submissions
| David Bowie – Diamond Dogs Lyrics
| 9 years ago
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Bowie wrote the album Diamond Dogs as a tribute to the George Orwell book "1984". He approached Mr. Orwell's widow and asked if he could use the name of the book and she said no, so the replacement name was "Diamond Dogs". So, the name of the songs - "We Are the Dead", "1984" and "Big Brother" are in that theme. Winston Smith in "1984" states "We Are the Dead" for example. Certainly, Bowie used to cut up words and incorporate them into songs, but he picked words and phrases that fit the post apocalyptic vision of "1984". He didn't just randomly come up (by chance) with all these type of lyrics on this concept album. The best songs on the Diamond Dogs album are the least commercial - "We Are the Dead" and "Sweet Thing/Candidate". "Future Legend" basically lays out the apocalyptic vision in the beginning of the album. Excellent use of imagery in this album's lyrics. |
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| David Bowie – Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) Lyrics
| 12 years ago
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I will certainly read that biography. Your comments are "spot on" and, combined with the comments on the pre war partying below, this helps to understand the song. This may be my favorite song - always loved it. Thanks for the information on the piano. I assume the piano is at Trident studios? |
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| David Bowie – Diamond Dogs Lyrics
| 14 years ago
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This song is the 1984 imagery taken to its logical end. The world has gone to the dogs - and this fits in well with the whole imagery and dirty guitar (Bowie playing) in the album. Almost every song on the album (Sweet Thing/Candidate, Rebel Rebel, We Are the Dead, Big Brother, 1984 etc.) carry on this imagery of the Future Legend. Bowie tried to buy the rights to make this an official 1984 album, but was unable to swing the deal. What a great use of sax and guitar to enhance this image of the world gone to the dogs. Love the "mannequins with kill appeal" line. What artist today would make an album like this? No one. |
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| David Bowie – The Bewlay Brothers Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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This song has the sound of some very personal reminising about his relationship with his brother. Clearly there is some inside information about events that happened with his brother that he is discussing. The writing has the feel of someone that is writing for himself. He really doesn't want to
explain everything to us, but somehow he wants to paint the thought that they were "Real Cool Traders" (or thought they were!) and other examples of the good points of his life with his brother. The overall feel to this song is positve, until the end. At the end, you sense that his brother "slips away". Very personal to Bowie, but this is a very personal Bowie album: Song for Bob Dylan, Life On Mars, Eight Line Poem, all seemingly personal. |
submissions
| Elvis Costello – New Amsterdam Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Isn't the first line "You're suddenly tulips mistaken for lilies"? I must hear that wrong. Great song about New York City. Elvis commented that he would make up songs never having experienced certain things (the example used was a lady with a cigerette holder and some attitude) then, when he had money suddenly he would meet those type of people in the flesh. I think that is what is going on here with the "duchess": he is being tempted by all the experiences in New York. "Everything you say sounds like it was ghost written" great line about being self concious from all the critics in New York and how he starts questioning himself. |
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| Arctic Monkeys – Fluorescent Adolescent Lyrics
| 15 years ago
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Good comments. I tend to go with the woman commenting on her past, wild life. "Falling about
You took a left off Last Laugh Lane
You just sounded it out
You're not coming back again"
To me, this means she went away from her humorous, carefree ways and he like is now boring. Taking a left means that she deviated from fun. "Sounded it out" meaning (guessing here) that she carefully considered her move away from her prior wild life - and she will not be going back again. Almost sounds like she is good with that, but the lyrics seem to suggest she is unhappy about it. "Falling about" suggests that she had some real issues (her life was in turmoil) so she left the old ways. Sounding it out could mean she thought of her life at all angles and decided to take that "left" turn to a more sedate, boring life. |
