This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Holly came from Miami, F.L.A.
Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she
She says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
Said, "Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side"
Candy came from out on the island
In the backroom, she was everybody's darlin'
But she never lost her head
Even when she was givin' head
She says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
Said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
And the colored girls go
Do-do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do, do
Little Joe never once gave it away
Everybody had to pay and pay
A hustle here and a hustle there
New York City is the place where they said
"Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey Joe, take a walk on the wild side"
Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets
Lookin' for soul food and a place to eat
Went to the Apollo
You should have seen him go, go, go
They said, "Hey Sugar, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
Alright, huh
Jackie is just speedin' away
Thought she was James Dean for a day
Then I guess she had to crash
Valium would have helped that bash
She said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side"
And the colored girls say
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do, do
Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she
She says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
Said, "Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side"
Candy came from out on the island
In the backroom, she was everybody's darlin'
But she never lost her head
Even when she was givin' head
She says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
Said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
And the colored girls go
Do-do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do, do
Little Joe never once gave it away
Everybody had to pay and pay
A hustle here and a hustle there
New York City is the place where they said
"Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey Joe, take a walk on the wild side"
Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets
Lookin' for soul food and a place to eat
Went to the Apollo
You should have seen him go, go, go
They said, "Hey Sugar, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
Alright, huh
Jackie is just speedin' away
Thought she was James Dean for a day
Then I guess she had to crash
Valium would have helped that bash
She said, "Hey babe, take a walk on the wild side"
I said, "Hey honey, take a walk on the wild side"
And the colored girls say
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do
Do, do-do, do-do, do-do-do, do
Lyrics submitted by magicnudiesuit
Walk On The Wild Side Lyrics as written by Lou Reed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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!
More Featured Meanings
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
The characters are as follows:
HOLLY came from Miami, FLA: Holly Woodlawn (Haraldo Santiago Franceschi Rodriguez Danhakl b.1946,Puerto Rico)The endearing transvestite recognized by her overbite and crooked teeth, is most memorable for her seriocomic performance in the film "Trash". For some reason, many mistakenly think she is no longer living, which is far from true at this writing('07)
CANDY came from out on the Island: (James Lawrence Slattery 1944-74Long Island NY) Feminine,pretty, ex-male Candy Darling performed in several Warhol/Morrissey projects.She died of cancer in the mid 70s.
LITTLE JOE never once gave it away:Superhot and 'straight' Joe D'allessandro (1948 Pensacola, Fla) was the star of several full-length cinema projects by Paul Morrissey in Andy Warhol's Factory studio. A butch brooklyn streetkid who turned to gayhustling before his discovery by Warhol/Morrissey who exploited Joes universal sexappeal.He's now an icon of underground cinema and gay subculture.
SUGARPLUM FAIRY came and hit the streets: Joe Campbell's nickname. He appeared in Andy Warhol's Nude Restaurant(1967) and very briefly in two others but is not seen in later projects.
JACKIE is just speeding away: Multi-talented Jackie Curtis (John Holder Jr.1947-85 NYNY)performed both in and out of drag in films and onstage as well as being a prolific writer.He died of accidental H overdose.
These characters along with many others made up the unique group of subculture speedfreaks, wannabees, and genderbenders known as Andy Warhol's Superstars. They contributed their various talents to multiple Warhol-related projects during the late-60's thru early 70's pop art/trash/underground cinema, art and social scene. You can enter thier names on youtube to find lots of videos of these people, but if you are really interested,seek and watch the films of Paul Morrissey under the heading "andy warhol's" or "AW presents" Candy, Holly, and Jackie are Hilarious in the trash classic - Women in Revolt. Mike
WOW, what a fantastic comment!
a real great summary of Warhols' Superstars.
@InYourMind An interesting description of art, calling these people trash. Must be really easy for people to separate themselves from this trash, not having to travel down this path. I say take a walk on the wild side. Babe.
@InYourMind If only the POPE was mentioned [Ondine]
This is about transvestites who come to New York City and become prostitutes. "Take a walk on the wild side" is what they say to potential customers.
Each verse introduces a new character. There is Holly, Candy, Little Joe, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Jackie. The characters that are all cronies of the infamous Andy Warhol Factory, as was Lou.
"Little Joe" refers to Joe Dallesandero, who was also one of Andy's kids in the factory. He was in several films by Warhol. Sugar Plum Fairy is the nickname of actor Joe Campbell.
"Holly," "Candy," and "Jackie" are based on Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, and Jackie Curtis. They are all real drag queens who appeared in Warhol's 1972 movie Women In Revolt. Woodlawn also appeared in Warhol's 1970 movie Trash, and Curtis was in Warhol's 1968 movie Flesh.
Reed: "I always thought it would be kind of fun to introduce people to characters they maybe hadn't met before, or hadn't wanted to meet."
This was not banned by the notoriously conservative BBC or by many US radio stations because censors did not understand phrases like "giving head." Depending on the regional US market, the song was edited for what we now call political correctness. Reed leads into the female vocalists' "Doo, doo-doo" hook with the words, "And the colored girls say," but some stations played a version that replaced the phrase with, "And the girls all say." In 1972, 3 to 3-1/2 minute songs were still the rule for radio, so this was edited accordingly.
Reed struggled with his sexuality for most of his life. His parents even tried to "cure" his homosexuality. This came out at a time when audiences were intrigued by cross-dressing and homosexuality in music. "Glam Rock," where the performers wore feminine clothes, was big, and artists like Bowie and Elton John were attracting fans both gay and straight.
Reed was never strictly homosexual..just figured I'd clarify that. He claimed bisexuality for years, and then later revoked it, saying he merely became comfortable with and having "developed a taste" for men (as well as women) after doing some experimenting.
@JosephWolf <br /> Also Holly and Candy were/are transgender women. They were not drag queens.
This is about Warhol's "Superstars," Holly is Holly Woodlawn, Little Joe is Joe Dallesandro, Candy is Candy Darling, and Jackie is Jackie Curtis.
it's amazing that they play this song on the radio. it's a great song though. lou reed and david bowie, alright!
Its about Holly Woodlawn, a transexual that was an Andy Warhol superstar.
@magicnudiesuit That they played a line like "even when she was givin' head" is a breakthrough in that it passed through their censor-meter
Lou Reed was one of the regulars at The Factory and his music contributed to the atmosphere that Andy Warhol liked and needed to create his art. Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, Joe Dallesandro (the most frequent actor in Warhols short films), Joe Campbell (Sugar Plum Fairy) and Jackie Curtis. Candy Darling was also the subject of Lou Reed's song 'Candy Says'. Lou Reed and Andy Warhol had a fallout between the band The Velvet Underground when they both wanted to take the band in different direction. Lou Reed later recorded the album Songs For Drella (Andy Warhols nickname - Dracula and Cinderella) which was an apology to Warhol.
@sterile.stars Lou Reed never went to The Factory and he DESPISED anyone who had anything to do with it - ESPECIALLY Warhol
Thanks, JosephWolf, for a comprehensive and (as far as I know) accurate analysis of this song. And I agree that the song escaped being banned only because back in the 70's most people didn't know what "giving head" meant!
roger_wilco's right. This song IS about all that went down with Warhol and his cronies. Mostly about transexuals, might I add.
This song is awesome and its just nice and simple. I love Lou's voice and how he is kinda singing and just kinda telling some stories.
It was about Andy warhol's factory people. But mainly Candy Darling.
supposedly written about Andy Warhol's entourage.
Lou and ol' Andy used to share needles or something. :)