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Smalltown Lyrics by Lou Reed, John Cale

Songs for Drella

1990

[Verse 1]
When you're growing up in a small town
When you're growing up in a small town
When you're growing up in a small town
You say, "No one famous ever came from here"
When you're growing up in a small town
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
[Verse 2]
When you're growing up in a small town
Bad skin, bad eyes, gay and fatty
People look at you funny
When you're in a small town
My father worked in construction
It's not something for which I am suited
Oh, what is something for which you are suited?
Getting out of here
[Verse 3]
I hate being odd in a small town
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
[Verse 4]
There's only one good thing about a small town
There's only one good use for a small town
There's only one good thing about a small town
You know that you want to get out
When you're growing up in a small town
You know you'll grow down in a small town
There's only one good use for a small town
You hate it - and you know you'll have to leave
Credits
Lou Reed, John Cale

Lou Reed, John Cale

About “Smalltown” by Lou Reed, John Cale

Read the complete lyrics to "Smalltown" by Lou Reed, John Cale from the album "Songs for Drella" in 1990. On Lyrks you can follow along with the full text, explore the artist's discography, and discover related songs. The track is often categorized under Rock.

"Smalltown" is performed by Lou Reed, John Cale. from the album "Songs for Drella" in 1990 This page provides the full lyric text for fans who want to sing along, study the songwriting, or compare versions across releases. Lyrks organizes lyrics by artist and song slug so you can bookmark and share a stable URL. Music lyrics help listeners connect with emotion, narrative, and rhythm in a track. Whether you are learning English, researching a favorite chorus, or preparing for karaoke, having accurate line breaks and section labels (verse, chorus, bridge) makes the experience easier. We link to the official artist profile on Lyrks where available, including biography snippets, top songs, and chart placements when we have that data. If you enjoy "Smalltown", explore more songs by Lou Reed, John Cale using the links below. Chart and trending pages on Lyrks highlight what listeners are searching for this week. For copyright or correction requests, see our DMCA and contact pages.

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Frequently asked questions

"Smalltown" is credited to Lou Reed, John Cale. Songwriting credits may include additional writers listed on the release; check the credits section on this page for linked collaborators.

"Smalltown" appears on "Songs for Drella" in 1990.

Visit the Lou Reed, John Cale artist page at /artist/lou-reed-john-cale for biography, popular tracks, and links to more lyric pages.