In the Labyrinth, with Jareth. (Although the biggest problem here is that the Labyrinth never says that the Labyrinth is underground. So to me, the idea that the Labyrinth would be underground is unfounded.)
The imagination within oneself; escapism as is shown in the beginning of the movie.
As for death being the underground, this can link closely to the imagination/escapism. A life can be so miserable that you either escape from it via imagination (like Sarah does in the movie) or you kill yourself to escape, with hopes that maybe in the afterlife you'll "find someone true."
Hell being underground is an extremely common idea in the Western world. This ties in closely to the figure of Jareth being the ruler of a world of goblins, this seems parallel to depictions of the Devil in Christian imagery presiding over a world of demons. In the movie he steals away a baby, and nearly steals away a teenager, Sarah. This song, when first mentioning the underground, can easily seem like a "deal with the devil" situation: "But down in the underground, You'll find someone true, Down in the underground, A land serene, A crystal moon, It's only forever, Not long at all." The response in the next few verses "I wanna go underground" seems like the deal with the Devil has been accepted.
These lines are the most haunting to me in this song. If we take these words "its only forever" it seems to support only three of the four ideas; Death (therefore suicide), Hell, or in the Labyrinth, (the labyrinth perhaps being a symbolic representation of both death and hell.) The song, with these lines, rules out the idea that its only about fantasy and escapism; because you can't escape into fantasy for eternity; the only way to reach eternity in the mythological sense is to die and go to the afterlife: heaven or hell. This song seems to be nudging toward the latter.
I think the parallel between Jareth and the Devil is obvious in many ways, he is charming, a musician, he is tempting, he plays upon immoral and hidden desires, there is sexual imagery in the Labyrinth and surrounding him, etc etc etc. He even sets up an obviously Satanic "get her to bite the fruit" scenario. He lures her with toys, crystal balls, castles, and every fantasy item she loves; into a trap. It isn't to benefit Sarah, its for Jareth's possession and ownership of her.
The movie has many occult symbols in it; and Bowie being a lifelong student of occult subjects (one of his favorite books was Transcendental Magic by Eliphas Levi) I would lean strongly toward the idea that this movie and song have some occult message. I love that such a complex and mysterious movie, song, and set of themes exist. They've perplexed me throughout my childhood and up to this day.
This is the best interpretation that you gave here, especially since Bowie's half brother Terry had just committed suicide about a year to six months prior to the release of this song. I'm not sure if Bowie actually wrote the song lyrics, but it may be that he had collaboration in the lyrics and might have been swayed by his recent grief. I certainly think so now knowing the facts.
This is the best interpretation that you gave here, especially since Bowie's half brother Terry had just committed suicide about a year to six months prior to the release of this song. I'm not sure if Bowie actually wrote the song lyrics, but it may be that he had collaboration in the lyrics and might have been swayed by his recent grief. I certainly think so now knowing the facts.
To me, this song stands alone from the movie, and its about suicide, purely about suicide- and fantasy and suicide go hand in hand similarly, because both...
To me, this song stands alone from the movie, and its about suicide, purely about suicide- and fantasy and suicide go hand in hand similarly, because both are escapes from a world that is 'not always swell', but for others 'can be easy', which to watch others enjoy while you are already hurting and in need (and possibly ignored),makes it all the more excruciatingly mentally painful. They don't share, and its just how it works- "truth hurts". Stay and suffer? It hurts like hell. What other option is there but to try and go 'underground'? If hell is here, maybe that is the way out.... or so it seems to the sufferer.
The phrase "no love injection" to me, also verifies this is more about the suicide of Bowie's half brother. Terry was in an institution when he died, jumping from a window. (The song "Jump They Say" is said to have been written by Bowie about this event) . This world we live in somehow believes very stupidly that injecting a person with 'medication' will be a cure for what the mentally ill need (and have probably always needed which the absence of drove them into the condition they are in) - LOVE. They are always rejected, left alone, but what they really need is inclusion from others who are well, to battle their problems. They need support . Not pills. But even a love 'injection', is probably better than nothing. This is also why drug use is rampant... no love, so people reach for 'a fantasy injection'.
