Doc and Sally inside
They're cooking for the down five
Who's staring at Miss Rayon
Who's busy licking up her pig pen
I'm searching for my mainline
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
Oh, just like Sister Ray said
Whip it on

Rosie and Miss Rayon
They're busy waiting for her booster
Who just got back from Carolina
She said she didn't like the weather
They're busy waiting for her sailor
Who's big and dressed in pink and leather
He's just here from Alabama
He wants to know a way to earn a dollar
I'm searching for my mainer
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
I couldn't hit it sideways
Oh, just like Sister Ray said
Play it on

Cecil's got his new piece
He cocks and shoots it between three and four
He aims it at the sailor
Shoots him down dead on the floor
Oh, you shouldn't do that
Don't you know you'll stain the carpet?
Now don't you know you'll stain the carpet
And by the way, have you got a dollar?
Oh, no, man, I haven't got the time-time
Too busy sucking on a ding-dong
She's busy sucking on my ding-dong
Oh, she does just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
I said I c-c-c-ouldn't hit it sideways
I c-c-c-c-c-c-couldn't hit it sideways
Oh do it, do it, oh just, just, just do it, bless Sister Ray sir, go on!
Oh

Now, who is that knocking?
Who's knocking at my chamber door?
Now could it be the police?
They come and take me for a ride-ride
Oh, but I haven't got the time-time
Hey, hey, hey, she's busy sucking on my ding-dong
She's busy sucking on my ding-dong
Oh, now, do it just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it sideways
I couldn't hit it sideways
Oh, now, just like
Oh, just like
Oh, just like
Oh, just like
Oh, just like
Oh, just like

Doc and sally inside, now move it along!
Cooking for the down five
Who's staring at Miss Rayon, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it!
licking up pig pen
I've been s-s-s-s-searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it sideways
I couldn't hit it sideways
Just like
Oh, just like, do it, do it, do it!
Just like
Just like that
Just like

Now Rosie and Miss Rayon
They're busy waiting for her booster
She's just back from Carolina
She says she's bound to meet a sailor
I said you haven't got the time-time
You're busy sucking on my ding-dong
You're busy sucking on my ding-dong
Now, just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
Whip it on me Jim, whip it on me Jim
Whip it on me Jim, whip it on me Jim
Said I couldn't hit it sideways, oh, do it!
Yeah, just like, yeah just like Sister Ray said
I said now Cecil's got his new piece
He cocks and shoots it, bang! between three and four
He aims it at the sailor
He shoots him down dead on the floor
Oh, you shouldn't do that, don't you know you'll hit the carper, don't you know you'll mess the carpet

Oh, she hasn't got the time-time
Busy sucking on his ding-dong
She's busy sucking on his ding-dong
Yeah, just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
Couldn't hit it sideways
Couldn't hit it sideways
Now just like
Now just like
Now just like, like Sister Ray said, now do it to him!

Doc and Sally inside
They're busy cooking for the down five, oh
Who's staring at Miss Rayon
Busy licking up her pig pen
I'm busy searching for my mainline
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
Now just like
Now just like
I said oh, oh, just like
Am-ph-ph-ph-ph-phetamine

Edit Lyrics

Lyrics submitted by capitol76, edited by minuette, TimeTime

Sister Ray Lyrics as written by Maureen Tucker Sterling Morrison

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Sister Ray song meanings

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53 Comments

+8
General Comment
Amphe-phe-phe-phe-phe-phetemine Seventeen violent, drug fueled, sleazy, sex crazed minutes of fractured guitars screaming in glorious extacy. Wow. During the song, (and you can hear it quite clearly) Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison actually had to turn up their guitars because John Cale was intentionally trying to drown out everybody with his organ (that was routed though a distorted guitar amplifier). Tom Wilson, the producer of the album, was so frustrated by the way they were playing and walked out in the middle of the song. "I don't have to listen to this, come and get me when your done." he told them. Just one question...what the heck does "I couldn't hit it sideways" mean???

Amphe-phe-phe-phe-phe-phetemine Seventeen violent, drug fueled, sleazy, sex crazed minutes of fractured guitars screaming in glorious extacy. Wow. During the song, (and you can hear it quite clearly) Lou Reed and Sterling Morrison actually had to turn up their guitars because John Cale was intentionally trying to drown out everybody with his organ (that was routed though a distorted guitar amplifier). Tom Wilson, the producer of the album, was so frustrated by the way they were playing and walked out in the middle of the song. "I don't have to listen to this, come and get me when your done." he told them. Just one question...what the heck does "I couldn't hit it sideways" mean???

