It first appeared on their debut studio album, The Velvet Underground & Nico (1967).

The syncopated guitar riff is taken from the 1962 Marvin Gaye song "Hitch Hike".

[5] Guitarist Sterling Morrison has stated: Metronomically, we were a pretty accurate band.

And then when it comes back into the "bye-bye-byes" it's double the original tempo, a tremendous leap to twice the speed.

[6]Other artists have recorded the song, including R.E.M., who recorded it as a B-side on their 1983 single "Radio Free Europe" (and appeared on their B-side compilation Dead Letter Office in 1987).