This is the best interpretation that you gave here, especially since Bowie's half brother Terry had just committed suicide about a year to six months prior to the release of this song. I'm not sure if Bowie actually wrote the song lyrics, but it may be that he had collaboration in the lyrics and might have been swayed by his recent grief. I certainly think so now knowing the facts.
This is the best interpretation that you gave here, especially since Bowie's half brother Terry had just committed suicide about a year to six months prior to the release of this song. I'm not sure if Bowie actually wrote the song lyrics, but it may be that he had collaboration in the lyrics and might have been swayed by his recent grief. I certainly think so now knowing the facts.
To me, this song stands alone from the movie, and its about suicide, purely about suicide- and fantasy and suicide go hand in hand similarly, because both...
To me, this song stands alone from the movie, and its about suicide, purely about suicide- and fantasy and suicide go hand in hand similarly, because both are escapes from a world that is 'not always swell', but for others 'can be easy', which to watch others enjoy while you are already hurting and in need (and possibly ignored),makes it all the more excruciatingly mentally painful. They don't share, and its just how it works- "truth hurts". Stay and suffer? It hurts like hell. What other option is there but to try and go 'underground'? If hell is here, maybe that is the way out.... or so it seems to the sufferer.
The phrase "no love injection" to me, also verifies this is more about the suicide of Bowie's half brother. (The song "Jump They Say" is said to have been written by Bowie about this event) . This world we live in somehow believes very stupidly that injecting a person with 'medication' will be a cure for what the mentally ill need (and have probably always needed which the absence of drove them into the condition they are in) - LOVE. They are always rejected, left alone, but what they really need is inclusion from others who are well, to battle their problems. They need support . Not pills. But even a love 'injection', is probably better than nothing. This is also why drug use is rampant... no love, so people reach for 'a fantasy injection'.
'Underground' can mean perhaps four things.
As for death being the underground, this can link closely to the imagination/escapism. A life can be so miserable that you either escape from it via imagination (like Sarah does in the movie) or you kill yourself to escape, with hopes that maybe in the afterlife you'll "find someone true."
Hell being underground is an extremely common idea in the Western world. This ties in closely to the figure of Jareth being the ruler of a world of goblins, this seems parallel to depictions of the Devil in Christian imagery presiding over a world of demons. In the movie he steals away a baby, and nearly steals away a teenager, Sarah. This song, when first mentioning the underground, can easily seem like a "deal with the devil" situation: "But down in the underground, You'll find someone true, Down in the underground, A land serene, A crystal moon, It's only forever, Not long at all." The response in the next few verses "I wanna go underground" seems like the deal with the Devil has been accepted.
These lines are the most haunting to me in this song. If we take these words "its only forever" it seems to support only three of the four ideas; Death (therefore suicide), Hell, or in the Labyrinth, (the labyrinth perhaps being a symbolic representation of both death and hell.) The song, with these lines, rules out the idea that its only about fantasy and escapism; because you can't escape into fantasy for eternity; the only way to reach eternity in the mythological sense is to die and go to the afterlife: heaven or hell. This song seems to be nudging toward the latter.
I think the parallel between Jareth and the Devil is obvious in many ways, he is charming, a musician, he is tempting, he plays upon immoral and hidden desires, there is sexual imagery in the Labyrinth and surrounding him, etc etc etc. He even sets up an obviously Satanic "get her to bite the fruit" scenario. He lures her with toys, crystal balls, castles, and every fantasy item she loves; into a trap. It isn't to benefit Sarah, its for Jareth's possession and ownership of her.
The movie has many occult symbols in it; and Bowie being a lifelong student of occult subjects (one of his favorite books was Transcendental Magic by Eliphas Levi) I would lean strongly toward the idea that this movie and song have some occult message. I love that such a complex and mysterious movie, song, and set of themes exist. They've perplexed me throughout my childhood and up to this day.
