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STREET HASSLE 
Lou Reed's album version
Waltzing Matilda whipped out her wallet
The sexy boy smiled in dismay
She took out four twenties 'cause she liked round figures
Everybody's queen for a day
Oh, babe, I'm on fire and you know how I admire your-
-body why don't we slip away
Although I'm sure you're certain, its a rarity me flirtin'
Sha-la-la-la, this way
Oh, sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la
Hey, baby, come on, lets slip away
Luscious and gorgeous, oh what a humpin' muscle
Call out the national guard
She creamed in her jeans as he picked up her knees
From off of the Formica topped bar
And cascading slowly, he lifted her wholly
And boldly out of this world
And despite people's derision
Proved to be more than diversion
Sha-la-la-la, later on
And then sha-la-la-la-la, he entered her slowly
And showed her where he was coming from
And then sha-la-la-la-la, he made love to her gently
It was like she'd never ever come
And then sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la
When the sun rose and he made to leave
You know, sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la
Neither one regretted a thing
(Oooooh)
(Slip away, Oooooh)
Hey, that cunt's not breathing
I think she's had too much
Of something or other, hey, man, you know what I mean?
I don't mean to scare you
But you're the one who came here
And you're the one who's gotta take her when you leave
I'm not being smart
Or trying to be cold on my part
And I'm not gonna wear my heart on my sleeve
But you know people get all emotional
And sometimes, man, they just don't act rational you know
They think they're just on TV
Sha-la-la-la, man
Why don't you just slip her away
You know, I'm glad that we met man
It really was nice talking
And I really wish that there was a little more time to speak
But you know it could be a hassle
Trying to explain this all to a police officer
About how it was that your old lady got herself stiffed
And it's not like we could help
But there wasn't nothing no one could do
And if there was, man, you know I would have been the first
But when someone turns that blue
Well, it's a universal truth
And you just know that bitch will never fuck again
By the way, that's really some bad shit
That you came to our place with
But you ought to be more careful around the little girls
It's either the best or it's the worst
And since I don't have to choose
I guess I won't and I know this ain't no way to treat a guest
But why don't you grab your old lady by the feet
And just lay her out in the darkest street
And by morning, she's just another hit and run
You know, some people got no choice
And they can never find a voice
To talk with that they can even call their own
So the first thing that they see
That allows them the right to be
Why they follow it, you know, it's called bad luck
Well hey, man, that's just a lie
It's a lie she tells her friends
'Cause the real song, the real song
Where she won't even admit to herself
The beatin' in her heart
It's a song lots of people know
It's a painful song
A little sad truth
But life's full of sad songs
A penny for a wish
But wishin' won't make you a soldier
With a pretty kiss for a pretty face
Can't have its way
Y'know tramps like us, we were born to pay
Love has gone away
And there's no one here now
And there's nothing left to say
But, oh, how I miss him, baby
Oh, baby, come on and slip away
Come on, baby, why don't you slip away
Love is gone away
Took the rings off my fingers
And there's nothing left to say
But, oh how, oh how I need him, baby
Come on, baby, I need you, baby
Oh, please don't slip away
I need your loving so bad, babe
Please don't slip away
Page last updated: 15 Oct 2011
Info
STREET HASSLE is a song written by Lou Reed who released it in March 1978 on
his album Street Hassle. The song is 10 minutes and 56 seconds long and divided into
three distinct sections: "Waltzing Matilda" (3:20), "Street Hassle" (3:31), and "Slipaway"
(4:02).
[Click thumbnail to enlarge/reduce artwork]
The above lyrics are for the original Lou Reed version of STREET HASSLE as
released in 1978.
Springsteen's Guest Appearance
Bruce Springsteen makes a guest appearance on this song, with a brief rap
during the "Slipaway" section (from 9:02 to 9:39, lyrics above in bold). He was not credited for
his performance in the liner notes to Street Hassle, possibly due to his ongoing legal
battles with former manager Mike Appel at the time.
In the last line of the rap, Bruce states "tramps like us, baby we were born to
pay", an altered quotation from his own song BORN TO RUN. It's
unknown whether the inclusion of this line was Bruce's idea or Lou's. STREET HASSLE, or at least
Bruce's part of the song, was recorded in October 1977 at The Record Plant in New York City, NY,
when Springsteen was at the New York studio recording his Darkness On The Edge Of Town
album.
Bruce Springsteen and Lou Reed
Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band opened for headliner Lou Reed and his
backing band The Tots on 23 Mar 1973 at Palace Theatre in Providence, RI.
In May 1978, Bruce Springsteen attended a Lou Reed concert at Bottom Line in
New York City, NY. The show is officially released on Reed's live album Live: Take No
Prisoners. Reed mentions and greets Springsteen during his lengthy monologue in WALK ON THE
WILD SIDE (at 5:33), saying: "Hi Bruce. Springsteen is alright by the way. He gets my seal of
approval, I think he's groovy. You notice the way the critics turned on him, like after they were
on him, right?" It's hard to be certain, but Reed seems to invite Springsteen on stage to perform
his spoken parts on STREET HASSLE, but Springsteen seems to turn down the invitation. An exchange
in the audience during the song can be heard at 6:26, along with what sounds like Springsteen's
voice.
Official Releases
Besides its inclusion on the Street Hassle album, Lou Reed's studio
version of STREET HASSLE was also included on several other official releases:
Lou Reed -- Street Hassle
12" single - Arista (SP-14) - USA, 1978
1-track promo single, contains a 4:02 edited version of STREET HASSLE.
