Smalltown (Album Version) - Lou Reed/John Cale

When you're growing up in a smalltown

When you're growing up in a smalltown

When you're growing up in a smalltown

You say no one famous ever came from here

When you're growing up in a smalltown

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 smalltown

Bad skin bad eyes gay and fatty

People look at you funny

When you're in a smalltown

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 smalltown

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's only one good thing about smalltown

There's only one good use for a smalltown

There's only one good thing about smalltown

You know that you want to get out

When you're growing up in a smalltown

You know you'll grow down in a smalltown

There's only one good use for a smalltown

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