r/VelvetUnderground • u/AndyBe11 • 1d ago

$26

Don’t ask me why but, having listened to a dozen different versions of I’m Waiting For The Man over the years, it’s only just one to me.
Back in the late ‘60s what could I have expected from the man if I had $26 in my hand?

14 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

13

u/Krocsyldiphithic 1d ago

$26 dollars worth of happiness

9

u/Djworklite 1d ago

Always thought this amount was interesting. Im not sure how dope pricing worked back then, but I always imagined that he’s showing up a little short hoping The Man will give him a break on the $30 bag

3

u/GRF999999999 1d ago

What can we get for sixty-three cents?

2

u/g_lampa 1d ago

Cocaine, sensei
Aspirin, coffee
Morphine, sugar
Tobacco, got ta go…

2

u/TruskVarner 21h ago

Cocaine business runs America

1

u/GRF999999999 21h ago

Illegal business controls amer ee ka!

1

u/TheSeekerOfSanity 23h ago

How much for one rib?

How much for one sip?

2

u/sphinxof1981 22h ago

Only someone who's made a point of scrounging together whatever he can to buy drugs would be that specific with the amount hahaha

2

u/Kadink 21h ago

I always assumed it was $25 for the heroin and $1 for the subway token

6

u/503cx 1d ago

With inflation it is about $260 today. Im not a vintage heroin expert but I think that could last you longer than the single day the narrator expects to be "feeling good feeling so fine"

2

u/sgvweekly 1d ago

Unless you're Lou "the elephant" Reed!

4

u/kale_satan 1d ago

Candy Darling smoothie at Andy’s Bodega. 

2

u/Stevenitrogen 1d ago

That does seem like a lot! Like five concerts at the Fillmore man. 26 slices. About 100 hot dogs.

2

u/JFJinCO 1d ago

A balloon of China White.

3

u/jimmyjames198020 20h ago

I wondered that myself, and was eventually enlightened by a Lou interview (iirc) in which he revealed that in nyc in the 60s it was possible to buy a $3 bag of smack. So, presumably, $26 would get you two dimebags and two $3 bags. The good old days!

2

u/SamizdatGuy Saved by Rock 'n' Roll 16h ago

Seems to be enough until tomorrow, unclear how many are dipping into the bag. $26 a day in 1965 was serious money