If I could be anything in the world that flew
I would be a bat and come swooping after you
And if the last time you were here, things were a bit askew
Well, you know what happens after dark
When rattlesnakes loose their skins and their hearts
And all the missionaries loose their bark
All the trees are calling after you
And all the venom snipers after you
Are all the mountains boulder after you

If I could be anything of the things in this world that bite
Instead of being a tethered ocelot on a leash
I'd rather be your kite
And be tied to the end of your string
And flying in the air, babe, at night
Because you know what they say about honey bears
When you shave off all their baby hair
You've got a hairy minded big bare bear
And all the bells are rolling out for you
And stones are all erupting out for you
And all the cheap bloodsuckers are flying after you

Yesterday, Daisy Mae and Biff were grooving down the street
And just like in a movie, her hands became her feet
Her belly button was her mouth
Which meant she tasted what she'd speak
But the funny thing is what happened to her nose
It grew until it reached all of her toes
Now, when people say her feet smell, they mean her nose
And curtains laced with diamonds, dear, for you
And kingdom's Christian sailors (soldiers), dear, for you
And melting ice cap mountains, dear, for you
And knights in flaming silver robes for you
And bats, that with a kiss turn prince for you
Swoop, swoop, oh, baby, rock, rock


Lyrics submitted by spliphstar

Andy's Chest Lyrics as written by

Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC

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Andy's Chest song meanings
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8 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    This is an old Velvets song that Lou decided to resurrect for his second solo album. Apparently after Andy Warhol was shot, (hence the film I Shot Andy Warhol) Lou decided to cheer him up by writing a song based around dadaist wordplay. That's why it's called Andy's Chest.

    Rich_Mon May 27, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Whoa. That's awesome. Lou Reed is amazing and this song is one his finest. The dadaist angle is pretty unique. You just cannot find many songs like this.

    crashboyon April 14, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    so that's andy. oh, neat

    pumkinhedon November 21, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    What happened to: 'And all the roman Noblemen for you'? That's my favourite line! I love this song, it's fantastic and one of my favourites!

    Coney_island_babyon December 15, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    And be tied to the end of your string And flying in the air, babe, at night

    That's my favorite part of the whole song. My favorite part of any song, quite possibly. Though, I must admit I am on a bit of a Lou Reed kick. My biases aside, this is an excellent song. I mean, but Lou Reed wouldn't have it any other way, amirite?

    nitsirhcon January 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    lou reed is the man

    barbshishon February 01, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think the lyrics are for the original song. Andy changed them slightly for the solo remake. For instance he says "you have a hairy minded pink bare bear" and not "you've got a hairy minded big bare bear". He also says "mountain tops" not "mountains, dear".

    JoeRose11on May 26, 2022   Link
  • -1
    General Comment

    Whoa. That's awesome. Lou Reed is amazing and this song is one his finest. The dadaist angle is pretty unique. You just cannot find many songs like this.

    crashboyon April 14, 2003   Link

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