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Trouble with Classicists Lyrics by Lou Reed, John Cale

Songs for Drella

1990

[Verse 1]
The trouble with a classicist - he looks at a tree
That's all he sees, he paints a tree
The trouble with a classicist - he looks at the sky
He doesn't ask why, he just paints the sky
[Verse 2]
The trouble with an impressionist - he looks at a log
He doesn't know who he is standing staring at this log
And surrealist memories are too amorphous and proud
While those downtown macho painters are just alcoholic
[Chorus]
That's the trouble with impressionists
That's the trouble with impressionists
That's the trouble with impressionists
That's the trouble with impressionists
[Verse 3]
The trouble with personalities, they're too wrapped up in style
It's too personal, they're in love with their own guile
They're like illegal aliens, trying to make a buck
They're driving gypsy cabs but they're thinking like a truck
[Chorus]
That's the trouble with personalities
That's the trouble with personalities
That's the trouble with personalities
That's the trouble with personalities
[Instrumental Break]
[Verse 4]
I like the druggy downtown kids who spray paint walls and trains
I like their lack of training, their primitive technique
I think sometimes it hurts you when you stay too long in school
I think sometimes it hurts you when you're afraid to be called a fool
[Chorus]
That's the trouble with classicists
That's the trouble with classicists
That's the trouble with classicists
That's the trouble with classicists
Credits
Lou Reed, John Cale

Lou Reed, John Cale

About “Trouble with Classicists” by Lou Reed, John Cale

Read the complete lyrics to "Trouble with Classicists" 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.

"Trouble with Classicists" 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 "Trouble with Classicists", 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

"Trouble with Classicists" 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.

"Trouble with Classicists" 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.