They were wild like the USA
A mystery band in a New York way
Rock and roll but not like the rest
And to me America at its best
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

A spooky tone on a Fender bass
Played less notes and left more space
Stayed kind of still, looked kind of shy
Kind of far away, kind of dignified
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Well you can look at that band and wonder where
All that sound was coming from with just four people there

Twangy sounds of the cheapest types
Sounds as stark as black and white stripes
Bold and brash, sharp and rude
Like the heat's turned off and you're low on food
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground
(Like this)

Doug and Sally inside
She's cooking for the down pipe
She's staring at Miss Rayon
She's busy licking off her pusher's hand
I'm searching for my mainline
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
I said I couldn't hit it sideways
She does it just like Sister Ray said
Alright

Wild, wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
On the bandstand playing, everybody's saying
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Well you could look at that band and at first sight
Say that certain rules about modern music wouldn't apply tonight

Twangy sounds of the cheapest kind
Like "Guitar sale $29.99,"
Bold and brash, stark and still
Like the heat's turned off and you can't pay the bill
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Both guitars got the fuzz tone on
The drummer's standing upright pounding along
A howl, a tone, a feedback whine
Biker boys meet the college kind
How in the world were they making that sound?
Velvet Underground

Wild, wild parties when they start to unwind
A close encounter of the thirdest kind
On the bandstand grooving, everybody moving
How in the world are they making that sound?
Velvet Underground