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 @$$ and so the poor guy is living in a cr@ppy apartment being miserable
I think shelly is a partner, not a drug, and the "garbage pail" is a metaphor for a cr@ppy apartment and the 13 dead cats and the purple dog in spats is a metaphor for his roommates and/or fellow tenants in the building. Lou is singing of a fellow whose partner dumped his @$$ and so the poor guy is living in a cr@ppy apartment being miserable