Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.

What’s That Song?

If you guessed Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed, you are correct!

Today’s Bill Campbell What’s That Song appeared on Lou Reed’s second solo album, Transformer, in 1972. Lou drew inspiration for the song from Nelson Algren’s 1956 novel of the same name, A Walk on the Wild Side. As the concept grew, however, Walk on the Wild Side characters from Lou’s own life appeared in the song. Despite the inclusion of many taboo topics of the time—transexual people, male prostitution, and oral sex—Walk on the Wild Side received wide radio coverage.

Did you know…

• Each verse refers to one of the superstars—Holly Woodlawn, Candy Darling, Joe Dallesandro, Jackie Curtis, and Joe Campbell aka Sugar Plum Fairy—who were regulars at Andy Warhol’s New York studio, The Factory.
• In 2010, on Rolling Stone‘s list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, Walk on the Wild Side ranked 223.
• Walk on the Wild Side was produced by David Bowie and Mick Ronson and released as a double A-side with Perfect Day.
• Twenty years after releasing Walk on the Wild Side, Lou said, “I know my obituary has already been written. And it starts out, “Doot, di-doot, di-doot…” in an interview with David Fricke.

Walk on the Wild Side

Holly came from Miami, F.L.A.
Hitch-hiked her way across the U.S.A.
Plucked her eyebrows on the way
Shaved her legs and then he was a she
She says, “Hey, babe,
Take a walk on the wild side.”
Said, “Hey, honey,
Take a walk on the wild side.”

Candy came from out on the Island
In the back room she was everybody’s darling
But she never lost her head
Even when she was giving head
She says, “Hey, babe,
Take a walk on the wild side.”
Said, “Hey, babe,
Take a walk on the wild side.”
And the colored girls go
“Doo do doo do doo do do doo…”

Little Joe never once gave it away
Everybody had to pay and pay
A hustle here and a hustle there
New York City’s the place
Where they said, “Hey, babe,
Take a walk on the wild side.”
I said, “Hey, Joe,
Take a walk on the wild side.”

Sugar Plum Fairy came and hit the streets
Looking for soul food and a place to eat
Went to the Apollo
You should’ve seen them go, go, go
They said, “Hey, sugar,
Take a walk on the wild side.”
I said, “Hey, babe,
Take a walk on the wild side.”
All right, huh

Jackie is just speeding away
Thought she was James Dean for a day
Then I guess she had to crash
Valium would have helped that bash
Said, “Hey, babe,
Take a walk on the wild side.”
I said, “Hey, honey,
Take a walk on the wild side.”
And the colored girls say,
“Doo do doo do doo do do doo…”
(Walk on the Wild Side lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC)

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