OK, Bowie and Linkin' Park aside, this song is simply a great song, if albeit confusing.
My take on it is this:
Bowie is reluctant to go out and try dating/sleeping around, but he's single and knows he can't just "stay in".
He meets someone but it's all the same and they're all talk ("I'm standing in the wind"). As much as he want's to, when they split his apathy won't even allow him to wave goodbye.
He meets someonne else. He realises the dating scene is all about turning on the charm. He feels like he's drowning ("lying in the rain") and when the eventual split comes, again apathy.
He still keeps on trying.
Bowie cleverly uses "gets me to the church on time" to mean that his shallow relationships drive him to find answers in church instead of leading to a church wedding (the normal use of the phrase).
He's welcomed into the church ("make me party") and puts his belief in God. However, he feels no presence of God ("no confessions...no religion") and he realises that the preaching is juts another charm offensive and all talk. He's entered another loveless relationship so he turns his back, walks and doesn't wave goodbye.
In the end he's untimately left disappointed by all Modern Love and all relationships. Be they: Man/woman; man/man; man/God.
@Rosco P. Coltrane I'd say it's rather about organized religion. Well, that and at the second coming there will be no religion because everyone will be united in worship.
@Rosco P. Coltrane I'd say it's rather about organized religion. Well, that and at the second coming there will be no religion because everyone will be united in worship.
OK, Bowie and Linkin' Park aside, this song is simply a great song, if albeit confusing. My take on it is this: Bowie is reluctant to go out and try dating/sleeping around, but he's single and knows he can't just "stay in". He meets someone but it's all the same and they're all talk ("I'm standing in the wind"). As much as he want's to, when they split his apathy won't even allow him to wave goodbye. He meets someonne else. He realises the dating scene is all about turning on the charm. He feels like he's drowning ("lying in the rain") and when the eventual split comes, again apathy. He still keeps on trying.
Bowie cleverly uses "gets me to the church on time" to mean that his shallow relationships drive him to find answers in church instead of leading to a church wedding (the normal use of the phrase). He's welcomed into the church ("make me party") and puts his belief in God. However, he feels no presence of God ("no confessions...no religion") and he realises that the preaching is juts another charm offensive and all talk. He's entered another loveless relationship so he turns his back, walks and doesn't wave goodbye.
In the end he's untimately left disappointed by all Modern Love and all relationships. Be they: Man/woman; man/man; man/God.
@Rosco P. Coltrane RIP Bowie
@Rosco P. Coltrane RIP Bowie
@Rosco P. Coltrane I'd say it's rather about organized religion. Well, that and at the second coming there will be no religion because everyone will be united in worship.
@Rosco P. Coltrane I'd say it's rather about organized religion. Well, that and at the second coming there will be no religion because everyone will be united in worship.