"I sing with impertinence, shading impermanent chords, with my words"
Bowie is singing in a non-serious nursery rhyme sing-song way and is only shadowing the catchy tune with his hidden message and secret agenda. In other words, he throws off the listener by singing in a jovial and lighthearted manner, the charm of the song is only fleeting, but the message is much more serious and has a lasting affect.
"I sing with impertinence, shading impermanent chords, with my words" Bowie is singing in a non-serious nursery rhyme sing-song way and is only shadowing the catchy tune with his hidden message and secret agenda. In other words, he throws off the listener by singing in a jovial and lighthearted manner, the charm of the song is only fleeting, but the message is much more serious and has a lasting affect.