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Kill Your Sons Lyrics
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
Creedmoor treated me very good
But Payne 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
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
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
But Payne 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
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
When Lou Reed was in his teens, he got electroshock treatment because of his homosexual tendencies at the time.
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.
The chorus annoys me now - surely even when you use the word "kill" colloquially, you should make an effort to sustain the metaphor. (I.e: you can't "run away" when you're "dead")
The chorus annoys me now - surely even when you use the word "kill" colloquially, you should make an effort to sustain the metaphor. (I.e: you can't "run away" when you're "dead")
Both the hospitals/facilities mentioned in the lyrics are misspelt - it's Creedmoor and Payne Whitney.
That's sad.
It's sad but true, great song and some great lyrics
Does anyone know what PHC means? Does he actually mean THC or what? Rhanks for telling me if you know!
Meant THANKS, rot "rhanks" lol. :D
H.eagle, he is actually saying "PCP", the lyrics are off in some places here.
I'm listening to the remastered CD right now, and he clearly says PHC. In the 1983 Live in Italy, he does say PCP though.
I'm listening to the remastered CD right now, and he clearly says PHC. In the 1983 Live in Italy, he does say PCP though.
does anyone know who played the guitar solo on this? it doesnt sound like lou, his live solo is much different.