This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Do you remember a guy that's been
In such an early song?
I've heard a rumor from Ground Control
Oh no, don't say it's true
They got a message from the Action Man
"I'm happy, hope you're happy too
I've loved all I've needed, love
Sordid details following"
The shrieking of nothing is killing, just
Pictures of Jap girls in synthesis and I
Ain't got no money and I ain't got no hair
But I'm hoping to kick but the planet it's glowing
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
Time and again I tell myself
I'll stay clean tonight
But the little green wheels are following me
Oh no, not again
I'm stuck with a valuable friend
"I'm happy, hope you're happy too"
One flash of light but no smoking pistol
I never done good things (I never done good things)
I never done bad things (I never done bad things)
I never did anything out of the blue, woh-o-oh
Want an axe to break the ice
Wanna come down right now
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
In such an early song?
I've heard a rumor from Ground Control
Oh no, don't say it's true
They got a message from the Action Man
"I'm happy, hope you're happy too
I've loved all I've needed, love
Sordid details following"
The shrieking of nothing is killing, just
Pictures of Jap girls in synthesis and I
Ain't got no money and I ain't got no hair
But I'm hoping to kick but the planet it's glowing
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
Time and again I tell myself
I'll stay clean tonight
But the little green wheels are following me
Oh no, not again
I'm stuck with a valuable friend
"I'm happy, hope you're happy too"
One flash of light but no smoking pistol
I never done good things (I never done good things)
I never done bad things (I never done bad things)
I never did anything out of the blue, woh-o-oh
Want an axe to break the ice
Wanna come down right now
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by demosthenes2
Ashes To Ashes Lyrics as written by David Bowie
Lyrics © Royalty Network, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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in the line "in such an early song," he sounds like he's actually singing "in such another song."
the question is: what is all that talking in the background of the "the shrieking of nothing" part? it's creepy. bowie is creepy.
this is probably my favorite bowie song. i love it.
About the first line: When I first heard this song, and for a long time after, I thought the lyrics started out:<br /> <br /> Do you remember 'MacArthur's Park'?<br /> It's such an ugly song.<br /> <br /> Which I thought was pretty funny (and bitchy!) as Donna Summer's hit version of 'MacArthur Park' had come out just a year or so before 'Ashes to Ashes'. How wrong I was! LOL.<br /> <br /> I like your version very much though, especially if you add a space:<br /> <br /> in such an 'other' song<br /> <br /> would mean (to me) such a different song from such a different place and time. And you're right, it does sound like he's singing that.<br /> <br /> <br /> About the shrieking: Another horrible mishearing of mine. For the longest time I thought he was saying:<br /> <br /> Well she came and nothing was killing me<br /> Just pictures of Jap girls in synthesis.<br /> <br /> Now that I've paid some attention and know what the song is about, though, I think "The shrieking of nothing is killing" may be my favorite line. <br /> <br /> I have no idea how familiar you are with the effects of drug abuse, but in the depths of an addiction there is definitely a feeling of "nothingness," meaning, more or less, an emptiness gnawing away at you from the inside and an inability to see anything or import or interest in your surroundings. <br /> <br /> Although it seems like everything inside and out is "nothing", this feeling is definitely something - it drives many addicts into various states of insanity. That's the shrieking. The voices you hear in the song are the voices heard by addicts in this state. (And I don't necessarily mean that in the stereotypical "little voices in your head" way, although it can be that. We all, to some degree, have thoughts, or messages, or voices, that seem to come into our minds out of nowhere.)<br /> <br /> This nothingness, and its insistent shrieking, without a doubt feel "like dying" to the addict. Often, in fact, the addiction and the shrieking of its nothing do lead to the actual death of the addict.<br /> <br /> You are right. It is creepy. Bowie isn't always creepy though.<br /> <br /> I still don't know what "just pictures of Jap girls in synthesis" means. That's actually what I am here to find out.<br /> <br /> This is probably my favorite Bowie song, too.<br /> <br /> Cheers!