Lady Godiva here dressed so demurely
Pats the head of another curly haired boy, just another toy
Sick with silence she weeps sincerely
Saying word that have oh so clearly been said
So long ago
Draperies wrapped gently 'round her shoulder
Life has made her that much bolder now
That she's found out how
Dressed in silk, Latin lace and envy
Pride and joy of the latest penny faire
Pretty passing care
Hair today now dipped in the water
Making love to every poor daughter's son
Isn't it fun
Now today propping grace with envy
Lady Godiva peers to see if anyone's there
And hasn't a care
Doctor is coming the nurse thinks sweetly
Turning on the machines that neatly pump air
The body lies bare
Shaved and hairless what once was screaming
Now lies silent and almost sleeping
The brain must have gone away
Strapped securely to the white table
Ether caused the body to wither and writhe
Underneath the white light
Doctor arrives with knife and baggage
Sees the growth as just so much cabbage
That now
Must be cut away
Now come the moment of Great! Great! Decision!
The doctor is making his first incision
One goes here - one goes there
The ether tube's leaking says someone who's sloppy
The patient it seems is not so well sleeping
The screams echo up the hall
Don't panic someone give him pentathol instantly
Doctor removes his blade
Cagily slow from the brain
By my count of ten
The head won't move


Lyrics submitted by capitol76

Lady Godiva's Operation Lyrics as written by Lou Reed

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Lady Godiva's Operation song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    This is what the song means. The dude wants a sex-change operation. But his parents really hate him, they think he's crazy to want that. So they slyly pay the doctor to give him a LOBOTOMY instead. Imagine his chagrin! The climate was extremely hostile to such operations in the Sixties, not at all like now.

    kassie1124on September 28, 2016   Link

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