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Lou Reed is one of the most influential, innovative, and bizarre artists in rock and roll history, and the primary creative talent behind The Velvet Underground. “Andy’s Chest” was first written in the VU days, but was not released until 1972, on Reed’s second solo album, Transformer. It was with this album – produced by David Bowie – that Reed first gained some amount of (long overdue) public recognition with the track “Walk on the Wild Side,” an unusual top-10 hit single that mentions transvestism, prostitution, and oral sex.

Listening to the lyrics to “Andy’s Chest,” you really have to wonder what it must be like to be Lou Reed, and have that sort of thing going on in your mind all the time. Thankfully, we don’t all have his gift. But thankfully, he does. Also, thankfully, Trey is not Lou Reed, which may explain why this song was only covered once, on 9/13/88. 

(Reed)
© Oakfield Avenue Music LTD (BMI)

If I could be anything in the world that flew
I would be a bat and come swooping after you
And if the last time you were here things were a bit askew

Well you know what happens after dark
When rattlesnakes lose their skins and their hearts
And all the missionaries lose their bark
Oh, all the trees are calling after you
And all the venom snipers after you
Are all the mountains bolder after you?

If I could be anyone of the things in this world that bite
Instead of an ocelot on a leash, I'd rather be a kite
And be tied to the end of your string
And flying in the air, babe, at night
Cause you know what they say about honey bears
When you shave off all their baby hair
You have a hairy minded pink bare bear

And all the balls are rolling out for you
And stones are all erupting out for you
And all the cheap bloodsuckers are flying after you

Yesterday, Daisy Mae and Biff were grooving on the street
And just like in a movie, her hands became her feet
Her belly button was her mouth
Which meant she tasted what she'd speak

But the funny thing is what happened to her nose
It grew until it reached all of her toes
Now when people say her feet they mean her nose

And curtains laced with diamonds dear for you
And all the roman noblemen for you
And kingdom's christian soldiers dear for you
And melting ice cap mountain tops for you
And knights in flaming silver robes for you
And bats that with a kiss turn prince for you
Swoop, swoop
Oh baby,
Rock rock
Swoop, swoop, rock, rock