The Velvet Underground – I Can't Stand It

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "I Can't Stand It" Ringtone to Cell

Before being a man
Livin’ in a garbage pail
My landlady call me up
She tried to hit me with a mop

I can’t stand it anymore more
I can’t stand it anymore more
I can’t stand it anymore more
But if shelly she would just come back
It’ll be allright
But if shelly she would just come back
It’ll be allright

I live with thirteen dead cats
A purple who hear spats
They’re all livin in a hall
And I can’t stand it anymore

I can’t stand it anymore more
I can’t stand it anymore more
I can’t stand it anymore more
But if shelly she would just come back
It’ll be allright
But if shelly she would just come back
It’ll be allright

Before being a man
Livin’ in a garbage pail
My landlady call me up
She tried to hit me with a mop

I can’t stand it anymore more
I can’t stand it anymore more
I can’t stand it anymore more
But if shelly she would just come back
It’ll be allright
But if shelly she would just come back
It’ll be allright
Be allright, be allright....

Send "I Can't Stand It" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by Dasch

Track duration: 03:22


I Can't Stand It song meanings
Add your thoughts

7 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think shelly is a partner, not a drug, and the "garbage pail" is a metaphor for a cr@ppy apartment and the 13 dead cats and the purple dog in spats is a metaphor for his roommates and/or fellow tenants in the building. Lou is singing of a fellow whose partner dumped his @$$ and so the poor guy is living in a cr@ppy apartment being miserable
    Flag CuteSparkinaon January 30, 2011   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion:y'know, i swear lou says "it's hard bein' a man" instead of "before bein' a man"..
    Flag smashingyngmanon July 13, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:In the second verse, the lyrics are:

    "I live with thirteen dead cats,
    a purple dog who wears spats..."
    Flag distance88on April 30, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:hello, i was wondering if someone could send me this song... i accidently erased all my songs on my ipod, so... it would make me very happy :)
    Flag mandarin_502on July 30, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Lou Reed is not gay. He has slept with men, but he was married twice and now lives with his girlfriend. He's said he wasn't even bisexual (as most people assume), but that he just got used to it and 'developed a taste for it'.
    So there.
    Flag Coney_island_babyon April 19, 2006   Link
    • 1 Reply
  • 0
    General Comment:I think Shelly is his gay boyfriend... Lou Reed is gay.
    Flag Boris the Spideron February 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I love this song! How are there not any comments?
    The obvious literal meaning is that he wants his "Shelly" to come back and make everything better. Shelly could possibly also represent a drug that he desires...?

    Either way, great song!
    Flag confinedinsanityon April 03, 2005   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain