All your two-bit psychiatrists are giving you electro shock
They say, they let you live at home, with mom and dad
Instead of mental hospital
But every time you tried to read a book
You couldn't get to page 17
'Cause you forgot, where you were
So you couldn't even read
Don't you know, they're gonna kill your sons
Don't you know, they're gonna kill, kill your sons
They're gonna kill, kill your sons
Until they run run run run run run run run away

Mom informed me on the phone
She didn't know what to do about dad
Took an axe and broke the table
Aren't you glad you're married
And sister, she got married on the island
And her husband takes the train
He's big and he's fat and he doesn't even have a brain
They're gonna kill your sons
Don't you know, they're gonna kill, kill your sons
Don't you know, they're gonna kill, kill your sons
Until they run away

Creedmore treated me very good
But Paine Whitney was even better
And when I flipped on PHC
I was so sad I didn't even get a letter
All of the drugs, that we took, it really was lots of fun
But when they shoot you up with thorizene on crystal smoke
You choke like a son of a gun
Don't you know, they're gonna kill your sons
Don't you know, they're gonna kill, kill your sons
They're gonna kill, kill your sons
Until they run run run run run run run run away



Lyrics submitted by spliphstar, edited by hornytheclown, stormville

Kill Your Sons Lyrics as written by

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Kill Your Sons song meanings
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9 Comments

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  • +4
    General Comment

    When Lou Reed was in his teens, he got electroshock treatment because of his homosexual tendencies at the time.

    BrainDamageon July 06, 2003   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    This song is about Reed's experiences as a teen, like (weirdly befittingly) BrainDamage said.

    When Lou Reed was a teenager, his parents had him undergo electric shock treatment and drug therapy to try and "cure" his homosexual tendencies. This song is about the flawed system he endured. And how the mental facilities of that time were just making life worst.

    The second verse is about how even "traditional" marriage can be flawed and it's not good for people to hide their true nature. The third verse is about how he was able to endure the mental facilities.

    hornytheclownon June 10, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Both the hospitals/facilities mentioned in the lyrics are misspelt - it's Creedmoor and Payne Whitney.

    OzDukeron December 24, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    That's sad.

    Eatcarpeton March 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's sad but true, great song and some great lyrics

    lou_reedon February 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Does anyone know what PHC means? Does he actually mean THC or what? Rhanks for telling me if you know!

    H.eagleon July 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Meant THANKS, rot "rhanks" lol. :D

    H.eagleon July 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    H.eagle, he is actually saying "PCP", the lyrics are off in some places here.

    psionic_1on October 03, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    does anyone know who played the guitar solo on this? it doesnt sound like lou, his live solo is much different.

    itsaboutdrugs88on February 01, 2009   Link

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