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Scream Like a Baby Lyrics
Well I wouldn't buy no merchandise
And I wouldn't go to war
And I mixed with other colours
But the nurse doesn't care
And I hide under blankets
Or did I run away
I really can't remember
Last time I saw the light of day
But I remember Sam 'cause he was like me
CHORUS
Scream like a baby
Sam was a gun
And I never knew his last name
And we never had no fun
Well they came down hard on the faggots
And they came down hard on the street
They came down harder on Sam
And they all knew he was beat
He was thrown into the wagon
Blindfolded, chains, and they stomped on us
And took away our clothes and things
And pumped us full of strange drugs
And oh I saw Sam falling
Spitting in their eyes
But now I lay me down to sleep
And now I close my eyes
Now I'm learning to be a part of soc-society
CHORUS
No athletic program, no discipline, no book
He just sat in the backseat swearing he'd seek revenge
But he jumped into the furnace
Singing old songs we loved
CHORUS (twice)
And I wouldn't go to war
And I mixed with other colours
But the nurse doesn't care
And I hide under blankets
Or did I run away
I really can't remember
Last time I saw the light of day
Scream like a baby
Sam was a gun
And I never knew his last name
And we never had no fun
And they came down hard on the street
They came down harder on Sam
And they all knew he was beat
He was thrown into the wagon
Blindfolded, chains, and they stomped on us
And took away our clothes and things
And pumped us full of strange drugs
And oh I saw Sam falling
Spitting in their eyes
But now I lay me down to sleep
And now I close my eyes
Now I'm learning to be a part of soc-society
He just sat in the backseat swearing he'd seek revenge
But he jumped into the furnace
Singing old songs we loved
Song Info
Submitted by
saturnine On Apr 27, 2004
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"Sam was a gun And I never knew his last name And we never had no fun" to me this always sounded like the narrator just repeating what he's been brainwashed into bielieving,it sounds exactly like something a police officer(or other authority) would say to convince him not to resist"Sam was dangerous,You didnt know him,He wasn't your friend". though you can still hear the small hints of sadness in his vocals,"Singing old songs we loved"
[Edit: i spelt something wrong]
This is an anthem for anyone who has ever been oppressed for anything or looked down upon.
"mixed with other colours and the nurse didn't care"
This seems to relate to his interracial relationships. In particluar, Ava Cherry comes to mind. Sure the nurse didn't care, it's absolutely healthy, no matter how much 'they' hate it.
Bowie is lashing out in this song. Reflecting life like a broken mirror through his words.
"Now I'm learning to be a part of soc-society"
perhaps meant to recall changes with the stutter and the phrase perfectly predicts his future with his commercialism fond next album Let's Dance.
He's singing about his experiences in rehab.
Did he ever officially "go into rehab?" I thought he kicked it on his own while in Berlin.
Did he ever officially "go into rehab?" I thought he kicked it on his own while in Berlin.
those are really good suggestions and i agree with them both. This song reminds me of Nazi racial policy and concentration camps, I think it ties in with what you said about oppression ect xxx
Some reason this song makes me think of the Virginia Tech shooter - Cho Seung-hui.
ejownz6 its funny that you mention Ava Cherry, because a song from Ava Cherry and the Astronetts called 'I Am A Lazer' (which bowie wrote and produced) was recycled to make 'Scream Like A Baby'. the lyrics are different but the music is relativly the same
I was wondering if this had anything to do with the corruption of the ideal of American society with the references to his 'friend' Sam, spitting in the eyes of his & Bowie's oppressors as they come down hard on the 'faggots' and the 'street', Sam dies in the furnace but Bowie begins to submit to learning to become a part of soc-society.
It's for his brother who committed suicide after visiting a mental hospital. If I am wrong on that info please feel free to share. None the less the brilliance of Bowie's lyrics are how universal they can be. This song it meant to be interpreted however a person wants it to be.
Well, it can't be about the suicide, because that happened in '85 and this was released in '80. But as a general song about a mental hospital....possibly.
Well, it can't be about the suicide, because that happened in '85 and this was released in '80. But as a general song about a mental hospital....possibly.