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| David Bowie – Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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That makes no sense if the song was about madness only. I think the last comment does make a lot of sense and that the song is mainly about war. Maybe it is a play on words meaning who will love a person that is crazy enough to go to war. This one has always puzzled me. The point about the dates is valid and taking in account the war references - interesting. Each song was written in a different city and they are listed in the album sleeve. Panic In Detroit (for example) was written in Detroit and it must be about the riots in Detroit in '67. I wonder if the city (whatever it is) tells us something about the song. |
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| David Bowie – Candidate Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Mr. Murdock hits the nail on the head. You have to hear and understand the situation in Future Legend to understand Candidate. Of course the world of Diamond Dogs a quite a bit seedier and (ie given over to the Dogs) than the Orewell 1984 book. Poetic license. Masterful use of the words as they match the dirty sax and guitar - played by Bowie himself. A hugely underrated album. In the stage show Bowie had the "street" incorporated in the set and he sang this while leaning on a bacony on the set. |
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| David Bowie – Candidate Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Mr. Murdock hits the nail on the head. You have to hear and understand the situation in Future Legend to understand Candidate. Of course the world of Diamond Dogs a quite a bit seedier and (ie given over to the Dogs) than the Orewell 1984 book. Poetic license. Masterful use of the words as they match the dirty sax and guitar - played by Bowie himself. A hugely underrated album. In the stage show Bowie had the "street" incorporated in the set and he sang this while leaning on a bacony on the set. |
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| David Bowie – Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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I never understood the birthdate thing: (1913-1938-197?) after the title. When I was much younger, I thought that Aladdin Sane was a vampire --coming back from the dead or something. Can anyone fill me in about the dates in the title of the song? |
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| David Bowie – Sweet Thing Lyrics
| 16 years ago
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Although the body vs. self argument has merit, I think consciously Bowie is trying to create a mood more than an exploration of self. The mood of the song fits the apocolyptic vision of the Diamond Dogs world--I imagine that world of drugs, threesomes and depravity also was present in Bowies life. He certainly relates back to them but interestingly he doesn't really condemn or judge. They are all there --Sweet Thing and Everything --at the bar down the street or the alley. The land of Future Legend... Nontheless, the mood he hits with the dirty raw guitar and sax is key. If the song had more meaning and less mood would it work? No. This album is often maligned (read Rolling Stone's review) --I think this is one of his best works.
I liken it more to Aladdin Sane (song, not album) than to Man Who Sold The World. Great reviews by all! |
submissions
| Elvis Costello – Big Sister's Clothes Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I can't believe no one comments on these gems by Elvis. "The Right Spectacle" DVD has him performing this live on Swedish TV. Sweating like a pig in a sweater.
Clearly he seems to be commenting on a woman that has no feeling - "with all the style and finesse of the purchase of armaments" and "Compassion went out of fashion" indicates that he thought she was a "dish" but she is cold. She doesn't like sex - she "sweats it out for thirty seconds". The area I haven't figured out is what the big sister has to do with it yet. The song "Big Sister" seems to mention that the younger sister does what the older sister does or maybe, she is flirting with Elvis as a jealousy thing. Happened to me --younger sister flirts with older sister's boyfriend. Maybe the song is about the guy that is attracted to the younger sister...."she is the blue chip that belongs to the big fish" (older sister). Great melody! |
submissions
| The Beatles – I Am the Walrus Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I have read quite a bit of these thoughts and I like "carpetpetals" take on this song. It is heavily influenced by drugs, but what a original sound! Name one song that is as original and ambitious as this in the last 5-10 years?
