Well after reading what you guys had to say, I went back and re-read the lyrics. This has always been a song that has captured my interest though I never knew its meaning. So here's my take after thinking about it a bit:
I think what he's trying to say is that he obviously hates modern love. Relationships bomb out, he cant keep a girl, etc. Modern love and the girls involved will date him (walk beside him) then leave him (walks on by). Modern love isn't so much hard work as it is the power to impress the girl you're with. The church reference to me is about getting to the alter before he's too old so he can have kids and that kinda stuff. His God and man line is referring to the distance that man has made from god through modern love. Modern love teaches that you dont have to feel guilt or be religious in general. He also states that God and man don't believe in modern love. I think this just says that a lot of people dont like the direction of modern love, including God. I dont think this is anti-religious because I believe Bowie belongs to a religion, though I dont know which one.
Well after reading what you guys had to say, I went back and re-read the lyrics. This has always been a song that has captured my interest though I never knew its meaning. So here's my take after thinking about it a bit:
I think what he's trying to say is that he obviously hates modern love. Relationships bomb out, he cant keep a girl, etc. Modern love and the girls involved will date him (walk beside him) then leave him (walks on by). Modern love isn't so much hard work as it is the power to impress the girl you're with. The church reference to me is about getting to the alter before he's too old so he can have kids and that kinda stuff. His God and man line is referring to the distance that man has made from god through modern love. Modern love teaches that you dont have to feel guilt or be religious in general. He also states that God and man don't believe in modern love. I think this just says that a lot of people dont like the direction of modern love, including God. I dont think this is anti-religious because I believe Bowie belongs to a religion, though I dont know which one.