Side A: STREET HASSLE [mono]
Side B: STREET HASSLE [stereo]
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Lou Reed / Velvet Underground -- "Street Hassle / I'm Waiting For The Man"
7" single - Arista (ARIST 198) - UK, 1978
Contains a 4:02 edited version of STREET HASSLE.
Side A: STREET HASSLE
Side B: I'M WAITING FOR THE MAN
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Lou Reed / Velvet Underground -- "Street Hassle / I'm Waiting For The Man - Venus In Furs"
12" EP - Arista (ARIST 12198) - UK, 1978
Side A: 01- STREET HASSLE
Side B: 01- I'M WAITING FOR THE MAN
Side B, 02- VENUS IN FURS
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Lou Reed / Velvet Underground -- "Street Hassle / I'm Waiting For The Man - Venus In Furs"
12" EP - Emi (ED.13) - Australia, 1978
Side A: 01- STREET HASSLE
Side B: 01- I'M WAITING FOR THE MAN
Side B, 02- VENUS IN FURS
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Various artists -- Arista AOR Sampler
2-LP album - Arista (ALS 06) - USA, 1978
A promotional sampler containing tracks from Arista and Arista/Stiff albums released in the U.S.
in 1978.
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Lou Reed -- Rock And Roll Diary 1967-1980
2-LP album - Arista (A2L 8603) - USA, 1980
2-LP album - Arista (AL11-8434) - USA, 1980
2-LP album - Arista (A2L 8603) - Canada, 1980
2-LP album - Arista (DARTY 8) - UK, 1980
2-LP album - Arista (301 442) - Germany, 1980
2-LP album - Arista (2 ARS 39087) - Italy, 1980
CD album - Arista (18434) - USA, 1993
Compilation album.
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Various artists -- Greatest AOR Hits: Portrait Of A Decade
LP album - Arista (AL8-8272) - USA, 1985
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Various artists -- Back At The Edge
Cassette album - Arista (AC-8436) - USA, 1986
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Lou Reed -- A Rock & Roll Life
2-CD album - Sire (PRO-CD-3358) - USA, 1989
A promotional sampler issued to coincide with the release of Reed's 1989 album New
York.
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Various artists -- Arista: A 15 Year History Of Rock
CD album - Arista (D-154100) - USA, 1991
This album was issued as a companion to Arista Records' CBS-TV 15th Anniversary Concert, which
benefited AIDS organizations nationwide.
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Lou Reed -- Between Thought And Expression: The Lou Reed Anthology
3-CD box set - BMG (2356-2-R) - USA, 1992
This box set covers the first 20 years of Lou Reed's solo career. Comes in a fat jewel case.
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Lou Reed -- Between Thought And Expression: The Lou Reed Anthology
3-CD box set - RCA (PD90621(3)) - Germany, 1992
This box set covers the first 20 years of Lou Reed's solo career. Comes in a long box.
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Various artists -- Rebellious Jukebox: The CD Collection
CD album - Melody Maker (MM REB JB 7001) - UK, 1993
Mail-order-only 14-track compilation album issued by Melody Maker.
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Lou Reed -- The Definitive Collection
CD album - Arista (07822-14610-2) - USA, 1999
16-track Lou Reed compilation album.
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Lou Reed -- El Lado Salvaje: Los Grandes Exitos 1972-1986
2-CD album - BMG Ariola (74321 64365 2) - Spain, 1999
Spain-only compilation album.
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Lou Reed -- The Wild Side
2-CD album - BMG (unknown catalogue number) - Australia, 2000
Australia-only compilation album.
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Lou Reed -- Meer Dan Het Beste Van 1972-1986
2-CD album - RCA (unknown catalogue number) - Holland, 2000
Holland-only compilation album.
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Various artists -- The Squid and the Whale
CD album - Ultra Records (unknown catalogue number) - USA, 2005
Soundtrack album to the motion picture The Squid and the Whale.
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Live History
As far as it's known, Bruce Springsteen has never performed STREET HASSLE
live.
Covers and Appearance in Popular Culture
Rock band Simple Minds covered STREET HASSLE in an abbreviated version on their
1984 album Sparkle In The Rain. Drone rock band Spacemen 3's song ODE TO STREET HASSLE
employs similar music to STREET HASSLE. It was released on their 1987 album The Perfect
Prescription.
STREET HASSLE is featured in the last scene of the 2005 film The Squid And
The Whale, and also appears on the film's soundtrack album.
Credits / References
Thanks Jake (ol'catfishinthelake at BTX and Greasy Lake).
Some of the above info is taken from
Brucebase.
Request
Please contact me if you have scans for or info about any official release
containing STREET HASSLE that's not mentioned on this page. I also need scans for the following
releases:
- Lou Reed / Velvet Underground -- "Street Hassle / I'm Waiting For The Man" || 7" single - Arista (ARIST 198) - UK, 1978
- Lou Reed / Velvet Underground -- "Street Hassle / I'm Waiting For The Man - Venus In Furs" || 12" EP - Emi (ED.13) - Australia, 1978
- Various artists -- Back At The Edge || Cassette album - Arista (AC-8436) - USA, 1986
On the cover of the Street Hassle album, the reflection of a man
appears on Lou Reed's glasses. It is possible that this is none but Bruce Springsteen. Please
contact me if you have any information.
Any additions, comments, or corrections to this page are welcome. You can
contact me via the below form or by email:
. You will be credited. Thanks in
advance.
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