Reason:

Sleepyon April 17, 2008 Link
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@Sleepy

Couldn't hit it sideways...he's trying to find a vein to shoot up into (searching for his mainline), but can't hit it, even "sideways." It's just an expression of frustration at trying to find a vein.

leamancon December 28, 2010

As the person above notes (although not perfectly clearly) the "mainline" is the vein, presumably in the forearm. Just as when having blood drawn, you obviously penetrate the vein at a straight angle. So "couldn't hit it sideways" seems to suggest that he's already "messed up", intoxicated, on something other than heroin, can't do anything physically precise.

geemon March 22, 2013
+7
General Comment
"'Sister Ray' was done as a joke - no, not as a joke, but it has eight characters in it and this guy gets killed and nobody does anything. It was built around this story that I wrote about this scene of total debauchery and decay. I like to think of 'Sister Ray' as a transvestite smack dealer. The situation is a bunch of drag queens taking some sailors home with them, shooting up on smack and having this orgy when the police appear." - Lou Reed

"'Sister Ray' was done as a joke - no, not as a joke, but it has eight characters in it and this guy gets killed and nobody does anything. It was built around this story that I wrote about this scene of total debauchery and decay. I like to think of 'Sister Ray' as a transvestite smack dealer. The situation is a bunch of drag queens taking some sailors home with them, shooting up on smack and having this orgy when the police appear." - Lou Reed

Reason:

angelicmobster8on July 20, 2007 Link
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@angelicmobster8
+5
Lyric Correction
These are the full, correct lyrics as I hear them: Doug and Sally inside They're cooking for the downpipe Who's staring at Miss Rayon Who's busy licking off her pig pen I'm searching for my mainline I said I couldn't hit it sideways I said I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, just like Sister Ray said Whip it on 'em Rosie and Miss Rayon They're busy waiting for her booster Who just got back from Carolina She said she didn't like the weather They're busy waiting for her sailor Who's big and dressed in pink and leather He's just here from Alabama He wants to know a way to earn a dollar I'm searching for my mainer I said I couldn't hit it sideways I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, just like Sister Ray said Lay it on 'em Cecil's got his new piece He cocks it, shoots it between three and four He aims it at the sailor Shoots him down dead on the floor Oh, you shouldn't do that Don't you know you'll stain the carpet? Now don't you know you'll stain the carpet And by the way, have you got a dollar Oh, no, man, I haven't got the time time Too busy sucking on a ding-dong She's busy sucking on my ding-dong Oh, she does just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I said I c-c-c-c-couldn't hit it sideways I c-c-c-c--c-couldn't, couldn't hit it sideways Oh do it do it, just j-j-j-just do it do it, just like Sister Ray said, oh! Now, who is that knocking Who's knocking at my chamber door? Now could it be the police They come and take me for a ride ride Oh, but I haven't got the time time Hey, hey, hey, she's busy sucking on my ding-dong She's busy sucking on my ding-dong Oh, now, do it just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I couldn't hit it sideways I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, now just like Oh, just like Oh, just like Oh, just like Oh, just like Oh, just like... Now Rosie and Miss Rayon They're busy waiting for her booster She's just back from Carolina She said she's bound to beat her sailor I said she hasn't got the time time Too busy sucking on my ding dong Too busy sucking on my ding dong Now, just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I said I couldn't hit it sideways Whip it on me Jim, whip it on me Jim, whip it on me Jim Said I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, do it Now just like... just like Sister Ray said I said now Cecil's got his new piece He cocks it, shoots it bang between three and four He aims it at the sailor He shoots him down dead on the floor Oh, you shouldn't do that Don't you know you'll hit the carpet, don't you know you'll mess the carpet? Oh, she hasn't got the time time Busy sucking on his ding dong She's busy sucking on his ding dong Now just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline Couldn't hit it sideways Couldn't hit it sideways Now just like, now just like, now just like Like Sister Ray said, now do it to him! Doug and Sally inside They're busy cooking for the downpipe Who's busy staring at Miss Rayon Who's busy licking off her pigpen I'm busy searching for the mainline I couldn't hit it sideways I said I couldn't hit it sideways Now just like, now just like, I said aw, just like Amph-ph-ph-ph-ph-ph-phetamine

