A Better Future

god? well maybe he means it but i would interpret it as humanity. the future will be very sad if everyone just sits around waiting for the judgement day or some god to make the world a better place. we have todo it ourselves! but who am i telling...

I think this is in the same vein as Bob Dylan's early song "Masters of War". In it he says that the masters of war (the government) has caused the greatest fear that could ever be hurled- fear to bring children into this world. I think the "you" in this song is the government (of America or England or wherever) and that he wants to be patriotic but can't because the world is so screwed up. and he demands that they get their act together for the sake of future generations.

I could just cry...

the "you " in this song is God

"All that's plane, and all the sorrow" It should be "plain", not "plane"....well, either, as long as the "plane" referenced in mind is a metaphorical ideal near that of a 2D mathematical plane...
"All that is flush/flat/unnoteworthy"

Wow...this reminds me a LOT about moving on with life and maybe love...i am still trying to move on from a relationship and this Heathen song has helped a lot...Thanks, Bowie! You're a real mensche.

amazing song - the remix by 'Air' is particularly good, gives the song a crazy electro melancholia

This could be God being fed up with what humanity has done to His creation. It could be an ordinary person saying the same. It could be man who is fed up with the way they women have systematically vilified men via the feminist movement. "I just might stop needing/ wanting/ Loving you" could apply to all the above . The music is gentle and understated and has a rather naive little hook that is almost child-like and benign in feeling amongst all the destruction that the lyric is describing.

Great song! It's best to not believe in God. We're all just machines born, and we all need to clean up our messes. Don't wait for a messiah or a God. And keep away from those who believe in God, they're nutters.

Several years after first hearing this song, I now think it is about the current state of relationships between males and females, particularly in the western world. For example:

'When we talk we talk to you' 'When we walk we walk to you'

I think that is referring to the situation in which it is usually the case that the toddler first walks towards the mother and also firstly talks to the mother because the mother is the person who spends the most time with the child.

'Give my children sunny smiles' Is perhaps another indication that the writer is asking the mother to bring up happy children.

'From factory to field nothing is moving' I think this is a reference as to how society is stagnating in the west due to internal personal politics.

If these things do not happen then the writer is suggesting that he may; 'Stop loving you' 'Stop wanting you' 'Stop liking you'.

All the lyrics of this song add up to a comment about the relationships between men and women in the 21st century. Feminism has constantly placed mens' attitudes under scrutiny but what hasn't happened is that women's behaviour and attitudes towards men have not been placed under any scrutiny whatsoever.

I think that currently womens' behaviour is being placed under great scrutiny because men have had enough of being vilified by the feminist movement and the illiberal 'liberal' left.

I think the writer's intent is a warning. It is a warning of how men will change their attitude towards women if women do not do something about their own attitudes and behaviour towards men.

The narcissism and sense of entitlement that many women carry has been increased and enhanced by the feminist and illiberal liberal leftist movement which seeks to destroy western society from within.

I think we are now seeing the result of societal breakdown caused by these movements which is what I think the writer means by 'Please don't tear this world asunder' 'All is pain and all is sorrow'.

It's a very serious observation which is typical of some of the writer' a darkest lyrics but he has cleverly juxtaposed that with a rather trite musical accompaniment. The accompaniment is light both in texture, melody and rhythm.

It's musical humour. The humour of a light musical texture supporting a very dark lyric. rob335@hotmail.com Please email your thoughts.