In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Well, Annie's pretty neat, she always eats her meat
Joe is awful strong, bet your life he's putting us on
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
Oh move me, touch me
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I'm only dancing
Oh shadow love was quick and clean, life's a well-thumbed machine
I saw you watching from the stairs, you're everyone that ever cared
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
Move me, touch me
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I'm only dancing
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I'm only dancing
Dancing
Won't someone dance with me?
Touch me, ohh
Joe is awful strong, bet your life he's putting us on
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
Oh move me, touch me
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I'm only dancing
Oh shadow love was quick and clean, life's a well-thumbed machine
I saw you watching from the stairs, you're everyone that ever cared
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
Move me, touch me
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I'm only dancing
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I'm only dancing
Dancing
Won't someone dance with me?
Touch me, ohh
Lyrics submitted by LilBowieGirl
John, I'm Only Dancing Lyrics as written by David Bowie
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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I came up with a theory about this song. Basically, it is about a guy who is running around at a party stealing people's coffee. The first verse details a time when he takes Annie out to breakfast in order to steal her coffee. When he takes a sip, he declares, "Joe is awful strong!" and is annoyed with what he feels to be a trick against him (ie the coffee is too strong for his tastes). Then we find him on the dance floor at John's party. He is dancing and simultaneously stealing the dancers' coffee (don't ask me why the partygoers are drinking coffee there, though. Maybe it's a special kind of party). John sees him stealing coffee and the guy declares that he is "only dancing." "You're everyone that ever cared" is the coffee stealer boldly telling John that it doesn't matter if he steals people's coffee; he'll do it whenever he pleases. The line "Dancing, won't someone dance with me?" is when the other dancers realize what the coffee-thief is doing and they all refuse to dance with him. He pleas for sympathy, but to no avail.
In fact, a couple months ago, I sent an email to David Bowie which was a line-by-line analyzation of the song that demonstrated the theory.
Ahahahhahahahhahahahhahahahhaha.
This made my day.
Did anybody ever reply to your email?
And plus, it's only been five years! There's still time...
Sadly...time is up. Love your theory though. RIP Starman!