Do it again

November 3, 2006 11:16 AM

In the Velvet Underground song 'Foggy Notion,' the narrator notes, "Got my calamine lotion." Among other things, the narrative concerns a shooting, S&M and heroin. Why does the narrator carry anti-itch medication?
posted by mwhybark to Media & Arts (13 answers total)

Opiates make you itch.
posted by idledebonair at 11:18 AM on November 3, 2006

Yeh, itch. Plus Lou was/is the master of Rhyme over Reason.
posted by lumpenprole at 11:27 AM on November 3, 2006

what the others said
posted by matteo at 11:45 AM on November 3, 2006

what lumpenprole sed! i mean, the song narrative also includes a gift of flowers gone awry. i'd say that he just couldn't resist the sheer joy of rhyming "foggy notion" with "calamine lotion." . . . do it again! . . .
posted by deejay jaydee at 11:45 AM on November 3, 2006

It also fits the rhyme scheme and meter quite nicely.
posted by Dr. Wu at 11:46 AM on November 3, 2006

I'll second (or is it fifth) the sentiments above. Here's an example of why end-ryhme usually sucks. This is the same brand of English abuse that inflicts heart/apart or self/shelf upon the poor listener's ears.
posted by EatTheWeek at 12:41 PM on November 3, 2006

Huh? Are you seriously claiming that rhyming "foggy notion" with "calamine lotion" is a cliche like "heart" and "apart"?
posted by languagehat at 1:34 PM on November 3, 2006

The leather chafes the skin?
posted by zaphod at 4:01 PM on November 3, 2006

The first answers are more likely:
Heroin makes one itch. [more].
posted by exlotuseater at 5:48 PM on November 3, 2006

Tis a great song, never really thought about what it was about. They just sound like they're having the craic . ;)
posted by zaphod at 10:27 PM on November 3, 2006

Why does the narrator carry anti-itch medication?

I'll try to answer this as soon as I find out what the hell a "jimjim" is, why there are so many of them in this town, and why Lou Reed doesn't care about them.

(in other words, what lumpenprole said)
posted by Afroblanco at 1:36 AM on November 4, 2006

The question was not why does Lou Reed choose that description of the medicine. That is, choosing the words, "Calamine Lotion." The question was, why does the speaker carry it. Which is because he is itchy.
posted by idledebonair at 6:55 AM on November 4, 2006

I think its the itchy junky thing - see also Iggy Pop's mention of lotion in "Lust for Life". (Which is not in fact about cruise ships but heroin.)
posted by Cranialtorque at 7:57 AM on November 4, 2006