Original Wrapper - Lou Reed

I was sittin' home on the West End

Watchin' cable TV with a TV friend

We were watchin' the news, the world’s in a mess

The poor and the hungry, a world in distress

Herpes, AIDS, the Middle East at full throttle

Better check that sausage, before you put it in the waffle

And while you’re at it, check what’s in the batter

Make sure that candy’s in the original wrapper

Hey, pitcher, better check that batter

Make sure that candy’s in the original wrapper

Hey, pitcher, better check the batter

Make powder in the original wrapper

White against white, black against Jew, it seems like it’s 1942

The baby sits in front of MTV watching violent fantasies

While dad guzzles beer with his favorite sport

Then he finds his heroes are all coked up

Classic, original, the same old story

The politics of hate in a new surrounding

Hate if it’s good and hate if it’s bad

Don’t make you mad

I’ll keep yours baby I’ll keep mine

Theres nothing sacred and nothing divine

Father, hit me, we’re goin' full throttle

Check that sausage, before you put it in the waffle

While you’re at it and while you’re at it

And while you’re at it

Make sure of the batter

Make sure the candy’s in the original wrapper

I was born in the United States

And I grew up hard but I grew up straight

I saw a lack of morals and a lack of concern

A feeling that there’s nowhere to turn

Yippies, hippies and upwardly mobile yuppies

Don’t treat me like I’m some dumb lackey

'Cause the murderer lives while the victims die

I’d much rather see it an eye for an eye

A heart for a heart and a brain for a brain

And if this all makes you feel insane

Kick up your heels, turn the music up loud

Pick up your guitar and look out at the crowd

And say, «Don't mean to come on sanctimonious

But life’s got me nervous and little pugnacious

Lugubrious so I give a salutation and rock on out to beat really stupid

Ohh, poop, ah, doo and how do you do

Gonna hit hop, gonna pop till drop»

Hey, pitcher, better check that batter

Make sure that candy’s in the original wrapper

Hey, pitcher, better check that batter

Make sure that candy’s in the original wrapper

Hey now pitcher, better check that batter

Make sure that candy’s in the original wrapper

The original wrapper