This is cut and dry. Imagine NYC in the mid-late '70s - before Giuliani "cleaned it up" . Studio 54. Lou Reed. Guy has a Black Cow drinking girlfriend who is a drunk/drug addict. She's a waste of space. He sees here in Rudy's - a dive in Hell's Kitchen. She's wasted, as always. She works tricks "down on Greene St" but is too unravelled to even be a good hooker - He finds out that's what she's up to because she's not smart enough to change her name when she's doing tricks. These are all mid '70s NYC references. Greene St. is in Tribeca/West Village/Meatpacking district (lots of clubs) - in the '70s that area was full of hookers. Today your'e more likely to see Beyonce or Amy Poehler - that entire area is now one of the most expensive places in the USA to live - it's been completely gentrified. But back in the day.. Anyway - every tiime she screws up once again - she staggers home to her "precious one" - the narrator - who has to try to "make everything right" and put the pieces back together. He's sick of it- so tells her to "Drink her big Black Cow" (from Rudy's) and "GetOuttaHere". We all know women like this - screwed up emotional vampires. That's what the song is all about folks.
@bloughmee One more thing - she's likely also a gambler. ("Book of numbers" could be from a bookie - or could be her "Johns". In any case - drugs, booze, gambling, hooking - one or all of those "remedies" will "screen out the sorrow" (temporarily help her forget her problems) --- but then "where are you tomorrow ?" Answer - right back here whre you are now - nowhere. This is a classic, great song.
@bloughmee One more thing - she's likely also a gambler. ("Book of numbers" could be from a bookie - or could be her "Johns". In any case - drugs, booze, gambling, hooking - one or all of those "remedies" will "screen out the sorrow" (temporarily help her forget her problems) --- but then "where are you tomorrow ?" Answer - right back here whre you are now - nowhere. This is a classic, great song.
@bloughmee One more tidbit folks - Both Becker and Fagan are NYC guys. They didn't grow up in Manhattan - but Passaic NJ and Queens NY are close enough - they're NYC guys. Lookin back - they didn't intend this I'm sure, but this song is as much about the state of NYC in the '70s as it is about this particular girl. It's a slice of history. Love it.
@bloughmee One more tidbit folks - Both Becker and Fagan are NYC guys. They didn't grow up in Manhattan - but Passaic NJ and Queens NY are close enough - they're NYC guys. Lookin back - they didn't intend this I'm sure, but this song is as much about the state of NYC in the '70s as it is about this particular girl. It's a slice of history. Love it.
This is cut and dry. Imagine NYC in the mid-late '70s - before Giuliani "cleaned it up" . Studio 54. Lou Reed. Guy has a Black Cow drinking girlfriend who is a drunk/drug addict. She's a waste of space. He sees here in Rudy's - a dive in Hell's Kitchen. She's wasted, as always. She works tricks "down on Greene St" but is too unravelled to even be a good hooker - He finds out that's what she's up to because she's not smart enough to change her name when she's doing tricks. These are all mid '70s NYC references. Greene St. is in Tribeca/West Village/Meatpacking district (lots of clubs) - in the '70s that area was full of hookers. Today your'e more likely to see Beyonce or Amy Poehler - that entire area is now one of the most expensive places in the USA to live - it's been completely gentrified. But back in the day.. Anyway - every tiime she screws up once again - she staggers home to her "precious one" - the narrator - who has to try to "make everything right" and put the pieces back together. He's sick of it- so tells her to "Drink her big Black Cow" (from Rudy's) and "GetOuttaHere". We all know women like this - screwed up emotional vampires. That's what the song is all about folks.
@bloughmee One more thing - she's likely also a gambler. ("Book of numbers" could be from a bookie - or could be her "Johns". In any case - drugs, booze, gambling, hooking - one or all of those "remedies" will "screen out the sorrow" (temporarily help her forget her problems) --- but then "where are you tomorrow ?" Answer - right back here whre you are now - nowhere. This is a classic, great song.
@bloughmee One more thing - she's likely also a gambler. ("Book of numbers" could be from a bookie - or could be her "Johns". In any case - drugs, booze, gambling, hooking - one or all of those "remedies" will "screen out the sorrow" (temporarily help her forget her problems) --- but then "where are you tomorrow ?" Answer - right back here whre you are now - nowhere. This is a classic, great song.
@bloughmee One more tidbit folks - Both Becker and Fagan are NYC guys. They didn't grow up in Manhattan - but Passaic NJ and Queens NY are close enough - they're NYC guys. Lookin back - they didn't intend this I'm sure, but this song is as much about the state of NYC in the '70s as it is about this particular girl. It's a slice of history. Love it.
@bloughmee One more tidbit folks - Both Becker and Fagan are NYC guys. They didn't grow up in Manhattan - but Passaic NJ and Queens NY are close enough - they're NYC guys. Lookin back - they didn't intend this I'm sure, but this song is as much about the state of NYC in the '70s as it is about this particular girl. It's a slice of history. Love it.
@bloughmee awesome nickname :D
@bloughmee awesome nickname :D
@bloughmee You nailed it.
@bloughmee You nailed it.