John Cale – Small Town

Words and music: Lou Reed & John Cale

When you’re growing up in a small town

When you’re growing up in a small town

When you’re growing up in a small town

You say no one famous ever came from here

When you’re growing up in a small town

and you’re having a nervous breakdown

and you think that you’ll never escape it

Yourself or the place that you live

Where did Picasso come from

There’s no Michelangelo coming from Pittsburgh

If art is the tip of the iceberg

I’m the part sinking below

When you’re growing up in a small town

Bad skin, bad eyes – gay and fatty

People look at you funny

When you’re in a small town

My father worked in construction

It’s not something for which I’m suited

Oh – what is something for which you are suited?

Getting out of here

I hate being odd in a small town

If they stare let them stare in New York City

as this pink eyed painting albino

How far can my fantasy go?

I’m no Dali coming from Pittsburgh

No adorable lisping Capote

My hero – Oh do you think I could meet him?

I’d camp out at his front door

There is only one good thing about small town

There is only one good use for a small town

There is only one good thing about small town

You know that you want to get out

When you’re growing up in a small town

You know you’ll grow down in a small town

There is only one good use for a small town

You hate it and you’ll know you have to leave