“Kill Your Sons” refers to Lou Reed’s tragic upbringing, consisting of electroshock conversion therapy. Locations such as Creedmoor and Payne Whitney are mentioned as facilities Lou was sent to during his teenage years.
Growing up in a Jewish-based household, with poor income, absentminded parents,...
[Verse 1]
All your two-bit psychiatrists
Are giving you electric shock
They said they'd let you live at home with mom and dad
Instead of mental hospitals
But every time you tried to read a book
You couldn't get to page 17
'Cause you forgot where you were
So you couldn't even read
[Chorus]
Don't you know they're gonna kill your sons
Don't you know they're gonna kill, kill your sons
They're gonna kill, kill your sons
Until they run, run, run, run, run, run, run, run away
[Verse 2]
Mom informed me on the phone
She didn't know what to do about dad
He took an axe and broke the table
Aren't you glad you're married?
And sister, she got married on the island
And her husband takes the train
He's big and he's fat
And he doesn't even have a brain
[Chorus]
They're gonna kill your sons
Don't you know they're gonna kill, kill your sons
Don't you know they're gonna kill, kill your sons
Until they run away
[Verse 3]
Creedmoor treated me very good
But Payne Whitney was even better
And when I flipped out on PHC
I was so sad, I didn't even get a letter
All of the drugs that we took
It really was lots of fun
But when they shoot you up with thorazine on crystal smoke
You choke like a son of a gun
[Chorus]
Don't you know they're gonna kill your sons
Don't you know they're gonna kill, kill your sons
Don't you know they're gonna kill, kill your sons
Until they run, run, run, run, run, run, run away
Kill Your Sons was written by Lou Reed.
Kill Your Sons was produced by Lou Reed & Steve Katz.
Lou Reed released Kill Your Sons on Thu Aug 01 1974.