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Space Oddity
(David Bowie)

Ground control to Major Tom
Ground control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
Ten nine eight seven six five four three two one
Ground control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, engines on
Check ignition and may God's love be with you - lift off

This is ground control to Major Tom
You've really made the grade
And the papers want to know who shot you where
Now it's time to leave the capsule, if you dare
This is Major Tom to ground control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating in a mostly peculiar way
And the stars look very different today

For here am I sitting in a tin can far above the world
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do

Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much, she knows

Ground control to Major Tom
Your circuits dead, there's something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you hear

Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do

The Man Who Sold The World
(David Bowie)

We passed upon the stair, we spoke of was at when
Although I wasn't there, he said I was his friend
Which came as some surprise I spoke into his eyes
I thought you died alone a long, long time ago

I know, not me, I never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world

I laughed and shook his hand and made my way back home
I searched for form and land for years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazely stare at all the millions here
We must have died alone a long, long time ago

Who knows, not me, we never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world

Who knows, not me, we never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world

from The Man Who Sold The World (1970)
* live recording as double a-side w/ 'Strangers When We Meet' 1995
also performed by Lulu (1974)

Changes
(David Bowie)

I still don't know what I was waiting for
And my time was running wild
A million dead-end streets and
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
Of how the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes - turn and face the strain
Ch-ch-changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes - turn and face the strain
Ch-ch-changes
Just gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me, but I can't trace time - ooh yeah

I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream of warm impermanence and
So the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They're quite aware of what they're going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes - turn and face the strain
Ch-ch-changes
Don't tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes - turn and face the strain
Ch-ch-changes
Where's your shame
You've left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me, but you can't trace time

Strange fascination, fascinating me
Oh, changes are taking the phase I'm going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes - turn and face the strain
Ch-ch-changes
Oh, look out you rock 'n rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes - turn and face the strain
Ch-ch-changes
Pretty soon now you're gonna get older
Time may change me, but I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time

from Hunky Dory (1971)


Oh! You Pretty Things
(David Bowie)

Wake up you sleepy head
Put on some clothes, shake up your bed
Put another log on the fire for me
I've made some breakfast and coffee
Look out my window and what do I see
A crack in the sky and a hand reaching down to me
All the nightmares came today
And it looks as though they're here to stay

What are we coming to
No room for me, no fun for you
I think about a world to come
Where the books were found by the Golden ones
Written in pain, written in awe
By a puzzled man who questioned
What we were here for
All the strangers came today
And it looks as though they're here to stay

Oh! You pretty things
Don't you know you're driving your
Mommies and Papas insane
Oh! You pretty things
Don't you know you're driving your
Mommies and Papas insane
Let me make it plain
You gotta make way for the Homo Superior

Look out at your children
See their faces in golden rays
Don't kid yourself they belong to you
They're the start of the coming race
The earth is a bitch, we've finished our news
Homo Sapiens have outgrown their use
All the strangers came today
And it looks as though they're here to stay

Oh! You pretty things
Don't you know you're driving your
Mommies and Papas insane
Oh! You pretty things
Don't you know you're driving your
Mommies and Papas insane
Let me make it plain
You gotta make way for the Homo Superior

from Hunky Dory (1971)

Life On Mars?
(David Bowie)

It's a god-awful small affair
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling "no"
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen
But the film is a saddening bore
For she's lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on

Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?

It's on Amerika's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibeza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog and clowns
But the film is a saddening bore
'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
It's about to be writ again
As I ask you to focus on

Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the Lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?

from Hunky Dory (1971)


Andy Warhol
(David Bowie)

It's Warhol actually - hole, hole, as in holes
Ha, Andy Warhol, Andy Warhol, like ho-ho

Like to take a cement fix, be a standing cinema
Dress my friends up just for show, see them as they really are
Put a peephole in my brain, two new pence to have a go
I'd like to be a gallery, put you all inside my show

Andy Warhol looks so scream, hang him on my wall
Andy Warhol, silver screen, can't tell them apart at all

Andy walking, Andy tired, Andy take a little snooze
Tie him up when he's fast asleep, send him on a pleasant cruise
When you wake up on the sea, be sure to think of me and you
He'll think about paint and he'll think about glue
What a jolly boring thing to do

Andy Warhol looks so scream, hang him on my wall
Andy Warhol, silver screen, can't tell them apart at all
Andy Warhol looks so scream, hang him on my wall
Andy Warhol, silver screen, can't tell them apart at all

from Hunky Dory (1971)

Starman
(David Bowie)

Didn't know what time it was, the lights were low
I leaned back on my radio
Some cat was layin' down some rock'n'roll, lotta soul, he said
Then the loud sound did seem to fade
Came back like a slow voice on a wave of phase
That weren't no D.J. that was hazy cosmic jive

There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
'Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He told me: let the children lose it
Let the children use it, let all the children boogie

I had to phone someone so I picked on you
Hey, that's far out, so you heard him too!
Switch on the TV, we may pick him up on channel two
Look out your window, I can see his light
If we can sparkle, he may land tonight
Don't tell your poppa or he'll get us locked up in fright

There's a starman waiting in the sky
He'd like to come and meet us
But he thinks he'd blow our minds
There's a starman waiting in the sky
He's told us not to blow it
'Cause he knows it's all worthwhile
He told me: let the children lose it
Let the children use it, let all the children boogie

Starman waiting in the sky ....
La la la-la la la ....

from Ziggy Stardust lp (1972)


Ziggy Stardust
(David Bowie)

Ziggy played guitar
Jammin' good with Weird and Gilly, the spiders from Mars
He played it left hand but made it too far
Became the special man, then we were Ziggy's band

Ziggy really sang
Screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo
Like some cat from Japan, he could lick 'em by smiling
He could leave 'em to hang
Came on so loaded man, well hung and snow white tan

So where were the spiders while the fly tried to break our balls
Just a beer light to guide us so we bitched about his fans
And should we crush his sweet hands?

