The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Man, she punched me like a dude
Hold your mad hands, I cried
'Tis a pity she was a whore
'Tis my curse, I suppose
That was patrol
That was patrol
This is the war
Black struck the kiss, she kept my cock
Smote the mistress, drifting on
'Tis a pity she was a whore
She stole my purse, with rattling speed
That was patrol
This is the war
'Tis a pity she was a whore
Man, she punched me like a dude
Hold your mad hands, I cried
'Tis a pity she was a whore
'Tis my fate, I suppose
For that was patrol
That was patrol
'Tis a pity she was a whore
'Tis a pity she was a whore
Hold your mad hands, I cried
'Tis a pity she was a whore
'Tis my curse, I suppose
That was patrol
That was patrol
This is the war
Black struck the kiss, she kept my cock
Smote the mistress, drifting on
'Tis a pity she was a whore
She stole my purse, with rattling speed
That was patrol
This is the war
'Tis a pity she was a whore
Man, she punched me like a dude
Hold your mad hands, I cried
'Tis a pity she was a whore
'Tis my fate, I suppose
For that was patrol
That was patrol
'Tis a pity she was a whore
'Tis a pity she was a whore
Lyrics submitted by IniquitatisRex
Tis A Pity She Was A Whore Lyrics as written by David Bowie
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I like an interpretation I've seen elsewhere on the web (posted by Yakbutter).
"I think this song is about time and references his earlier song of that name. In the lyrics of ‘Time’ is the line ‘he flexes like a whore’. Don’t worry that the fact that the whore is now a ‘she’. Time has no gender. In the second line he writes ‘hold your mad hands’. These are the hands of a clock. The ticking of a clock is represented by the accelrating electronic beat as time goes by faster and begins to draw to his end. I feel that the line ‘that was patrol, this is the war’ contrast his perception of time now compared to how he perceived time when he wrote the earlier song. There is a final clue in the subject of the John Ford play on which the title is based. The central theme of that play is incest which resonates with the famous line from ‘Time’ – ‘incestuous and vain’.
Just to add to that, 'kept my cock' could refer to the loss of the libido and of the cockiness of his youth.
A pity that time has moved on so easily from him and into other's embrace.