Something kind of hit me today
I looked at you and wondered if you saw things my way
People will hold us to blame
It hit me today, it hit me today

We're taking it hard all the time
Why don't we pass it by?
Just reply, you've changed your mind
We're fighting with the eyes of the blind
Taking it hard, taking it hard

Yet now
We feel that we are paper, choking on you nightly
They tell me "Son, we want you, be elusive, but don't walk far"
For we're breaking in the new boys, deceive your next of kin
For you're dancing where the dogs decay, defecating ecstasy
You're just an ally of the leecher
Locator for the virgin King, but I love you in your fuck-me pumps
And your nimble dress that trails
Oh, dress yourself, my urchin one, for I hear them on the rails
Because of all we've seen, because of all we've said
We are the dead

One thing kind of touched me today
I looked at you and counted all the times we had laid
Pressing our love through the night
Knowing it's right, knowing it's right

Now I'm hoping some one will care
Living on the breath of a hope to be shared
Trusting on the sons of our love
That someone will care, someone will care

But now
We're today's scrambled creatures, locked in tomorrow's double feature
Heaven's on the pillow, its silence competes with hell
It's a twenty-four hour service, guaranteed to make you tell
And the streets are full of press men
Bent on getting hung and buried
And the legendary curtains are drawn 'round Baby Bankrupt
Who sucks you while you're sleeping
It's the theater of financiers
Count them, fifty 'round a table
White and dressed to kill

Oh caress yourself, my juicy
For my hands have all but withered
Oh dress yourself my urchin one, for I hear them on the stairs
Because of all we've seen, because of all we've said
We are the dead
We are the dead
We are the dead


Lyrics submitted by saturnine

We Are the Dead Lyrics as written by Reeves C. Gabrels David Robert Jones

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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We Are the Dead song meanings
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    General Comment

    Funny listening to people saying that its about 1984. Bowie is talking on 2 levels as the man above said.. One a level on a par with the kind of opinions and views that would ingratiated modern arty discussions amongst people who are so out of touch with the visceral day to day life that he experienced as a youth. 1984 is NOW, not in some book, not in a commentary by a genius social commentator who would put 99% of authors and journalists to complete SHAME. This is a commentary of the street life of an addict and his hussy and a world which gobbles most people up and shits them out inside out into the sulphurous odours of the gutter and at the same time takes them to places so high and eye piercing that even angels fear to fly to such heights. I enjoyed reading the comments but I'll leave it to the Tres Butch one to finish with a comment! "But now We're today's scrambled creatures, locked in tomorrow's double feature". Because of all we've seen because of all we've said we ARE the dead! Jonjo Shamen We're today's scrambled creatures, locked in tomorrow's double feature. You'll be shooting up on anything tomorrows never there!!!!!!!!!!!! ) Beware the savage jaw of 1984 WHO could ask for more? thanks!

    smi2leon May 13, 2019   Link

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