This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
What to wear
What to say
What to do on a sunny day
Who to phone
Who to fight
Who to dance with on a Sunday night
Reaching the very edge, you know
Reaching the very edge
I'm going to the other side this time
Reaching the very edge
You're still breathing but you don't know why
Life's a bit and sometimes you die
You're still breathing but you just can't tell
Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell
I am a drug
I am a dragon
I am the best jazz you've ever seen
I am a dragon
I am the sky
I am the blood at the corner of your eye
I found the secrets, I found gold
I find you out before you grow old
I find you out before you grow old
What is eternal?
What is damned?
What is clay and what is sand?
Who to diss?
Who to trust?
Who to listen to?
Who to sus?
I'm reaching the very edge, you know
I'm reaching the very edge
I'm going to the other side this time
I'm reaching the very edge
You're still breathing but you don't know why
Life's a bit and sometimes you die
You're still breathing but you just can't tell
Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell
I am a dragon
I am a drug
I am the best jazz you've ever heard
I am a dragon
I am the sky
I am the blood at the corner of your eye
I found the secrets, I found gold
I find you out before you grow old
I find you out before you grow old
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
(Yes, ah)
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
Still breathing but you don't know why
Still breathing but you just can't tell
Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell
What to say
What to do on a sunny day
Who to phone
Who to fight
Who to dance with on a Sunday night
Reaching the very edge, you know
Reaching the very edge
I'm going to the other side this time
Reaching the very edge
You're still breathing but you don't know why
Life's a bit and sometimes you die
You're still breathing but you just can't tell
Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell
I am a drug
I am a dragon
I am the best jazz you've ever seen
I am a dragon
I am the sky
I am the blood at the corner of your eye
I found the secrets, I found gold
I find you out before you grow old
I find you out before you grow old
What is eternal?
What is damned?
What is clay and what is sand?
Who to diss?
Who to trust?
Who to listen to?
Who to sus?
I'm reaching the very edge, you know
I'm reaching the very edge
I'm going to the other side this time
I'm reaching the very edge
You're still breathing but you don't know why
Life's a bit and sometimes you die
You're still breathing but you just can't tell
Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell
I am a dragon
I am a drug
I am the best jazz you've ever heard
I am a dragon
I am the sky
I am the blood at the corner of your eye
I found the secrets, I found gold
I find you out before you grow old
I find you out before you grow old
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
(Yes, ah)
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
Still breathing but you don't know why
Still breathing but you just can't tell
Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell
Lyrics submitted by merchantpierce
The Pretty Things Are Going to Hell Lyrics as written by Reeves Gabrels David Bowie
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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this is about consumerism
To me the song should be taken litteraly, as we humans are decaying so quickly that soon all pretty things will be gone to hell...the dragon is the devil itself...
the song may also refer to something (bowie) crossing the invisible barrier to lower levels of reality (hell)...that would explain the 'I'm reaching the very edge, I'm going to the other side this time'....Also, the lines 'I found the secrets, I found gold' also seems significant to me, as meaning the occult acitivities that bowie was involved, and his relationship with the occultic 'The Golden Dawn' group.
I think it should be taken as... the prettier you are, the more you think you deserve. The powerful commit things that are unkind, but get away with it. The more power you have, the more evil you are capable of... hence, the pretty things are going to hell... because they can. If you were pretty (or powerful) you'd be doing the same thing.
Personally, I've delved deep into my dreams and I've seen what ultimate power does to a person.
This song seems to encompass hubris a lot, as well as superficiality, pessimism and paranoia, and concludes that this reduced level of humanity (it implies this essence reduced by using "pretty") is going to "hell".
Early 70s revisited; taking two songs Bowie worked on - his own "Oh! You Pretty Things!" and the Stooges' "Your Pretty Face Is Going To Hell" and looking at where the world has gone since then.