I actually deconstructed this for an English essay, a year or so ago. Bowie songs are awesome to deconstruct!!!
Anyway, it was in relation to Orwell's 1984, and while the album "Diamond Dogs" is supposed to be Bowie's abandoned stage-play for 1984, this song is just so similar to how Orwell sets up the world of Big Brother.
"I will kill for the good of the fight for the right to be right" is very similar to the slogans of 1984, and the ministries themselves.
"Screw Up Your Brother or He'll Get You In the End" is the way the children are trained to be paranoid of everyone, and to report them to the government officials.
"screams of the old rich" is a reference to the old rich that are mentioned several times in Orwell's book.
It might be a long shot, but if Bowie liked it enough to base an entire album on it, why not one of his early songs....?
I actually deconstructed this for an English essay, a year or so ago. Bowie songs are awesome to deconstruct!!! Anyway, it was in relation to Orwell's 1984, and while the album "Diamond Dogs" is supposed to be Bowie's abandoned stage-play for 1984, this song is just so similar to how Orwell sets up the world of Big Brother. "I will kill for the good of the fight for the right to be right" is very similar to the slogans of 1984, and the ministries themselves. "Screw Up Your Brother or He'll Get You In the End" is the way the children are trained to be paranoid of everyone, and to report them to the government officials. "screams of the old rich" is a reference to the old rich that are mentioned several times in Orwell's book. It might be a long shot, but if Bowie liked it enough to base an entire album on it, why not one of his early songs....?