Songfacts®:

• "Trash" is the debut single by American hard rock band the New York Dolls. It was recorded for their 1973 self-titled album and released as a double A-side with the song "Personality Crisis" in July 1973. The song is a quintessential Dolls track: raw, defiant, and catchy as hell.
• Amid the gritty sidewalks and flashing neon of a down-and-dirty New York, the New York Dolls crafted a tale of love both tender and tough in "Trash." Lead singer David Johansen's enigmatic lyrics weave a story of affection in unconventional corners, replacing "life" with suggestive whispers of "knife," "night," and "lights." This ambiguity, paired with the band's flamboyant style, transformed their trashy life into something sexier and more romantic.
• Johansen wrote "Trash" with guitarist Sylvain Sylvain.
  
  "I co-wrote 'Trash' with Syl, so they tell me!" Johansen told Uncut magazine. "I don't remember exactly but I always had a notebook so I could write things down, little tidbits. So I had this idea for 'Trash' and he started playing this thing: 'dang – adang – adang, dang – adang – adang – ding – ding – ding–ding wah!' I thought, 'Oh that would fit this idea,' it was one of those deals. Usually the first thing time we play something it's just about getting ideas and then I'll go home and write the words. That's how it worked then, anyway, Syl and I have done a lot of different techniques over the years."
• Todd Rundgren produced "Trash" and also contributed background vocals. He also produced albums for artists like Badfinger, Grand Funk Railroad, Meat Loaf, and Cheap Trick. Rundgren is also a successful solo artist and a member of the band Utopia.
• The song did not chart upon its release but became a staple in the punk rock genre over time.
• The New York Dolls remade the song for their 2009 album Cause I Sez So in a reggae style reflecting the band's evolution.