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Heathen (The Rays) Lyrics

Steel on the skyline
Sky made of glass
Made for a real world
All things must pass
Oo-o
Waiting for something
Looking for someone
Is there no reason?
Have I stared too long?
Oo-o, Oo-o
You say you'll leave me
And when the sun is low
And the rays high
I can see it now
I can feel it die
Oo-o, Oo-o
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Cover art for Heathen (The Rays) lyrics by David Bowie

Does no one care about the latter part of Bowie's career? It's still surprising to think that he wrote and recorded this before 9/11 took place.

Unfortunately it doesn't seem like many do care about anything Bowie did after 1990. It's a shame, really, because that part of his work is probably my favourite.

I care!

Cover art for Heathen (The Rays) lyrics by David Bowie

This song seems like our future. the first verse sounds like our countires enclosed in domes because the pollution has gotten so bad. The second verse sounds like someone waiting for the anti-christ. The last verse sounds like the end of the world. Very deep stuff. Does David Have ESP? I suggest Britney Spears to have a listen.

@meaningman I Confirm.

@meaningman It's about the fear his spirituality has no basis, that there is no spiritual plane, no being, no actual meaning and the fear of death and nothingness. He talked about writing this song in an interview. He said he didn't want to write it, he hated writing it, that it was traumatic and upsetting but it poured out of him and he couldn't stop.

Cover art for Heathen (The Rays) lyrics by David Bowie

Sounds like he borrowed parts of the "Strangers When We Meet" melody for this.

Cover art for Heathen (The Rays) lyrics by David Bowie

He talked about writing this song in an interview. He said the words came out of him and he couldn't stop them, that it was a terrible, traumatic thing and afterwards he felt awful and was sobbing. It's about the fear that there is no spiritual plane, that his spirituality has no basis, the fear of death and nothingness and feeling the creeping approach of death and abyss, like life draining away.

(I wish people would actually research song meanings by referring to artist's own telling instead of just guessing or the superficial explanations).

Cover art for Heathen (The Rays) lyrics by David Bowie

Does he even have a latter career? Seems it went nowhere after his initial success, although personally I find the man quite talented.

@Thisaintozkid Oh yes, his later work can stand alone.

@Thisaintozkid One destined for the Stars.

 
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