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Sally Can't Dance Lyrics
Sally dances on the floor
She says she can't do it anymore
She walks down St. Marks Place
And eats natural food at my place
Sally can't dance no more, she can't get off of the floor
Sally can't dance no more
They found her in the trunk of a ford
Oooh, she can't dance no more
Sally is loosing her face
She lives on St., Marks Place
In a rent-controlled appartment, eighty dollars a month
She has lots of fun, she has lots of fun
But, Sally can't dance no more
Sally can't dance no more
She took too much meth and can't get off the floor
Now Sally, she can't dance no more
She was the first girl in the neighbourhood
To wear tied-dyed pants, ah, like she should
She was the first girl that I ever seen
That had flowers painted on her jeans
She was the first girl in her neighbourhood
that got raped on Tompkins Square real good
Now she wears a sword, like Napoleon
And she kills the boys and acts like a son
Sally can't dance no more, Sally can't dance no more
She can't get herself off the floor, Sally, she can't dance no more
Sally became a big model, she moved up to eighties and park
She had a studio appartment and that's where she used to ball
folk singers, and that's where she used to ball folk singers
Sally can't dance no more, Sally can't get off of the floor
She can't dance no more, Sally can't dance
She knew all the right people, she went to Le Jardin
She danced with Picasso's illegitimate mistress
And wore Kenneth Lane jewels - it's trash -
But - Sally can't dance no more, she can't get off of the floor
Sally can't dance no more, Sally can't dance
She says she can't do it anymore
She walks down St. Marks Place
And eats natural food at my place
Sally can't dance no more
They found her in the trunk of a ford
Oooh, she can't dance no more
She lives on St., Marks Place
In a rent-controlled appartment, eighty dollars a month
She has lots of fun, she has lots of fun
Sally can't dance no more
She took too much meth and can't get off the floor
Now Sally, she can't dance no more
To wear tied-dyed pants, ah, like she should
She was the first girl that I ever seen
That had flowers painted on her jeans
She was the first girl in her neighbourhood
that got raped on Tompkins Square real good
Now she wears a sword, like Napoleon
And she kills the boys and acts like a son
She can't get herself off the floor, Sally, she can't dance no more
She had a studio appartment and that's where she used to ball
folk singers, and that's where she used to ball folk singers
She can't dance no more, Sally can't dance
She danced with Picasso's illegitimate mistress
And wore Kenneth Lane jewels - it's trash -
Sally can't dance no more, Sally can't dance
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It’s allegedly about the late Edie Sedgwick who was a “big model” that used to “ball folk singers” (Bob Dylan), though some suggest Nico is another candidate. Yet since Sedgwick was dead from a drug overdose when the song was penned, and certainly couldn’t dance no more, it’s likely to be about her. One of Reed’s nastiest songs, yet a classic nonetheless. It should be noted that the single version removes any references to drug addiction, rape and murder, meaning most listeners will simply presume the song is about a chick that dances badly. Reed’s ‘Femme Fatale’ is also supposedly about Sedgwick.
Party animal?
I wouldn't necessarily say it's "about" Edie, but definitely based loosely on her and probably a few others. I cant for the life of me figure where the name Sally came from though...
@dullife My take on the name Sally is that Lou may have been referring to Sally Rand, the famous burlesque ostrich feather dancer, the star of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. She was arrested and (couldn't "dance no more") the Fair began losing money. Her supporters got her out of prison and back up on the stage.
@dullife My take on the name Sally is that Lou may have been referring to Sally Rand, the famous burlesque ostrich feather dancer, the star of the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. She was arrested and (couldn't "dance no more") the Fair began losing money. Her supporters got her out of prison and back up on the stage.
For me this song is about Edie, she used to dance and she did it really well, but she lost her self into so many drugs. She was the first girl in everything, was a boomb, and she learn how to distrust some man, cause she was "raped" by his dad, altought she trust Andy too much. She was a big model, well she was, the "it" girl, and she had a kind of affair with Dylan, altought Dylan hadn't admit it, Lou is telling us in some way. She knew all the really right people cause she was someone, people wanted to be by her side cause she had some kind of light inside her, but she has lost everything.
I think that's what Lou's saying. I'm sorry Edie, you used to dance like a goddess, and be a goddess, but darling you can't dance forever.