As for the "Paul is dead" thing: a DJ in Detroit (Russ Gibb) came up with the theory based on "clues" in the songs and albums: (Paul has a black rose in the MM Tour photos --the rest have red, he is dressed as a dead man in Abbey Road, the hand over his head in Sgt Peppers is a sign of death, the four Beatles manequins in the cover of Sgt. Peppers are looking at a grave, the supposed voices in the songs) All this (and there are many others) is crap. Mr. Gibb did a very effective job of putting this together--so much so, that Paul had to publically come out and say that he wasn't dead! Of course, John has some fun in the White Album when he says "here is another clue for you all/ the Walrus was Paul". What great fun for them. I think they really had fun with it. Google "Russ Gibb Paul is Dead" and you will find a site. |
submissions
| Elvis Costello – Watching the Detectives Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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The song is way too complicated (especially in the third verse) to be just sexual. (agree with "ever-inspired"). It is about attraction of the women for the detective as she has quickly moved on after offing the husband and the mistress. Whether this is through a movie or not really doesn't matter. Great imagery and as someone has already commented, the old movie type hooks are great. |
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| David Bowie – Somebody Up There Likes Me Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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A obscure song from Young Americans--what great lyrics and fantastic sax by David Sanborn. The thought that there is going to be a leader that deceives is pretty prevalent in Bowies writing. Big Brother, etc. As usual, the lyrics are excellent-- "nothing left his eye unmoved/he had the plan he had to use" that is great commentary about dictators or despots. Classic bowie.... |
submissions
| David Bowie – The Bewlay Brothers Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Yes, it is albout instanity and his step brother. I think this is about the most personal Bowie song he has. I think he lets the veil down on this one and we get a glimpse into madness. Powerful song and very personal. Love the way he uses organ and background vocals to give effect. |
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| David Bowie – Quicksand Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Bardo is Bridget Bardot, the old actress. Love the song and love the Rick Wakeman piano on this.
O.K. Here is my thoughts on this, Bowie is conflicted three ways: 1) he sees the excesses and abuses of the humanistic way of life: the imagary of Crowley and Himmler (Nazi mass murderer) are not good images....we all can see the fallacy of following mass murderers..so, "Don't believe in yourself" is a reflection of the reality that man is flawed. 2) he doesn't trust organized religion either. and 3) he doesn't want you to think that as a rock star he has all the answers either ( I'm not a prophet or a stone age man) (I ain't got the power anymore).
I think that he realizes that we will only find out the meaning of life after death. He is "frightened by the total goal
Drawing to the ragged hole" (death)
He is fearing going to God and judgment for these reasons. There is no conclusion here, just an acknowledgement that he doesn't know the answers.... |
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| David Bowie – Life on Mars? Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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It might be my favorite also. Top five certainly. Cat People, Lady Grinning Soul, Diamond Dogs (entire) Aladdin Sane (song) ....all fantastic. All raw, all captivating. |
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| David Bowie – We Are the Dead Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Bowie is a master. This is a great song and the delivery in his voice are excellent. He sets the mood, and then really creates a masterpiece...what other rock star would sing this song? |
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| David Bowie – Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I think Bowie went off script here. I understand your comments, but I think that he is hitting on the other images of the album --the world is dangerous (post apocolytic (sp?) and there is always the dangerous people that will circle around to peck at the carcass.....That is the imagine I have taking into account the preamble of the album. |
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| David Bowie – All the Young Dudes Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Bowie wrote the song for Ian Hunter and the reason the lyrics are different is that the version here (and the only Bowie version) is LIVE. Bowie only sings his own song in concert on the David Live album. That is the reason. The David Live background vocals with Warren Peace are much better than the Mott The Hoople original. |
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| David Bowie – 1984 Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I really think this album is fantastic and vastly underrated ---the guitar work (kind of nasty.. rough and full of distortion) really fit the 1984 theme. "We are the Dead" the "Sweet Thing-Candidate-Sweet Thing Reprise", "Big Brother" etc. all fit the theme. This whole album rocks. Get "David Live" and hear these tunes with David Sanborn on sax - awesome.... |
submissions
| The Beatles – Strawberry Fields Forever Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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When I was 10 or so, this song really creeped me out. I was facinated with it. The cellos in the beginning are fantastic. This discussion on whether the Beatles were doing drugs is pointless--drugs influence the song i am sure, but you can't write and pull off a song like this when you are stoned in the studio (which Lennon was not). I'm sure he like his drugs, but it is immaterial to the song - Lennon didn't write this song while stoned out of his mind.
