"I'm Waiting for the Man"
Song by The Velvet Underground
Album	The Velvet Underground and Nico
Released	March 1967
Recorded	May 1966 T.T.G. Studios, Hollywood, California
Genre	Rock
Length	4:39
Label	Verve Records
Writer	Lou Reed
Composer	Lou Reed
Producer	Andy Warhol
The Velvet Underground and Nico track listing
"Sunday Morning" "I'm Waiting for the Man" "Femme Fatale" "Venus In Furs" "Run Run Run" "All Tomorrow's Parties" "Heroin" "There She Goes Again" "I'll Be Your Mirror" "The Black Angel's Death Song" "European Son"

"I'm Waiting for the Man" is a song by the American rock band The Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed. It was first released on their 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. The song chronicles a man purchasing 26 dollars worth of heroin in Harlem at the corner of Lexington Avenue and 125th Street, the "man" in the song's title being a drug dealer. Along with traditional guitar, bass, and drums, the song also features pounding, percussive rock-and-roll "Barrelhouse"-style piano. It is one of the band's more popular songs, and one of their many compositions featuring drug abuse as subject matter. After leaving the band in 1970, Lou Reed continued to incorporate the song into his solo live performances. Reed does not often sing the song himself anymore. Image File history File links Album cover of the Velvet Undergrounds Velvet Underground and Nico This image is the cover of an album or single. ... For other uses, see Song (disambiguation). ... This article is about the rock band. ... Alternate covers The early LP edition with the banana sticker peeled off. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Greetings from Hollywood Hollywood is a district of the city of Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., that extends from Vermont Avenue on the east to just beyond Laurel Canyon Boulevard above Sunset and Crescent Heights Boulevards on the west; the north to south boundary east of La Brea Avenue... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Rock is a form of popular music, usually featuring vocals (often with vocal harmony), electric guitars, and a strong back beat; other instruments, such as the saxophone, are common in some styles, however saxophones have been omitted from newer subgenres of rock music since the 90s. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... Verve Records is an American Jazz record label, founded by Norman Granz in 1956, which absorbed the catalogues of his earlier labels: Norgran Records and Clef Records (founded 1953). ... A songwriter is someone who writes the lyrics to songs, the musical composition or melody to songs, or both. ... Lou Reed, born Lewis Allen Reed[1] March 2, 1942, is an American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ... Lou Reed, born Lewis Allen Reed[1] March 2, 1942, is an American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Andrew Warhola (August 6, 1928 — February 22, 1987), better known as Andy Warhol, was an American artist who was a central figure in the movement known as Pop art. ... Alternate covers The early LP edition with the banana sticker peeled off. ... Sunday Morning is a song by The Velvet Underground which is the opening track on their first album The Velvet Underground and Nico. ... Femme Fatale is a song by The Velvet Underground. ... Venus in Furs is a song by The Velvet Underground, originally released on the album The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967). ... Run Run Run is a song by The Velvet Underground originally released on the bands 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. ... All Tomorrows Parties is a song by The Velvet Underground, written by Lou Reed and released on the groups 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. ... Heroin is a song by The Velvet Underground, released on their 1967 debut album, The Velvet Underground and Nico. ... The Velvet Underground and Nico was The Velvet Undergrounds influential 1967 debut album. ... The Velvet Underground and Nico was The Velvet Undergrounds influential 1967 debut album. ... The Black Angels Death Song is a song by The Velvet Underground, from their debut album The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967). ... The Velvet Underground and Nico was The Velvet Undergrounds influential 1967 debut album. ... For other uses, see Rock music (disambiguation). ... This article is about the rock band. ... Lou Reed, born Lewis Allen Reed[1] March 2, 1942, is an American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. ... Year 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. ... Alternate covers The early LP edition with the banana sticker peeled off. ... For other uses, see Heroin (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Harlem (disambiguation). ... Lexington Avenue is an avenue on the East Side of the borough of Manhattan in New York City that carries southbound one-way traffic from East 131st Street to Gramercy Park at East 21st Street. ... 125th Street is a two-way east-west street in Manhattan, considered the Main street of Harlem. ... A bar or saloon. ... Comparison of the perceived harm for various psychoactive drugs from a poll among medical psychiatrists specialized in addiction treatment[1] This article is an overview of the nontherapeutic use of alcohol and drugs of abuse. ...

In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it #159 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.^[1][2] This article is about the magazine. ... ...

