Street Hassle

Album: Street Hassle (1978)
Play Video
  • Waltzing Matilda whipped out her wallet
    The sexy boy smiled in dismay
    She took out four twenties 'cause she liked round figures
    Everybody's a queen for a day
    Oh, babe, I'm on fire and you know how I admire your
    Body why don't we slip away
    Although I'm sure you're certain, it's a rarity me flirtin'
    Sha-la-la-la, this way

    Oh, sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la
    Hey, baby, come on, let's slip away

    Luscious and gorgeous, oh what a hunk of muscle
    Call out the national guard
    She creamed in her jeans as he picked up her means
    From off of the formica topped bar
    And cascading slowly, he lifted her wholly
    And boldly out of this world
    And despite people's derision
    Proved to be more than diversion
    Sha-la-la-la, later on

    And then sha-la-la-la-la, he entered her slowly
    And showed her where he was coming from
    And then sha-la-la-la-la, he made love to her gently
    It was like she'd never ever come
    And then sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la
    When the sun rose and he made to leave
    You know, sha-la-la-la-la, sha-la-la-la-la
    Neither one regretted a thing

    Street hassle
    Hey, that cunt's not breathing
    I think she's had too much
    Of something or other, hey, man, you know what I mean
    I don't mean to scare you
    But you're the one who came here
    And you're the one who's gotta take her when you leave
    I'm not being smart
    Or trying to be cold on my part
    And I'm not gonna wear my heart on my sleeve
    But you know people get all emotional
    And sometimes, man, they just don't act rational
    They think they're just on TV

    Sha-la-la-la, man
    Why don't you just slip Writer/s: LOU REED
    Publisher: Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 6

  • Tc from MichiganI think the first section is (as others have said) about a woman paying a male hustler for sex. The second section is referring to the same man and his girlfriend going to a drug dealers apartment; she ods and dies. But the third section is her admitting finally that HE was the one who died in the apartment, not her; she admits she has been lying to herself and cries over & over "oh how I miss him."
    Such an amazing song.
  • Alex from Mansfield, Ohincredibly well written song, also used in the groundbreaking skateboarding video baker 3 mind u
  • Ross from Brooklyn, Ny"Wishin' won't make it so..." I think.

    Amazing indeed -- a fave and among his best work. The cello line, the suite, Springsteen, and lines like:

    Some people got no choice and they can never find a voice
    To talk with that they can even call their own
    So the first thing that they see that allows them the right to be
    Why they follow it
    You know what it's called? Bad luck.

    Just nails me.
  • Aaron from Peoria, Ilsongfacts is wrong. there are 3 parts to this song. the first is a woman with a male escort. the second covers a drug overdose. the third is metaphysical and enscones the first two. and springsteen sings all of the following: "well hey(man), that's just a lie, it's a lie she tells her friends. 'cause the real song, the real song where she won't even admit to herself
    the beatin' in her heart. It's a song lots of people know. It's a painful song
    a little sad truth but life full of sad songs
    penny for a wish but wishin' won't make you a soldier. With a pretty kiss for a pretty face
    can't have its way. Y'know tramps like us, we were born to pay."

    this is after 'born to run' and meant to be the ugly, other side that he chose to to turn away from.

  • Erik from Bloomfield Hills, MiBruce Springsteen was in the studio with Reed while recording this song, he sings the line "Y'know tramps like us, we were born to pay." Bruce didn't want his name credited on the album.
  • John from Cleveland, OhThis song is amazing.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," Kiss

Director Paul Rachman on "Hunger Strike," "Man in the Box," KissSong Writing

After cutting his teeth on hardcore punk videos, Paul defined the grunge look with his work on "Hunger Strike" and "Man in the Box."

Shawn Mullins

Shawn MullinsSongwriter Interviews

"Lullaby" singer Shawn Mullins on "Beautiful Wreck," beating the Devil, and his writing credit on the Zac Brown Band song "Toes."

16 Songs With a Heartbeat

16 Songs With a HeartbeatSong Writing

We've heard of artists putting their hearts into their music, but some take it literally.

Fire On The Stage

Fire On The StageSong Writing

When you have a song called "Fire," it's tempting to set one - these guys did.

Female Singers Of The 90s

Female Singers Of The 90sMusic Quiz

The ladies who ruled the '90s in this quiz.

AC/DC

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.