As for the "Paul is dead" thing, a deejay out of Detroit looked at various snips of songs like the one here and looked at pictures of Paul walking across the road in Abbey Road (said he was walking in bare feet --like in burial), the license plate on the car in the Abbey Road picture that says "29IF" --Paul was 28 or 29 so that mean't that he died. Paul's black carnation in the pictures within the Magical Mystery Tour album--yes, they had a large picture book within the vinyl album, etc. Great bullshit.
As for the song itself, I could have sworn that Strawberry Fields was a graveyard. In the video of
"Free As a Bird" they "fly" into the graveyard (name of it is Strawberry Fields" and you see the grave of Eleanor Rigby. Right?
The sheer inventiveness of the song is fantastic. I think it is about death and life. "nothing to get hung about" "living is easy with eyes closed" "let me take you down" (to the grave), etc.. all death imagines but Lennon loves to play the fool with his sarcastic humor. At the end of the day, he affirms life and is engaged in it. "its not too bad" Difficult song to understand, but I think he is being really humorous and tongue in cheek about it all. |
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| David Bowie – Panic in Detroit Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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Written in early 1970's in Detroit about the 1967 riots. Take it from me, he saw the same burned out buildings along Grand River Ave. in Detroit as I saw in the early 70's. Aladdin Sane has a city associated with each song (check the CD or album liner) and this one was from Detroit. He captured the essence of the city after the riots very well. Great song. |
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| David Bowie – Eight Line Poem Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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O.K., anyone that has clicked on this song is really the Bowie fan --congratulate yourself!
What a great song and a great album. I think this song has to do with celebrating London as a city. This is a guess. |
submissions
| David Bowie – Big Brother Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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The chorus says it all: Someone to claim us, someone to follow/
Someone to shame us, some brave Apollo/
Someone to fool us, someone like you---what great lines for anyone that has bought into the political figures in the world. Bowie (within the 1984 theme) warns us not to trust leaders. Sound advice and what a great song. Love the distortion and the filtered vocals.... |
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| David Bowie – Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?) Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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I believe the mental thing was covered in Bewley Brothers on Hunky Dory. I tend to believe that this is more to Bonehead's version--more about a generation that is partying --especially one that is immortal (see the dates on the song title). Michael Garson piano is outstanding. The whole song has a haunting feel of death. Very interesting and powerful--the next song is Drive In Saturday which is completely different. That is what makes Aladdin Sane so powerful. |
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| David Bowie – Lady Grinning Soul Lyrics
| 17 years ago
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What does this song mean? It means that Bowie can really write a powerful exotic song with a hypnot ic hook! I could listen to this song over and over and be amazed at the talent of Bowie. I love this song! |
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| Elvis Costello – New Lace Sleeves Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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Check out "The Right Specticle" DVD. Great video of this song. This is one of my favorites. You hit this very well. He can't stand the "socialite sisters" but he lusts for them (or wants to be in their money circle) anyway. |
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| Elvis Costello – Watching the Detectives Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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I have this visual imagine of this women checking out ("hes so cute") the detectives after offing her husband. What a visual as she is "filing her nails" --probably looking out the window as they are "dragging the lake" !
I got the "Right Specticle" (Elvis DVD). It is awesome. It has commentary (can turn off or on, and can have in subtitles) with rare footage from some of the English shows (live). It also has a very early "Watching the Detective" played live at some English festival. A must see. Highly recommended. |
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| Elvis Costello – Alison Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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"Did he leave your pretty fingers lying in the wedding cake" what a line. That is an ex-husband or ex-lover just loving that the current husband has had his fill of her. Right after the wedding.
