I Can't Give Everything Away Lyrics
The pulse returns for prodigal sons
The blackout's hearts with flowered news
With skull designs upon my shoes
I can't give everything
Away
I can't give everything
Away
Saying no but meaning yes
This is all I ever meant
That's the message that I sent
I can't give everything
Away
I can't give everything
Away
I can't give everything
Away
I can't give everything
Away
The pulse returns for prodigal sons
The blackout's hearts with flowered news
With skull designs upon my shoes
I can't give everything
Away
I can't give everything
Away
I can't give everything
Away
I can't give everything
Away
I listened to this song on the day it was released, and I thought this song was written in the voice of a character who was dying and felt that he could not finish give everything (wealth, ideas, art, love?) away fast enough before he passed. Little did I know, the character in question was David Bowie himself, singing this, the last song on what he knew would be his last album.
RIP to a great artist.
@steve10017 I've been reading way too many old interviews and articles about Bowie since he passed and I just came across the nugget from a September 1980 interview in the New Musical Express:
@steve10017 I've been reading way too many old interviews and articles about Bowie since he passed and I just came across the nugget from a September 1980 interview in the New Musical Express:
"Bowie laughs whenever it occurs to him that he's said or admitted something in a private encounter that is being recorded for public consummation. It's as if with this reflex reaction he can somehow shrug off the momentary anxiety he feels at having, perhaps, given too much way."
"Bowie laughs whenever it occurs to him that he's said or admitted something in a private encounter that is being recorded for public consummation. It's as if with this reflex reaction he can somehow shrug off the momentary anxiety he feels at having, perhaps, given too much way."
I wonder if Bowie read that press clipping and the phrase stuck with him, or if in this...
I wonder if Bowie read that press clipping and the phrase stuck with him, or if in this song, he was expressing the notion that the writer accurately described: From his early "my life is my artistic canvas" days to more recent years when he carefully avoided the limelight, he always had a private part of himself that he could not and would not give away, even when he knew he was nearing the end of his life.
BTW, the article / interview is a long and fascinating read, and it can be found at this link: http://bowiegoldenyears.com/articles/800913-nme.html
The harmonica sound is a nod to "New Career In a New Town". Returning again and again - immortal, in a way. Reincarnation as burden: can't give everything away.
Maybe the term “Prodigal” in its fullest meaning, biblical, show us why David Bowie, cannot give everything away.
The Prodigal Song returns after it’s squandering, it’s not just forgiven, it’s return is celebrated - even in his darkest hours he finds room to celebrate all his returning songs that comes to mind. A part of the song possibly cannot be given away? At least not it’s full menaing. But it can be shared - and we are greateful for David Bowie sharing.
The Prodigal Son - WiKi In the story, a father has two sons. The younger son asks the father for his inheritance, and the father grants his son's request. However, the younger son is prodigal (i.e., wasteful and extravagant) and squanders his fortune, eventually becoming destitute. The younger son is forced to return home empty-handed and intends to beg his father to accept him back as a servant. To the son's surprise, he is not scorned by his father but is welcomed back with celebration and welcoming party. Envious, the older son refuses to participate in the festivities. The father tells the older son "you are ever with me, and all that I have is yours, but thy younger brother was lost and now he is found".