You’re wrong to think you’ll never escape it


Written by


Lou Reed & John Cale
Smalltown

Andrew was born into this world a year before Marlon Brando would begin school. Three years later he would be joined by James Dean.  He did not date boys as pretty as these or girls as plentiful as these two men finally would. Andrew wasn’t aware just yet, but at least he’d one day compete with these men for the minds of you and I. “One day I’ll be a superstar or work in a junkyard.”

Sometimes, as a boy, he would pray to his Superstar. Not on his knees, but in bed, wide-eyed. Andrew would ask not for change, but to change. However, later on, as an older boy, he would ask Jesus to join the party. Jesus was never photographed at these events, but Andrew felt he had arrived at one or two. “The advantage of an open invitation.”

In his teens he would hide pornographic images of men beneath his mattress. Occasionally he’d pray to Jesus, “I sometimes like who I am. I don’t want to be caught. Be my lookout. Thanks. In the name of the Father…”

Andrew would be a father of none, but a creator of many. It’s hard to know whether this was enough for him. Those entertainers on the stage were his. That splash of thought on canvas and the magnetic fascination of certain film would be his. All alive by the demand of his dancing hands. As a boy his hands would dance in secret. A peek behind closed doors and people would not have understood. At least now he had found men and women who responded to his contortion of fingers. He prayed for these men and women. He prayed that he may find them outside his home and town. “I see stars. I see colours. Jesus, help me beyond these gates and give me dancers.”

And Jesus did.

[Buy Songs For Drella.]

2 Responses to “You’re wrong to think you’ll never escape it”

  1. Joan says:

    I’m addicted to this right now.

    When you’re growing up in a small town
    You know you’ll grow down in a small town
    There’s only one good use for a small town:
    You hate it, and you know you’ll have to leave.

  2. Pablo Diaz says:

    Brilliant. The album as a whole is a great tribute to Warhol, although I don’t believe there are many stand-out tracks aside from this, I am fond of Slip Away though.

Got something to say?