocking on a door, and the artist wonders who it could be.


Who's knocking at my chamber door?
The knocking sound is coming from someone outside the singer's room.


Now could it be the police?
The singer is worried that the knocking could be done by the police, suggesting illegal activity.


They come and take me for a ride-ride
The artist fears that the police will come and take him away for a ride, which could be interpreted as kidnapping or arrest.


Oh, but I haven't got the time-time
The artist doesn't have time for any trouble or inquiries from the police.


Hey, hey, hey, she's busy sucking on my ding-dong
The artist is being sexually pleased and is excitedly calling attention to it.


Oh, no, man, I haven't got the time-time
The person addressed by the singer is too busy to pay attention to his words, and he insists that he doesn't have time for any trouble.


Too busy sucking on a ding-dong
The artist is saying that the addressed person is engaging in sexual activity instead of listening to him, which he finds annoying.


Oh, she does just like Sister Ray said
The singer thinks that this behavior is a reference to something Sister Ray has said before, maybe in the context of the song.


Cecil's got his new piece
Someone new named Cecil has something new, which turns out to be a gun or a similar weapon, referred to as his 'new piece.'


He cocks and shoots it between three and four
Cecil uses his new weapon to shoot someone in between the third and fourth hour mark of the day.


He aims it at the sailor
The person Cecil shoots with his weapon is identified as the same sailor who was waiting with Rosie and Miss Rayon earlier.


Shoots him down dead on the floor
Cecil fires at the sailor and kills him, causing him to fall on the ground.


Oh, you shouldn't do that
The singer disapproves of Cecil's violent act and tries to stop him from causing more trouble.


Don't you know you'll stain the carpet?
The singer fears that Cecil's violent act will cause a mess and ruin the carpet, creating a practical concern instead of a moral stance.


Now don't you know you'll stain the carpet
The artist repeats his concern about the carpet and pleads with Cecil to stop typing a warning tone.


And by the way, have you got a dollar?
The artist changes the subject and asks Cecil if he has a dollar to spare, trying to calm him down.


Oh, she hasn't got the time-time
Someone is too busy being sexually active to pay attention to the artist, who is likely frustrated by this behavior.


Busy sucking on his ding-dong
The sexual activity mentioned earlier is resumed, and the singer comments on it once again.


Yeah just like Sister Ray said
The artist thinks that the mentioned sexual activity is connected to something that Sister Ray has said earlier.


I'm searching for my mainline
The singer is still looking for his primary source of a drug like heroin, which he needs badly.


Couldn't hit it sideways
The singer is having trouble using the drug in a different way, making a reference to a sexual innuendo again.


Whip it on me Jim, whip it on me Jim
The singer urges someone named Jim to proceed with something again, and it is unclear what that something is.


Am-ph-ph-ph-ph-phetamine
The word 'amphetamine' is repeated with a stutter, emphasizing its importance in the context of the song and possibly as a reference to the drug the artist is searching for.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Sterling Morrison, Maureen Tucker, John Cale, Lou Reed

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Frosted

Apart from being a great band and this particular version of
Sister Ray bring magnificent, they gave birth to the Elghties Independent/Underground/Alternative scene world wide.

The energy of punk had fizzled by 1980 and all that remained was pop and New Wave.

In the UK the English "indie" press kept the post punk flag flying.

In late 1985 two terminally unemployed brothers from Scotland Jim and William released the BEST Indie/Alternative album of the Eighties called Psychocandy.

Theives and copy cats yelled some of the US press.
WHY - the brothers Reid formed the Jesus and Mary Chain and had released Psychocandy.

Yes . . . you could clearly here the influence of the Velvet Underground. The distortion and dark lyrical content being reminiscent of the Velvet Underground.
I love both bands. I discovered the Velvets through the Jesus and Mary Chain.



All comments from YouTube:

Money Core

I've listened to hundreds of punk and noise albums and Sister Ray is still the craziest song I have ever heard. Why? I think because the song gyrates between cohesion and chaos like seven different times in 17 minutes. This is like a Formula 1 driver going 225 miles an hour, losing control of his car 7 times, not crashing and still winning the race.

Golden Orchid

really like your opinion my friend👍

Patrick Power

I think. Because it was the. First

Jason Wade

After listening I feel this had to be a one or two take song when they recorded it

Sam's kid

@Jason Wade one take

Jason Wade

Makes sense. I wish more bands would do more live one take songs. I watched a documentary here on YouTube about the velvets and it covered every album they did. I’ll try and find a link

31 More Replies...

Blue Sky

Sounds like they've been playing it 12 hours straight the moment it starts.

anonymous

@Smeetheens i think original commenter was talking less about composition than about groove and feel

Saturn Jr

Guest Informant it sucks mate

jet boy

lmaoooo well put, cheers! 🥃

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