Alternate versions

Ludlow Street Loft, July 1965

The song was among a set of early songs to be recorded by Lou Reed, John Cale and Sterling Morrison in the band's Ludlow Street loft in Manhattan. This version of the song, free of percussion, has a considerably more folk and even blues influence in style than the album version. It is available on the first disc of the Peel Slowly and See box set. Not to be confused with J.J. Cale. ... Holmes Sterling Morrison, Jr (East Meadow, New York, August 28, 1942 – August 30, 1995 in Poughkeepsie, NY) was one of the founding members of influential rock group The Velvet Underground, playing lead, rhythm and bass guitar and singing backing vocals. ... Ludlow Street runs between Houston and Canal Street on Manhattans Lower East Side. ... Folk music can have a number of different meanings, including: Traditional music: The original meaning of the term folk music was synonymous with the term Traditional music, also often including World Music and Roots music; the term Traditional music was given its more specific meaning to distinguish it from the... Blues music redirects here. ... Peel Slowly and See is a five-disc box set of material by The Velvet Underground. ...

Scepter Studios, April 1966

Before the final album version of the song was re-recorded at T.T.G. Studios, Hollywood, California, a different take of the song was originally recorded at Scepter Studios in New York City. This take of the song is slightly shorter, the piano is less audible and instead of drums, a tambourine is employed. Also of note is that Reed sings "I'm waiting for the man" at the beginning of the song. Through the album version, Reed sings "I'm waiting for my man." ... Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Largest metro area Greater Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % water 4. ... New York, New York and NYC redirect here. ...

Cover versions

Velvet Underground members Lou Reed, John Cale, Nico, and Maureen Tucker have all recorded solo versions of the song. Other artists who have recorded covers of it include Bauhaus (with Nico), David Bowie, Sheep on Drugs, The Celibate Rifles, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Vanessa Paradis, Alberto Motta, Été 67, Eater and Slaughter & The Dogs. Debbie Harry frequently ended her live sets with the song between 1989 and 1991. The original recording was also included, in remixed form, on the 2 Many DJs compilation album As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 2. San Francisco based Tea Leaf Green performed a very enthusiastic version during a performance at Moe's Alley Blues Club in Santa Cruz, CA on December 15, 2005. Lou Reed, born Lewis Allen Reed[1] March 2, 1942, is an American rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. ... Not to be confused with J.J. Cale. ... For the prequel to Ico, see Shadow of the Colossus. ... Maureen Ann Moe Tucker (born August 26, 1944, in Levittown, New York, United States) is a musician best known for having been the drummer for the rock group The Velvet Underground. ... Bauhaus are an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978 by Peter Murphy (vocals), Daniel Ash (guitar), Kevin Haskins (drums) and David J (bass). ... For the prequel to Ico, see Shadow of the Colossus. ... David Bowie (IPA: []) (born David Robert Jones on 1947 January 8) is an English singer, songwriter, actor, multi-instrumentalist, producer, arranger and audio engineer. ... Greatest Hits, the 1993 debut album from Sheep on Drugs Sheep on Drugs was a left-field UK group formed by charismatic English loons Duncan X (vocals) and Lee Fraser (guitar / keys). ... The Celibate Rifles are a hard rock band from Sydney, Australia. ... Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (often abbreviated to OMD) are a synth pop group whose founder members are originally from the Wirral Peninsula, UK. OMD record for Virgin Records (originally for Virgins DinDisc subsidiary). ... Vanessa Chantal Paradis (born December 22, 1972 in Saint-Maur-des-Fossés, Val-de-Marne, France) is a French singer and actress. ... Été 67 (Summer of 67; the name is inspired by the 1967 Summer of Love) is a rock band created in 1998 in Esneux (nearby Liège), Belgium. ... Eater were a British (English) punk band with a youthful - 14 year old drummer named Dee Generate. ... Original UK 45 rpm single: Slaughter & The Dogs - Where Have All The Boot Boys Gone? Slaughter & The Dogs is an English punk rock band, originating in the late 1970s. ... Deborah Ann Harry (born July 1, 1945, in Miami, Florida) is a singer-songwriter and actress most famous for being the lead singer for the punk rock/new wave band Blondie. ... A remix is an alternative version of a song, different from the original version. ... Soulwax, headed by David and Stephen Dewaele, is an alternative rock band hailing from Ghent, Belgium. ... As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. ... Tea Leaf Green is a quartet rock band from San Francisco, California. ...

References