Lady Godiva's Operation

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"Lady Godiva's Operation"
Song by the Velvet Underground
from the album White Light/White Heat
ReleasedJanuary 30, 1968 (1968-01-30)
RecordedSeptember 1967
StudioScepter Studios, New York City
Length4:56
LabelVerve
Songwriter(s)Lou Reed
Producer(s)Tom Wilson

"Lady Godiva's Operation" is a song by the Velvet Underground from their second album, White Light/White Heat (1968). The lyrics of the first half of the song, sung by John Cale, describe Lady Godiva; the lyrics of the second half, sung by Cale alternating with Lou Reed, are full of oblique, deadpan black humor and describe a botched surgical procedure, implied to be either a lobotomy or a sex change.[1][2] Cale plays electric viola while Sterling Morrison plays bass, an instrument that he disliked, despite his competent abilities.[3][4]

The song was covered by the Fatima Mansions as a single.[5]

Personnel[]

  • John Cale – lead vocals, electric viola, medical instrument vocal noises
  • Lou Reed – co-lead vocals, electric guitar
  • Sterling Morrison – bass guitar, backing vocals, medical instrument vocal noises
  • Maureen Tucker – percussion

References[]

  1. ^ Wawzenek, Bryan (March 30, 2018). "Doctor, Doctor, Give Me the News: 40 Songs About Doctors". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  2. ^ Thacker, Kyle (November 16, 2011). "Yearbook: the Velvet Underground". Heave Media. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  3. ^ Hoffman, Eric. "Examinations: An Examination of John Cale". Mental Contagion. Retrieved 24 October 2014. When I had to play viola, Sterling had to play bass, which he hated. According to the website, the quote is from John Cale’s autobiography, What’s Welsh for Zen (NY: St. Martin’s Press (2000)).
  4. ^ Pinnock, Tom (18 September 2012). "John Cale on The Velvet Underground & Nico". Uncut. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  5. ^ Green, Jim. "Fatima Mansions". Trouser Press. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
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