Velvet Underground

Studio CD: I, Jonathan
Compilation: A Plea For Tenderness, I Must Be King
Live Bootleg: Binghamton, The Birchmore, The Knitting Factory 1997 (2)
I, Jonathan

Chords

A
They were wild like the usa

A mystery band in a New York way
D
Rock and roll, but not like the rest
A
And to me, america at it's best
E
How in the world were they making that sound?
A
Velvet Underground


A
A spooky tone on a Fender bass

Played less notes and left more space
D
Stayed kind of still, looked kinda shy
A
Kinda far away, kinda dignified
E
How in the world were they making that sound?
A
Velvet Underground


D                                       A
Now you can look at that band and wonder where
        F#m              E
All that sound was coming from

With just 4 people there


A
Twangy sounds of the cheapest types,

Sounds as stark as black and white stripes,
D
Bold and brash, sharp and rude,
A
Like the heats turned off

And you're low on food
E
How in the world were they making that sound?
A
Velvet Underground

Like this


[Here the song breaks into an excerpt from Sister Ray]

A
Wild wild parties when they start to unwind

A close encounter of the thirdest kind
D                        A
On the bandstand playing, everybody's saying
E
How in the world were they making that sound?
A
Velvet Underground


D
Well you could look at that band
            A
And at first sight
        F#m
Say that certain rules about modern music
E
Wouldn't apply tonight


A
Twangy sounds of the cheapest kind,

Like "Guitar sale $2999,"
D
Bold and brash, stark and still,
        A
Like the heats turned off

And you can't pay the bill
E
How in the world were they making that sound?
A
Velvet Underground


A
Both guitars got the fuzz tone on

The drummer's standing upright pounding along
D
A howl, a tone, a feedback whine
A
Biker boys meet the college kind
E
How in the world were they making that sound?
A
Velvet Underground


A
Wild wild parties when they start to unwind

A close encounter of the thirdest kind
D                         A
On the bandstand grooving, everybody moving
E
How in the world are they making that sound?
A
Velvet Underground

Chordpro

[A] They were wild like the usa
A mystery band in a New York way
[D] Rock and roll, but not like the rest
[A] And to me, america at it's best
[E] How in the world were they making that sound?
[A] Velvet Underground

[A] A spooky tone on a Fender bass
Played less notes and left more space
[D] Stayed kind of still, looked kinda shy
[A] Kinda far away, kinda dignified
[E] How in the world were they making that sound?
[A] Velvet Underground

[D] Now you can look at that band and wonder [A] where
All that [F#m] sound was coming [E] from
With just 4 people there

[A] Twangy sounds of the cheapest types,
Sounds as stark as black and white stripes,
[D] Bold and brash, sharp and rude,
[A] Like the heats turned off
And you're low on food
[E] How in the world were they making that sound?
[A] Velvet Underground
Like this

[Here the song breaks into an excerpt from Sister Ray]

[A] Wild wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
[D] On the bandstand playing, [A] everybody's saying
[E] How in the world were they making that sound?
[A] Velvet Underground

[D] Well you could look at that band
And at first [A] sight
Say that [F#m] certain rules about modern music
[E] Wouldn't apply tonight

[A] Twangy sounds of the cheapest kind,
Like "Guitar sale $2999,"
[D] Bold and brash, stark and still,
Like the [A] heats turned off
And you can't pay the bill
[E] How in the world were they making that sound?
[A] Velvet Underground

[A] Both guitars got the fuzz tone on
The drummer's standing upright pounding along
[D] A howl, a tone, a feedback whine
[A] Biker boys meet the college kind
[E] How in the world were they making that sound?
[A] Velvet Underground

[A] Wild wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
[D] On the bandstand grooving, [A] everybody moving
[E] How in the world are they making that sound?
[A] Velvet Underground

Lyrics

They were wild like the usa
A mystery band in a New York way
Rock and roll, but not like the rest
And to me, america at it's best
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

A spooky tone on a Fender bass
Played less notes and left more space
Stayed kind of still, looked kinda shy
Kinda far away, kinda dignified
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Now you can look at that band and wonder where
All that sound was coming from
With just 4 people there

Twangy sounds of the cheapest types,
Sounds as stark as black and white stripes,
Bold and brash, sharp and rude,
Like the heats turned off
And you're low on food
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground
Like this

Wild wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
On the bandstand playing, everybody's saying
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Well you could look at that band
And at first sight
Say that certain rules about modern music
Wouldn't apply tonight

Twangy sounds of the cheapest kind,
Like "Guitar sale $2999,"
Bold and brash, stark and still,
Like the heats turned off
And you can't pay the bill
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Both guitars got the fuzz tone on
The drummer's standing upright pounding along
A howl, a tone, a feedback whine
Biker boys meet the college kind
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Wild wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
On the bandstand grooving, everybody moving
How in the world are they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Binghamton

Lyrics

[Hi I see someone with a Velvet Underground tshirt so I'm gonna sing a song like I just got,
I got the idea to make up this next song, are ya?
So's my mom
Which part, the west side or the east side? ???
Anyway, see I was in Italy when I got the idea to make up this cause over there they, no one had ever seen this band Velvet Underground,
Lot of you know about them, they were this New York band about the mid sixties and stuff,
Oh excuse me, I didn't realize, hey everyone here is very hip everyone knows about it,
Pardon my foolishness I didn't realize everyone knows about them of course
How could I be so silly?
Well in any case, they were one of my favourite bands and you know and of course one of the first aggregations from whom I copied and stole
And
But I got to see them play a lot which made theft much more easy
I loved them
So, figured I would make a song to explain to the misfortunate what it was like to see them live and I titled the song "the velvet underground"]