These are the full, correct lyrics as I hear them: Doug and Sally inside They're cooking for the downpipe Who's staring at Miss Rayon Who's busy licking off her pig pen I'm searching for my mainline I said I couldn't hit it sideways I said I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, just like Sister Ray said Whip it on 'em Rosie and Miss Rayon They're busy waiting for her booster Who just got back from Carolina She said she didn't like the weather They're busy waiting for her sailor Who's big and dressed in pink and leather He's just here from Alabama He wants to know a way to earn a dollar I'm searching for my mainer I said I couldn't hit it sideways I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, just like Sister Ray said Lay it on 'em Cecil's got his new piece He cocks it, shoots it between three and four He aims it at the sailor Shoots him down dead on the floor Oh, you shouldn't do that Don't you know you'll stain the carpet? Now don't you know you'll stain the carpet And by the way, have you got a dollar Oh, no, man, I haven't got the time time Too busy sucking on a ding-dong She's busy sucking on my ding-dong Oh, she does just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I said I c-c-c-c-couldn't hit it sideways I c-c-c-c--c-couldn't, couldn't hit it sideways Oh do it do it, just j-j-j-just do it do it, just like Sister Ray said, oh! Now, who is that knocking Who's knocking at my chamber door? Now could it be the police They come and take me for a ride ride Oh, but I haven't got the time time Hey, hey, hey, she's busy sucking on my ding-dong She's busy sucking on my ding-dong Oh, now, do it just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I couldn't hit it sideways I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, now just like Oh, just like Oh, just like Oh, just like Oh, just like Oh, just like... Now Rosie and Miss Rayon They're busy waiting for her booster She's just back from Carolina She said she's bound to beat her sailor I said she hasn't got the time time Too busy sucking on my ding dong Too busy sucking on my ding dong Now, just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline I said I couldn't hit it sideways Whip it on me Jim, whip it on me Jim, whip it on me Jim Said I couldn't hit it sideways Oh, do it Now just like... just like Sister Ray said I said now Cecil's got his new piece He cocks it, shoots it bang between three and four He aims it at the sailor He shoots him down dead on the floor Oh, you shouldn't do that Don't you know you'll hit the carpet, don't you know you'll mess the carpet? Oh, she hasn't got the time time Busy sucking on his ding dong She's busy sucking on his ding dong Now just like Sister Ray said I'm searching for my mainline Couldn't hit it sideways Couldn't hit it sideways Now just like, now just like, now just like Like Sister Ray said, now do it to him! Doug and Sally inside They're busy cooking for the downpipe Who's busy staring at Miss Rayon Who's busy licking off her pigpen I'm busy searching for the mainline I couldn't hit it sideways I said I couldn't hit it sideways Now just like, now just like, I said aw, just like Amph-ph-ph-ph-ph-ph-phetamine

Reason:

minuetteon October 07, 2012 Link
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@minuette

actually, this just after "oh just like oh just like..." and before "Now rosie and miss rayon"

Doug and Sally inside, now move it along
Cooking for the downpipe
Who's staring at Miss Rayon
Do it do it do it do it do it
Licking off her pigpen
I'm s-s-s-searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it sideways
I couldn't hit it sideways
Just like, oh just like
Oh, do it do it do it
Just like, just like, just like...

minuetteon October 08, 2012

I think you're correct about a lot of the changes you made. On the Quine Tapes official bootleg release there are multiple live versions of Sister Ray and the lyrics are often far more clear than they are on the album version. The live versions are of course not lyrically identical to the album version, but they're largely the same and we can extrapolate from them what the lyrics are on the studio version.

So, "dressed in pink and leather" is definitely correct, there's really no ambiguity, and it's a pretty important line. I think you're also correct about "licking off her pigpen" instead of "licking up."

A couple of your other changes are incorrect I think - I think it's very clearly "Duck" instead of "Doug," and in fact on one of the live recordings on the Quine Tapes Lou does a little intro and says "This is a story about somebody named Duck and Sally and Cecil..." and there's not a lot of ambiguity. It also sounds like he's saying "down five" rather than "downpipe."

Anyway, overall I think your lyrics are much more accurate than the official ones here on this site, and the only glaring mistake I see in yours is the very first word, cuz it's Duck! :)

Check out the Quine Tapes if you haven't, they're amazing.

