Lou Reed

Endless Cycle

Lou Reed


The bias of the father runs on through the son
And leaves him bothered and bewildered
The drugs in his veins only cause him to spit
At the face staring back in the mirror
How can he tell a good act from the bad
He can't even remember his name
How can he do what needs to be done
When he's a follower not a leader

The sickness of the mother runs on through the girl
Leaving her small and helpless
Liquor files through her brain
with the force of a gun
Leaving her running in circles
How can she tell a good act from the bad
When she's flat
on her back in her room
How can she do what needs to be done
When she's a coward and a bleeder

The man if he marries will batter his child
And have endless excuses
The woman sadly will do much the same
Thinking that it's right and it's proper
Better than their mommy or their daddy did
Better than the childhood they suffered
The truth is they're happier when they're in pain
In fact, that's why they got married

The bias of the father runs on through the son 
And leaves him bothered and bewildered 
The drugs in his veins only cause him to spit 
At the face staring back in the mirror 
How can he tell a good act from the bad 
He can't even remember his name 
How can he do what needs to be done 
When he's a follower not a leader 

The sickness of the mother runs on through the girl 
Leaving her small and helpless 
Liquor files through her brain 
with the force of a gun 
Leaving her running in circles 
How can she tell a good act from the bad 
When she's flat 
on her back in her room 
How can she do what needs to be done 
When she's a coward and a bleeder 

The man if he marries will batter his child 
And have endless excuses 
The woman sadly will do much the same 
Thinking that it's right and it's proper 
Better than their mommy or their daddy did 
Better than the childhood they suffered 
The truth is they're happier when they're in pain 
In fact, that's why they got marrie