I couldn't escape this feeling
With my China Girl
I'm just a wreck without
My little China Girl
I'd hear her heart beating
Loud as thunder
Saw the stars crashing

I'm a mess without
My China Girl
Wake up mornings, there's
No China Girl
I'd hear hearts beating
Loud as thunder
I'd see stars crashing down

I'd feel tragic, like I
Was Marlon Brando
When I'd look at my China Girl
I could pretend that nothing
Really meant too much
When I'd look at my China Girl

I'd stumble into town
Just like a sacred cow
Visions of swastikas in my head
And plans for everyone
It's in the white of my eyes

My little China Girl
You shouldn't mess with me
I'll ruin everything you are
I'll give you television
I'll give you eyes of blue
I'll give you men who want to rule the world

And when I get excited
My little China Girl says
"Oh Jimmy, just you shut your mouth"
She says "shhhh..."


Lyrics submitted by J0K3R

China Girl Lyrics as written by James Osterberg David Bowie

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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China Girl song meanings
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14 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I love how it starts as just another bowie imitation track and at about 2:00 he just starts screaming his head off like he's in the stooges again

    RobotHouseon September 29, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i just love iggy's voice so much, i can't explain it. it's really fucking amazing. so cool, so beautiful, and yet at times so wild and primal. he's a musical god. i love both his and bowie's version, as i'm a huge bowie fan. they wrote the song together though and i think its fitting that they both had a shot at it.

    lukeyboy3on July 13, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Iggy Pop & David Bowie wrote this while they were recording with in France. They were recording in the same place as the French artist Jacques Higelin, and Iggy became smitten with his wife, who is Vietnamese. He confessed his love for her and she rebuked him. The song is a pretty good summary of falling for someone and not having them reciprocate; the feelings go from tender and loving to angry and frustrated. He sounds so hurt and dejected by the last line of the song... awesome recording.

    tristan_son August 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    must be my favourite song ever. can't believe no one commented on it. so superior to bowie's version, the vocals are unbelievable

    PiKueloon February 03, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is one of my favorite songs.

    Somaliveon April 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this version is really beautiful and sounds very rich. I like it a lot better than Bowie's version, although I think Bowie's version is easier to understand. This is so glam, I love it.

    aubreymcfateon March 02, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    read the book. Open up and Bleed: Iggy Pop. i just finished it. they talk about the inspiration behind it.

    Dustin_Moritzon August 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    the first portion of the lyrics has minor inaccuracies..

    here's the correct lyrics:

    "I couldn't escape this feeling With my China Girl I'm just a wreck without My little China Girl I'd hear her heart beating Loud as thunder Saw the stars crashing"

    smashingyngmanon July 20, 2009   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    Better than the bowie version IMHO. Iggy's voice feels more vulnerable and desperate, which Bowie is trying to be sensual in a kind of gross over the top kind of way.

    j1eron November 13, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Swastika? What is it with Bowie and Iggy when it comes to Nazis?

    VGoldmineWildeon August 14, 2010   Link

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