TimeTimeon March 27, 2014

@minuette it's worth listening to as many live versions as u can find, cos they give insights, and show the song actually had no definitive version, with many varying raps. I hear 'cooking for their down TIME' not downpipe. Never heard of Downpipe in any slang, but down time kinda fits the sentence meaning: they're cooking a shot to enjoy some chillout time.

Bamsteron March 19, 2015

@minuette it's worth listening to as many live versions as u can find, cos they give insights, and show the song actually had no definitive version, with many varying raps. I hear 'cooking for their down TIME' not downpipe. Never heard of Downpipe in any slang, but down time kinda fits the sentence meaning: they're cooking a shot to enjoy some chillout time.

Bamsteron March 19, 2015

you're right, I never thought downpipe made any sense lol, I got that from some other source I think.

minuetteon March 31, 2015

@minuette The 36 minute version of sister Ray at the Matrix in November69 has very clearly enunciated lyrics, and it's a slightly different rap. I hear:
"Duck and Sally inside, you know they're cooking for the down five. Who's staring at miss Rayon, She's busy looking up at pigpen. Me, I'm searching for my mainline "
It is a clear recording, so I'm pretty sure of my translation of that version. Definitely " cooking for the down five" and "looking up at pigpen"

Bamsteron May 05, 2016
+4
General Comment
Even if it is about drugs and oral sex with a transexual, it just might be the greatest song ever.

Even if it is about drugs and oral sex with a transexual, it just might be the greatest song ever.

Reason:

louisisgrateron April 18, 2002 Link
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@louisisgrater
+3
General Comment
If you want to read a literary inspiration for this song, check out "Last Exit to Brooklyn" by Hubert Selby, Jr. There's a chapter that describes a similar, sleazy situation...

If you want to read a literary inspiration for this song, check out "Last Exit to Brooklyn" by Hubert Selby, Jr. There's a chapter that describes a similar, sleazy situation...

Reason:

Boskoon September 03, 2005 Link
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@Bosko

@Bosko correct, lou Reed states in a loaded interview that the inspiration "is Selby; uptown."

Bamsteron May 05, 2016
+3
General Comment
couldnt hit it sideways is just lou reed rambling about how he cant find a vein. because of this damn song i cant stop saying time time or ride ride. sorely underappreciated song, album, and band.

couldnt hit it sideways is just lou reed rambling about how he cant find a vein. because of this damn song i cant stop saying time time or ride ride. sorely underappreciated song, album, and band.

Reason:

scottjefferieson May 01, 2008 Link
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@scottjefferies
+3
General Comment
Ding dongs will live forever thanks to Lou Reed.

Ding dongs will live forever thanks to Lou Reed.

Reason:

casketteon November 17, 2012 Link
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@caskette
+2
General Comment
The line about knocking on the chamber door is an Edgar Allan Poe reference. The live Joy Division version of this song is great, but not as good as the original, which is the greatest song ever precisely because it's about drugs and sexual deviancy.

The line about knocking on the chamber door is an Edgar Allan Poe reference. The live Joy Division version of this song is great, but not as good as the original, which is the greatest song ever precisely because it's about drugs and sexual deviancy.

Reason:

ntwjoneson June 24, 2005 Link
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@ntwjones
+2
General Comment
As Lou Reed said: "'Sister Ray' was done as a joke- no, not as a joke, but it has eight characters in it and this guy gets killed and nobody does anything. It was built around this story that I wrote about this scene of total debauchery and decay. I like to think of 'Sister Ray' as a transvestite smack dealer. The situation is a bunch of drag queens taking some sailors home with them, shooting up on smack and having this orgy when the police appear."

As Lou Reed said: "'Sister Ray' was done as a joke- no, not as a joke, but it has eight characters in it and this guy gets killed and nobody does anything. It was built around this story that I wrote about this scene of total debauchery and decay. I like to think of 'Sister Ray' as a transvestite smack dealer. The situation is a bunch of drag queens taking some sailors home with them, shooting up on smack and having this orgy when the police appear."

Reason:

riot4201on June 01, 2006 Link
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@riot4201
+2
General Comment
I always thought the opening line was "fucking sally inside." I actually prefer to think of it that way.

I always thought the opening line was "fucking sally inside." I actually prefer to think of it that way.

Reason:

w124rdon March 30, 2009 Link
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@w124rd

@w124rd Nice to read that

migl111333on August 20, 2018

@w124rd Nice to read that

migl111333on August 20, 2018