They were wild like the usa
Mystery band in a New York way
Rock and roll, but not like the rest
And to me, america at its best
And how in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

A spooky tone on a Fender bass
Played less notes and left more space
Stayed kind of still, looked kinda shy
Kinda far away, kinda dignified
And How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Well you could look at that band and wonder where
All that sound was coming from
With just 4 people there

Twangy sounds of the cheapest types,
Sounds as bold as black and white stripes,
Bold and brash, sharp and rude,
Like the heats turned off
And you're low on food
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Both guitars got the fuzz tone on
The drummer's standing upright pounding along
A howl, a tone, a feedback whine
Biker boys meet the college kind
And How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Twangy sounds of the cheapest kind,
Like "Guitar sale $3999,"
Bold and brash, stark and still,
Like the heats turned off
And you can't pay the bill
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Well you could look at that crowd
And realize
That they weren't applauding
Cause they were hypnotized

Wild wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
On the bandstand playing, everybody's saying
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Let's go

Wild wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
On the bandstand thundering, everybody's wondering
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

[Break, intermission
See ya in 10 or 15, break
15 is too long, 10]

The Birchmore

Lyrics

They were wild like the usa
A mystery band in a New York way
Rock and roll, but not like the rest
And to me, america at its best
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

A spooky tone on a Fender bass
Played less notes and left more space
Stayed kind of still, looked kinda shy
Kinda far away, kinda dignified
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Well you can look at that band and not know where
All that sound was coming from
With just 4 people there

Twangy sounds of the cheapest types,
Sounds as bold as black and white stripes,
Bold and brash, sharp and rude,
Like the heats turned off
And you're low on food
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground
Like this

[[Starts a brief version of Sister Ray]]

Duck and Sally inside
They're cooking for the down five
Who're staring at Miss Rayon
Who's busy licking up her pusher's hand
I'm searching for my mainline
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
And me I couldn't hit is firstways
It's just like Sister Ray says

[[Back to the song]]

Wild wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
On the bandstand playing, everybody's saying
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Well you could look at that band
And at first sight
Say that certain rules about popular music
Wouldn't apply tonight

Both guitars got the fuzz tone on
The drummer's standing upright pounding along
A howl, a tone, a feedback whine
Biker boys meet the college kind
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Twangy sounds of the cheapest kind,
Like "Guitar sale $29.99,"
Bold and brash, stark and still,
Like the heats turned off
And you can't pay the bill
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Sometime tonight let the public cool
Not everybody went for this brand of rock and roll
Tonight the collegiates are not impressed
Tonight the delinquents applaud in jest
But how in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

A wild wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
On the bandstand grooving, everybody moving
How in the world are they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

The Knitting Factory 1997 (2)

Lyrics

They were wild like the usa
A mystery band in a New York way
Rock and roll, but not like the rest
And to me, [growing up in Boston and seeing them every month]
They were america at its best
And how in the world were they making that sound?
[There was only four of them on the stage]
Velvet Underground

A spooky tone on a Fender bass
They played less notes and left more space
Stayed kind of still, looked kinda shy
Kinda far away, kinda dignified
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Well you can look at that band and wonder where
All that sound was coming from
With just those four people there

Twangy sounds of the cheapest type,
Sounds as stark as black and white stripes,
Bold and brash, sharp and rude,
Like the heats turned off
And you're low on food
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground
Like this

[[Starting into a short version of Sister Ray]]

[Just like that]

That's right
It was a wild wild party when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
On the bandstand playing, everybody's saying
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Well you could look at that band
And at first sight
Say that certain rules about modern music
Wouldn't apply tonight

Both guitars got the fuzz tone on
The drummer's standing upright pounding along
A howl and a tone and a feedback whine
Biker boys meet the college kind
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

[One more thing to say
???]

Sometimes the night left the public cold
Not everybody went for this brand of rock n roll
Tonight the collegians are not impressed
Tonights the delinquents applaud in jest
[Ya, you're great]
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Original Version (Sister Ray)

Chords

The Chords for the entire song are G F & C

If you have two guitarists have one play them open, and the other play them barred Actually it sounds just fine if you play them either way, its Really up to you For the solo, do some nice blues licks in G, just remember to turn your amp to ten, and jam away for 17 minutes and 52 seconds!

Lyrics

Duck and Sally inside
They're cooking for the down five
Who're staring at Miss Rayon
Who's busy licking up her big man
I'm searching for my mainline
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
Ah, it's just like Sister Ray says

Rosy 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 said he's just as big as ever
He's just here from Alabama
He wants to know a way to earn a dollar
I'm searching for my mainline
I couldn't hit it sideways
Ah, just like Sister Ray said

Cecil's got his new piece
He cocks and shoots 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
Don't you know you'll stain the carpet
And by the way man, have you got a dollar
Oh no man, I haven't got the time time
Too busy sucking on a ding dong
She's too busy sucking on my ding dong
Oh, she does it just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching for my mainline
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
I couldn't hit it sideways
Oh, just like, just like Sister Ray says

Now, who's that knocking
Who's that knocking on my chamber dooe
Now could it be the police
They've come to take me for a ride ride
Oh, but I haven't got the time time
Too busy sucking on my ding dong
She's too busy sucking on my ding dong
Oh, now, just like Sister Ray said
I'm searching on my line
I couldn't hit it sideways
I couldn't hit it sideways
Oh now, just like, just like, just like
Sister Ray says

External Links