Up until one century ago there lived,
In the Zi Duang provence of eastern country
A glass-like spider.
Having devoured its prey it would drape the skeletons over its web,
In weeks creating a macabre

Shrine of remains
Its web was also unique in that it had many layers,
Like floors in a building

At the top of this palace-like place, assembled with almost apparent
Care, were tiny, shining objects, glass, beads, dew-drops.
One could almost call it an altar.
When the breeze blew through this construction,
It produced sounds of wailing, crying.
Tiny wails, tiny cries.

The baby spiders would get scared and search frantically
For their mother.
But the Glass Spider would have long gone, having known that the babies
Would survive someone on their own.
Oh-The Glass Spider had blue eyes almost like-a human's.
They shed tears at the wintered turn of the centuries.

Don't you hear this wasted cry, Life is over you
(Mummy come back 'cause the water's all gone)
But you've seen who's in heaven. Is there anyone in hell
(Mummy come back 'cause it's dark now)
Take care, take care.
(Mummy come back 'cause the water's all gone)
Somewhere she glows divine. Somewhere she wakes alone.
But you, you've promise in your lovin' eye. God it's dark now.

Jah Jah Jah Jah Jah
Jah Jah Jah Jah Jah

Gone, Gone the water's all gone
Mummy come back 'cause the water's all gone
Stay low on the ground, fire can drive you, savage and afraid
Spitting the dawn, come come come along before the animals awake
Run, run, we've been moving all night, rivers to the left.
If your mother don't love you then the riverbed might
Gone, gone, the water's all gone
Mummy come back 'cause the water's all gone

Jah Jah Jah Jah Jah
Jah Jah Jah Jah Jah

Gone gone the water's all gone
Mummy come back 'cause the water's all gone


Lyrics submitted by saturnine, edited by shampoo147, IniquitatisRex

Glass Spider Lyrics as written by David Bowie

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Glass Spider song meanings
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5 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    The only great song on "Never Let Me Down". I know that most people says that this is one of the worst bowie songs, but i think its just magnificent, the music, the lyrics, everything.

    My interpretation is that Bowie is talking about the relationship between God an the human beings. He feels abandoned by God, and he prays him to come back to check on the Earth that he has forgotten. The Glass Spider is God, and the baby spiders are the humans. I don't know, that comes to my mind when i read the lyrics.

    idelamazaon December 29, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "Jah" is another word for God...

    S4v3St4t3son March 16, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i saw the glass spider tour, it was dreadful. but later i went to his greatest hits tour and it made up for it!

    ghost in the smowon October 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "Glass Spider" is also the term for the activation system on a nuclear warhead. Or somehting along those lines.

    charlieSometimeson October 29, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I almost want him to say "The year of the Diamond Dogs"

    ziggytwigon January 17, 2017   Link

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