Suffragette City

I'm strongly inclined to believe that the lyrics simply express a particular instance in David Bowie's life of sexual confusion. His biography clearly reveals his vacillating attraction between men and women. This song's lyrics are directed at his current main squeeze, Henry: "Hey man, I can't take you this time, no way", "Oh don't lean on me man, cause you can't afford the ticket I'm back on Suffragette City." Bisexual Bowie is tempted by a new chick and homosexual Henry doesn't understand, which is why Henry cannot afford a ticket back to Suffragette City - where women exert their influence.

I'm surprised that none of the previous posts address what is the most likely more specific meaning behind the song. Henry is used as a slang word for Heroin. He's basically having a conversation with his dealer -- trying to explain that he's happy pursuing this girl, his "Suffraggette City" and does not want to give into temptation. He's taking sexual refuge with this woman to avoid the Heroin pratfall . It seems like he slips up briefly upon th eline "Hit Me" buut then he counmters that , while Henry is shootinh him up, I'm sure with the remindeer trhat this a one-last-time -- he's leaving with Suffraggette Cify

Um, thanks for that Dissectional88. Anyway, I'm thinking that Krtski is right. Especially emphasizing the sex-addict factor. He waits for her all the time, sends other people away, just for the chance to er... get his spine put out of place...

I guess the Henry Heroin connection seems pretty obvious now. Also the droogie don't crash here is connected to drugs cause i think its like droog, droogie from clockwork orange. I'm pretty dull though so it takes me a bit longer than the majority.

This is a song about a ball-busting feminist (i.e. Suffragette) who takes over a college-student's life and kills his dreams and friendships, with the promise of easy sex, until she's got him completely whipped.

LYRICS:

“Hey man, oh leave me alone you know Hey man, oh Henry, get off the phone, I gotta Hey man, I gotta straighten my face This mellow thighed chick just put my spine out of place”

MEANING: He’s become spineless for the sake of sex, and thus he’s shutting out his friend Henry.

"Mellow-thighed" = "easy sex"

”Hey man, my schooldays insane Hey man, my work's down the drain Hey man, well she's a total blam-blam She said she had to squeeze it but she... then she...”

MEANING: His liberated girlfriend is ruining his life with her demands on his time; but she puts out sex easily, so he puts up with it since she's in a "steady relationship" with him.

Oh don't lean on me man, cause you can't afford the ticket I'm back on Suffragette City Oh don't lean on me man Cause you ain't got time to check it You know my Suffragette City Is outta sight...she's all right

MEANING: He’s whipped, i.e. she's controlling him with sex, over his friends; and he doesn't want his friends complaining about it. The "ticket," is the cost of him doing without sex if he doesn't do what she says.

"Hey man, Henry, don't be unkind, go away Hey man, I can't take you this time, no way Hey man, droogie don't crash here There's only room for one and here she comes, here she comes"

MEANING: He won’t let his friend hang out with him or stay over, in order to make room for his Suffragette girlfriend; she's basically squeezing Henry out of the guy's life.

"Oh hit me! I'm back on Suffragette City, I'm back on Suffragette City Ooo, Sufraggete city, ooo, Suffragette City Oooh-how, Sufragette City, oooh-how, Sufragette City, oooh-how Sufragette Ohhh, Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am!

MEANING: Sex with his Suffragette girlfriend.

In essence, "Suffragettes" at college would simply use sexual liberation to control and manipulate their boyfriends into killing their dreams and friendships, with the promise of easy sex.

This was one of the first Bowie songs I became obsessed with. I agre with what everyone says about the addictioinpart, I just don't completely understand why he used the term suffragette (a woman protesting to votte) anyway ...fuckin awesome song, great energy.

"Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am!" he he he love that part.

I agree with davidbeauy's analysis on most points, but I always felt that Suffragette City wasn't a person, but a place... specifically a brothel. Context-wise, the song could go either way, but the name itself ("City"), calls to mind location and wiht a name like Suffragette City, it would have to be either a brothel (or strip club, enough bands were known to frequent them after shows) or some sort of post-Feminist Amusement Park.
But I could be wrong here.

Possibly about drugs, possibly about bisexuality. Mostly about sex. :)

Also - Bowie never did heroin. Cocaine was his downfall, it was Iggy that did the heroin.

To me, the music and the lyrics of this song are about (being addicted to) sex and drugs. Both the incredible high, as well as the pitiful existence this can lead to, are reflected in this song.

i think this song can be about a bisexual guy who is used to have sex with men and then... he finds a girl who he really likes having sex with and decides to avoid men in that moment. "suffragette" is a word to express "feminism", the guy now is pro-women... i don't know, hehehe, something like that. i'm trying to understand the lyrics!