They pulled in just behind the bridge
He lays her down, he frowns
"Gee, my life's a funny thing, am I still too young?"
He kissed her then and there
She took his ring, took his babies
It took him minutes, took her nowhere
Heaven knows, she'd have taken anything, but

(All night)
She wants a young American
(Young American, young American, she wants the young American)
(All right)
But she wants the young American

Scanning life through the picture window
She finds the slinky vagabond
He coughs as he passes her Ford Mustang
But Heaven forbid, she'll take anything
But the freak, and his type, all for nothing
Misses a step and cuts his hand, but
Showing nothing, he swoops like a song
She cries, "Where have all Papa's heroes gone?"

(All night)
She wants a young American
(Young American, young American, she wants the young American)
(All right)
Well she wants the young American

All the way from Washington
Her bread-winner begs off the bathroom floor
"We live for just these twenty years
Do we have to die for the fifty more?"

(All night)
He wants the young American
(Young American, young American, he wants the young American)
(All right) all right
Well he wants the young American

Do you remember, your President Nixon?
Do you remember, the bills you have to pay?
Or even yesterday?

Have you been the un-American?
Just you and your idol sing falsetto
'Bout leather, leather everywhere, and
Not a myth left from the ghetto
Well, well, well, would you carry a razor
In case, just in case of depression?
Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors
Blushing at all the Afro-Sheeners
Ain't that close to love?
Well, ain't that poster love?
Well, it ain't that Barbie doll
Her heart's have been broken just like you and

(All night)
All night you want the young American
(Young American, young American, you want the young American)
(All right)
You want the young American

You ain't a pimp and you ain't a hustler (young American, young American)
A pimp's got a Cadi and a lady got a Chrysler (you want the young American)
Black's got respect, and white's got his soul train (all right)
Mama's got cramps, and look at your hands ache
(I heard the news today, oh boy)
I got a suite and you got defeat
Ain't there a man who can say no more? (All night)
And, ain't there a woman I can sock on the jaw?
And, ain't there a child I can hold without judging? (young American, young American)
Ain't there a pen that will write before they die? (You want the young American)
Ain't you proud that you've still got faces? (All right)
Ain't there one damn song that can make me
Break down and cry?

(All night)
I want the young American
Young American, young American, I want the young American
(All right)
I want the young American, young American
(Young American, young American, I want the young American)
I want what you want, I want what you want
(All night)
You want I, I want you, I
(Young American, young American, I want the young American)
(All right)
And all I want is the young American
(Young American, young American, I want the young American)


Lyrics submitted by typo, edited by enos40

Young Americans Lyrics as written by David Bowie

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Young Americans song meanings
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  • +2
    General Comment

    I’ve always loved this song since I heard Bowie interviewed on it. He said it was the closest thing that he had ever performed on record that was absolutely personal, but I don’t see the connections. He said it wasn’t a criticism of America, but a critique of unobtainable expectations.
    I like Lazerpj’s interpretation best. Even better than what Bowie had said.

    Jaggeh however retains a shallow foreigner’s view.  Seeing America from afar with an uninformed view.   Much like the female in “Young Americans,” if all one watches it MTV and corporate television one would come to realize that “American dream” is unobtainable.

    “Where have all Papa's heroes gone” “Well, ain't that poster love?” ”Well, it ain't that Barbie doll” The yanks, at least in Boston, were as literate and cultured as any Brit. They are very humble, although they do exuberantly love their country. They actually view us (the Brits/Europeans) having ASC. Being Welsh and going to college in the States gave me great insight to see that we are often the closed minded ones. They could rationally discuss the Iraq war or global warming, as opposed to the European view of just being against everything. I believe that the culture as a whole is not shallow, but as Bowie’s characters in the song are young and haven’t escaped from the cloak of unsatisfiable want that they were marketed by mass media.
    The culture that is sold by the corporations is definitely shallow. Much like us. How long was the nation hooked on the SpiceGirls, and don’t we all play the lotto thinking we will strike it big? It’s the same expectations.

    Jaggeh, The Yanks are as good or as bad as us, I think it is you who is starting wake up and open his eyes to how the others on the other side of the pond think. Get off your horse and go over and meet them sometime. -JJP

    JJPon June 27, 2008   Link

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