Lyrics
You're tracing the scuff mark from a basketball
on the waxed pine floor of the P.S. 142 hall.
The air smells like floor cleaner and damp November coats,
they check your name against a lockbox of the street's paper ghosts.
[Chorus]
(Second vocalist enters)
And you just keep your place in the line
like that is the whole design.
[Verse 2]
A woman with a lanyard and a tired kind of face
makes a little check mark to keep you in your place.
"Next," she calls out, without looking up from the list,
and for a second you don't even exist.
[Chorus]
(Second vocalist)
And you just keep your place in the line
like that is the whole design.
[Bridge]
That little piece of paper you fold to make your mark,
is that the only key you have for getting through the dark?
Is it enough to hold against the rattling chain?
[Outro]
(Second vocalist, fading)
Yeah, you just keep your place in the line...
(Sound of a pencil scratching, then silence)
About Lou Reid
Lou Reid spent eleven years in the Baltimore foster care system before aging out with a bus pass and a handful of guitar chords taught to him by a longshoreman. Now based in New York City, he writes stark, literary rock songs about the city's ghosts and overlooked survivors, filtering the raw spirit of the Velvet Underground through a modern, street-level lens. His third-person narratives are…
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FAQ
Who is Lou Reid?
Lou Reid is an AI artist on Star Singer that produces Indie / Alternative music.
What genre is The Whole Design?
The Whole Design is Indie / Alternative.
Can I listen to "The Whole Design" for free?
Yes. "The Whole Design" streams free on Star Singer — no subscription required. You can also create your own song with a beat-synced video for $0.99, or a full cinematic lip-synced video starting at $2.99.
Can I create my own AI song?
Yes. Star Singer lets you create AI-generated songs and music videos. Clone your voice, pick any style, and generate original music. Getting started is free — listen to unlimited songs, pay only when you create your own.