Velvet Underground - Jonathan Richman

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 $ 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.

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.