This is a very vindictive song - he doesn't hold back. The ex sees this (My Aim is True), but he still is concerned ---he still loves her as evidenced in how he thinks the world is killing her. He gleefully rejoices in her failures one minute, but is sympathetic another moment. I have been there. Can't forget the good times, but would like to see her squirm a bit too. Great writing. |
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| David Bowie – Life on Mars? Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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I don't see the song so politically motivated and I think that the line "Is there Life on Mars" as being a playful point about escapism. The girl can't get along with her parents so she seeks an outlet in movies.
The chorus either is Bowie's editorial about how life is like a movie with these real life happenings being like a movie (life is stranger than fiction) or it really is scenes from the movies she is watching. (that is my take on the chorus).
The second part is interesting as Bowie comments on England and America (both negatively). I think the line is supposed to be "Lenin", not "Lennon". Bowie is commenting on Americas pop culture (keeping with the Disney/film theme) and also takes a shot at Britain. Essentially, he is saying that our culture of escapism is wrong. "Is there Life on Mars?" is a sarcastic comment about the culture that glorifies entertainment over real life issues. Bowie doesn't really wonder if there is life there, he is saying that (in light of all the sci fi movies and pop culture) see what we care about? We care about escapism over real issues. The girl is used by Bowie to represent the public -- escapists that run to movies and pop culture to avoid the real world and its problems.
Huge Bowie fan and this is a really great song. |
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| The Beatles – Golden Slumbers Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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I just listened to the Ben Folds version and you have to be kidding me. Thin voice, very thin. The orchestral part is cheesy--much worse than 1969. If that is the best that can be done, it pales in comparison to McCartney. Probably why very few have the balls to try to cover this. |
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| Elvis Costello – Goon Squad Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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Well, no. Yes, real world, but the theme of this is more toward the original title of Armed Forces - "Emotional Facism." The comment about "But you'll never get to make a lampshade out of me" is right out of Sylvia Plath (poet). Elvis is commenting about the Communist/Facist way in which kids betray their parents (who are taken away). Of course, the kids that are programmed, "rat" on their parents and are taken away "You could be in for a shock" follows this theme. Re-read the lyrics in this context---Green Shirt is the same theme, basically. Elvis is a master. |
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| Elvis Costello – Busy Bodies Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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Yes, the key here is the first lines "So you think that you have seen her /When you're lying in between her" ??? You have seen her anatomically, but do you really "see" her personality, her moods, her problems??? No. Elvis thinks that it is all physical --busy bodies that are not connected to really "knowing" this person. As usual, he is "spot on"! |
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| Elvis Costello – Alison Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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On the Vh1 Special he talks about the cashier he met and imagined what her life was like. Like many of his songs, he places himself in her world as her former lover, imagining that she will have affairs on him and will then marry and have issues with the husband. (as she did (supposedly) with him) "My Aim Is True" means that he has preducted this outcome when they broke up in the past. He writes from the present to the past and chronicles her mistakes. As always, Elvis writes about situations that normal people can relate to--like a girl that you see at your high school reunion and she has a kid and is divorced--ie, baggage. Great song, great lyrics. |
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| The Beatles – Abbey Road Medley Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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They are snippets of songs that were incomplete when the Beatles made the White Album. There were other snippets written in the same time period like "Junk" that didn't get on any Beatles album, but made the second McCartney album. It is masterful the way that they take some songs about women, some about their stay in India and weave them together. I think that Golden Slumbers may be the greatest melody from the Beatles - it rivals For No One and Here There and Everywhere. What a great collection of pieces of songs that are timeless when strung together. |
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| Elvis Costello – Chemistry Class Lyrics
| 18 years ago
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I think this is the age-old story of a sexual attraction to someone that you despise. Love-hate, but you can't have her as she is controlled by the "king-pin" (some other powerful man). The last stanza is the attraction part, even though you would like t put her in her place as she is irritating. Mixing two differing personalities (intelligent and spacious) but....the attraction can't be ignored. Great lyric. |
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