Lou Reed - Last Great American Whale - New York Album video free download
lou reed - new york album LYRICS:
They say he didn't have an enemy
his was a greatness to behold
He was the last surviving progeny
the last one on this side of the world
He measured a half mile from tip to tail
silver and black with powerful fins
They say he could split a mountain in two
that's how we got the Grand Canyon
Last great American whale
last great American whale
Last great American whale
last great American whale
Some say they saw him at the Great Lakes
some say they saw him off of Florida
My mother said she saw him in Chinatown
but you can't always trust your mother
Off the Carolinas the sun shines brightly in the day
the lighthouse glows ghostly there at night
The chief of a local tribe had killed a racist mayor's son
and he'd been on death row since 1958
The mayor's kid was a rowdy pig
spit on Indians and lots worse
The old chief buried a hatchet in his head
life compared to death for him seemed worse
The tribal brothers gathered in the lighthouse to sing
and tried to conjure up a storm or rain
The harbor parted, the great whale sprang full up
and caused a hugh tidal wave
The wave crushed the jail and freed the chief
the tribe let out a roar
The whites were drowned, the browns and reds set free
but sadly one thing more
Some local yokel member of the NRA
kept a bazooka in his living room
And thinking he had the chief in his sight
blew the whale's brains out with a lead harpoon
Last great American whale
last great American whale
Last great American whale
last great American whale
Well Americans don't care for much of anything
land and water the least
And animal life is low on the totem pole
with human life not worth more than infected yeast
Americans don't care too much for beauty
they'll shit in a river, dump battery acid in a stream
They'll watch dead rats wash up on the beach
and complain if they can't swim
They say things are done for the majority
don't believe half of what you see and none of what you hear
It's like what my painter friend Donald said to me
"Stick a fork in their ass and turn them over, they're done"
Comments
8 years ago
Jim Jackson
Big album big man not much more to say RiP9 years ago
Péter Varga
#earthday #earthday2015 #loureed #lastgreatamericanwhale Preemptive Earth Day Song.I had a hard time deciding on which song to commemorate Earth Day 2015 with..I was inclined to go with Joni Mitchell's classic, *Big Yellow Taxi* but.. ...there is a (relatively) little known Lou Reed song that I feel is an even better fit. YouTube link contains full lyrics.*Last Great American Whale* is my Earth Day 2015 song.I try and treat every day as Earth Day. Some days are more successful than others. All one can do is to continue to walk the path, and be mindful of one's actions.9 years ago
Todd Wright
#earthday #earthday2015 #loureed #lastgreatamericanwhale Preemptive Earth Day Song.I had a hard time deciding on which song to commemorate Earth Day 2015 with..I was inclined to go with Joni Mitchell's classic, *Big Yellow Taxi* but.. ...there is a (relatively) little known Lou Reed song that I feel is an even better fit. YouTube link contains full lyrics.*Last Great American Whale* is my Earth Day 2015 song.I try and treat every day as Earth Day. Some days are more successful than others. All one can do is to continue to walk the path, and be mindful of one's actions.9 years ago
Johnny DroidFever
Unbelievably iconic song from The Master.9 years ago
guyglowmore1
best most important song i've heard from this fine storyteller. so true9 years ago
lord funkbottom
This song is my favorite tune from New York. A ridiculously under rated album. In my opinion the best work of the latter half of his career.Lou never got the recognition his talent warranted, but that can be said of too many musicians. 10 years ago
FRANCISCO ESCOBAR
THE LAST ONE ON THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD10 years ago
Andrew Robertson
Lou was, and always will be, awesome.10 years ago
Gerry Malone
cant even think of words to say,need new words,brilliant and excellent arent good enough,for this guy10 years ago
William Kruegel
R.I.P. Lou :)10 years ago
David Kolb
I had the New York album when I was about 19 or 20. I think this was his best album by far and Last Great American Whale was my favorite song from the album along with Dirty Boulevard and Xmas in February. RIP Lou, we're gonna miss you :-(10 years ago
andymanpdx
Out of all of it, this, Lou, was the song which punched me in the gut. This was your best.10 years ago
Sean McCullough
R.I.P. Lou. Haven't felt this way since Warren Zevon died. Gonna be rough without you out there somewhere bein' Lou. You were the last great American whale.10 years ago
Stephanie Lee
Last Great American Whale of a Poet. XOXO10 years ago
Spencer Pennington
Rest in peace, Lou... I'll never forget hearing this for the first time when I was only eleven years old... My Dad played it for my sister and I, and we laughed so hard. I still quote this song...it's brilliant... Thanks for the music! Peace and love from Seattle!10 years ago
Elmo Prankster
RIP to you poet of poets10 years ago
br4incell
RIP Lou. I always thought New York was the best album and I liked all these weird songs. At first you realized this would never get radio play because its not a catchy tune.. then you listen to the lyrics a few times and damn this stuff is great. Its tuff putting your friends down with it though at first.10 years ago
assurdo888
One of my faves of Lou. R.I.P. , and if you can, bestow onto the planet some more of your poetry, from a hopefully bright beyond! Thanks for all the Moments of True Meaning you made me gift of!10 years ago
Deborah Baird
My favourite Lou Reed song... RIP10 years ago