@0au5t1n
@0au5t1n
This is the best interpretation that you gave here, especially since Bowie's half brother Terry had just committed suicide about a year to six months prior to the release of this song. I'm not sure if Bowie actually wrote the song lyrics, but it may be that he had collaboration in the lyrics and might have been swayed by his recent grief. I certainly think so now knowing the facts.
This is the best interpretation that you gave here, especially since Bowie's half brother Terry had just committed suicide about a year to six months prior to the release of this song. I'm not sure if Bowie actually wrote the song lyrics, but it may be that he had collaboration in the lyrics and might have been swayed by his recent grief. I certainly think so now knowing the facts.
To me, this song stands alone from the movie, and its about suicide, purely about suicide- and fantasy and suicide go hand in hand similarly, because both...
To me, this song stands alone from the movie, and its about suicide, purely about suicide- and fantasy and suicide go hand in hand similarly, because both are escapes from a world that is 'not always swell', but for others 'can be easy', which to watch others enjoy while you are already hurting and in need (and possibly ignored),makes it all the more excruciatingly mentally painful. They don't share, and its just how it works- "truth hurts". Stay and suffer? It hurts like hell. What other option is there but to try and go 'underground'? If hell is here, maybe that is the way out.... or so it seems to the sufferer.
The phrase "no love injection" to me, also verifies this is more about the suicide of Bowie's half brother. Terry was in an institution when he died, jumping from a window. (The song "Jump They Say" is said to have been written by Bowie about this event) . This world we live in somehow believes very stupidly that injecting a person with 'medication' will be a cure for what the mentally ill need (and have probably always needed which the absence of drove them into the condition they are in) - LOVE. They are always rejected, left alone, but what they really need is inclusion from others who are well, to battle their problems. They need support . Not pills. But even a love 'injection', is probably better than nothing. This is also why drug use is rampant... no love, so people reach for 'a fantasy injection'.
Requiesce in pace
@0au5t1n
@0au5t1n
This is the best interpretation that you gave here, especially since Bowie's half brother Terry had just committed suicide about a year to six months prior to the release of this song. I'm not sure if Bowie actually wrote the song lyrics, but it may be that he had collaboration in the lyrics and might have been swayed by his recent grief. I certainly think so now knowing the facts.
This is the best interpretation that you gave here, especially since Bowie's half brother Terry had just committed suicide about a year to six months prior to the release of this song. I'm not sure if Bowie actually wrote the song lyrics, but it may be that he had collaboration in the lyrics and might have been swayed by his recent grief. I certainly think so now knowing the facts.
To me, this song stands alone from the movie, and its about suicide, purely about suicide- and fantasy and suicide go hand in hand similarly, because both...
To me, this song stands alone from the movie, and its about suicide, purely about suicide- and fantasy and suicide go hand in hand similarly, because both are escapes from a world that is 'not always swell', but for others 'can be easy', which to watch others enjoy while you are already hurting and in need (and possibly ignored),makes it all the more excruciatingly mentally painful. They don't share, and its just how it works- "truth hurts". Stay and suffer? It hurts like hell. What other option is there but to try and go 'underground'? If hell is here, maybe that is the way out.... or so it seems to the sufferer.
The phrase "no love injection" to me, also verifies this is more about the suicide of Bowie's half brother. (The song "Jump They Say" is said to have been written by Bowie about this event) . This world we live in somehow believes very stupidly that injecting a person with 'medication' will be a cure for what the mentally ill need (and have probably always needed which the absence of drove them into the condition they are in) - LOVE. They are always rejected, left alone, but what they really need is inclusion from others who are well, to battle their problems. They need support . Not pills. But even a love 'injection', is probably better than nothing. This is also why drug use is rampant... no love, so people reach for 'a fantasy injection'.
Requiesce in pace