This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
He looked a lot like Che Guevara, drove a diesel van
Kept his gun in quiet seclusion, such a humble man
The only survivor of the National People's Gang
Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph
He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit
He laughed at accidental sirens that broke the evening gloom
The police had warned of repercussions
They followed none too soon
A trickle of strangers were all that were left alive
Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph
He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit
Putting on some clothes I made my way to school
And I found my teacher crouching in his overalls
I screamed and ran to smash my favorite slot machine
And jumped the silent cars that slept at traffic lights
Having scored a trillion dollars, made a run back home
Found him slumped across the table a gun and me alone
I ran to the window looked for a plane or two
Panic in Detroit he'd left me an autograph
Let me collect dust I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit
Panic in Detroit
Panic in Detroit
Kept his gun in quiet seclusion, such a humble man
The only survivor of the National People's Gang
Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph
He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit
He laughed at accidental sirens that broke the evening gloom
The police had warned of repercussions
They followed none too soon
A trickle of strangers were all that were left alive
Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph
He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit
Putting on some clothes I made my way to school
And I found my teacher crouching in his overalls
I screamed and ran to smash my favorite slot machine
And jumped the silent cars that slept at traffic lights
Having scored a trillion dollars, made a run back home
Found him slumped across the table a gun and me alone
I ran to the window looked for a plane or two
Panic in Detroit he'd left me an autograph
Let me collect dust I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit
Panic in Detroit
Panic in Detroit
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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.
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Mountain Song
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Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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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.
I agree, a brilliant apocolypic song. Guitar and drums are relentless, and I love the imagery of the lyrics. Plus, Bowie follows Chekhov's dictum, that if you introduce a gun in the first act, you must fire it by the third act.
The person that "looked a lot like Che Guevara" was based upon a real person.
"I know why I associated with that character. It was somebody I used to go to school with who ended up as a very big drugs dealer down in South America and who flew to one of the shows and reintroduced himself. And I said 'I don't believe it. Is that who you are now?' "
So many images brought to mind by this. Drug dealers, riots, crime, people dying in the street. And Bowie makes it all sound so cool.
Written in early 1970's in Detroit about the 1967 riots. Take it from me, he saw the same burned out buildings along Grand River Ave. in Detroit as I saw in the early 70's. Aladdin Sane has a city associated with each song (check the CD or album liner) and this one was from Detroit. He captured the essence of the city after the riots very well. Great song.
@Motown1 <br /> Bowie did not see the riots. Bowie wrote the song based on the descriptions of Iggy Pop who was in Detroit in the summer of 67.<br /> I saw some of the riots from the riverfront of Windsor Ontario.
This song is great, I can listen to it all nite on repeat. and by the end I still don't have a headache and the words aren't just average mumbles as a song on repeat would usually come to my ears as.
I'm FROM the Detroit area, was vacationing in Canada during the riots-which the media acted like were only on Twelfth Street. Twelfth was a slum by then anyway, Grand River a major commerical district.
It's about a young wannabe "revolutionary."
"He looked a lot like Che Guevara/drove a diesel van./ Kept his gun in quiet seclusion, such a humble man. /The only survivor of the National People's Gang/ Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph/ He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone. /Panic in Detroit." -He glorifies this guy who looks like actual revolutionary Che Guevara and wants his autograph. He keeps waiting for someone to "phone" because he wants to be involved in something, wants to be called upon to act. The guy (judging from later lyrics) probably kept his gun in "seclusion" not out of humility but because he was not interested in revolution anymore.
"He laughed at accidental sirens that broke the evening gloom./The police had warned of repercussions./They followed none too soon A trickle of strangers were all that were left alive. Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph. He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone.Panic in Detroit." -He wants the guys autograph but the guy wants to stay home.
"Putting on some clothes I made my way to school./ And I found my teacher crouching in his overalls./ I screamed and ran to smash my favorite slot machine. /And jumped the silent cars that slept at traffic lights." -The kid is young (school age) and immature. Whatever is happening has his teacher scared. (And the detail about the overalls may be for irony as overalls are typically "worker" clothes & revolutionaries are usually trying to help "workers." He then smashes a slot machine which seems like a petty act and then in next lines thinks he has a "trillion dollars."
"Having scored a trillion dollars, made a run back home. /Found him slumped across the table a gun and me alone./ I ran to the window looked for a plane or two./ Panic in Detroit he'd left me an autograph Let me collect dust I wish someone would phone. Panic in Detroit." -The kid returns to find the guy had committed suicide and runs to window to look for planes because he hopes something big and exiting is happening. The guy has left him an "autograph" in form of a suicide note requesting to be let to "collect dust." The kid is still waiting for a phone call.
Like "Five Years", "Fiture Legend", "Diamond Dogs" another song that could've been part of the soundtrack for Omega Man.
It R o c k s!
I bet he was there in the winter and heard all the silent screams of the people dieing from exposure to the city its self.
The David Live version is straight Epic!