Ziggy played for time, jiving us that we was voodoo
The kids was just crass, he was the nazz with God given ass
He took it all too far, but boy could he play guitar

Making love with his ego, Ziggy sucked up into his mind
Like a leper messiah when the kids had killed the man
I had to break up the band

Ziggy played guitar

from Ziggy Stardust lp (1972)


Suffragette City
(David Bowie)

Hey man, oh leave me alone, you know
Hey man, oh Henry, get off the phone, I gotta
Hey man, I gotta straighten my face
This mellow thighed chick just put my spine out of place

Hey man, my schooldays insane
Hey man, my work's down the drain
Hey man, well she's total blam-blam
She said she had to squeeze it but she ... and then she ...

A don't lean on me man, 'cause you can't afford the ticket
I'm back on Suffragette City
A don't lean on me man, 'cause you ain't got time to check it
You know my Suffragette City is outta sight - she's all right

Hey man, ah Henry, don't be unkind, go way
Hey man, ah! I can't take you this time, no way
Hey man, ah droogie don't crash here
There's only room for one and here she comes, here she comes

A don't lean on me man, 'cause you can't afford the ticket
I'm back on Suffragette City
A don't lean on me man, 'cause you ain't got time to check it
You know my Suffragette City is outta sight - she's all right
Ah, hey man!

A don't lean on me man, 'cause you can't afford the ticket
I'm back on Suffragette City
A don't lean on me man, 'cause you ain't got time to check it
You know my Suffragette City
A don't lean on me man, 'cause you can't afford the ticket
I'm back on Suffragette City
A don't lean on me man, 'cause you ain't got time to check it
You know my Suffragette City is outta sight - oh, she's all right

My Suffragette City, my Suffragette City
I'm back on Suffragette City, I'm back on Suffragette City - ooh
My Suffragette City, ooh, my Suffragette City - ooh ha
My Suffragette City, ooh ha, my Suffragette

Aaaaaah - wham bam - thank you Ma'am!
My Suffragette City, my Suffragette City - quite alright
My Suffragette City - too fine - my Suffragette City
Oh, my Suffragette City, oh, my Suffragette City
Oh, my Suffragette City, my Suffragette
Suffragette

from Ziggy Stardust lp (1972)

Rock 'N' Roll Suicide
(David Bowie)

Time takes a cigarette, puts it in your mouth
You pull on your finger, then another finger then cigarette
The wall-to-wall is calling, it lingers, then you forget
Oh oh oh oh, you're a rock 'n' roll suicide

You're too old to lose it, too young to choose it
And the clock waits so patiently on your song
You walk past the café but you don't eat when you've lived too long
Oh no no no, you're a rock 'n' roll suicide

Chev brakes are snarling as you stumble across the road
But the day breaks instead, so you hurry home
Don't let the sun blast your shadow
Don't let the milk float right on your mind
It's so natural-religiously unkind

Oh, no, love, you're not alone!
You're watching yourself but you're too unfair
You got your head all tangled up, but if I could only make you care
Oh, no, love, you're not alone!
No matter what or who you've been
No matter when or where you've seen
All the knives seem to lacerate your brain
I've had my share, I'll help you with the pain

You're not alone! Just turn on with me
And you're not alone! Let's turn on and be
Not alone (wonderful), gimme your hands
You're wonderful (wonderful), gimme your hands
Bet you're wonderful (wonderful), oh gimme your hands

from Ziggy Stardust lp (1972)

John, I'm Only Dancing
(David Bowie)

Well, Annie's pretty neat, she always eats her meat
Joe is awful strong, bet your life he is putting us on
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
I'm moving, touch me

John, I'm only dancing, she turns me on
But I'm only dancing, she turns me on
Don't get me wrong, I'm only dancing

Ah, shadow love is quick and clean
Life's a well-thumbed machine
I saw you watching from the stairs
You're ev'ryone that ever cared
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
I'm moving, touch me

John, I'm only dancing, she turns me on
But I'm only dancing, she turns me on
Don't get me wrong, I'm only dancing

John, I'm only dancing, she turns me on
But I'm only dancing, she turns me on
But don't get me wrong, I'm only dancing
Dancing, won't someone dance with me
Touch me - oh

as single release and on ChangesOneBowie (1976)

The Jean-Genie
(David Bowie)

A small Jean Genie snuck off to the city
Strung out on lasers and a slash back plazas
An' ate all your razors while pulling the waiters
Talking bout Monroe and walking on Snow White
New York's a go-go and everything tastes nice
Poor little Greenie - ooh oo

The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
The Jean Genie let yourself go!

He sits like a man but he smiles like a reptile
She loves him, she loves him but just for a short while
She'll scratch in the sand, won't let go his hand
He says he's a beautician and sells you nutrition
And keeps all your dead hair for making up underwear
Poor little Greenie - ooh oo

The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
The Jean Genie let yourself go!

He's so simple minded, he can't drive his module
He bites on the neon and sleeps in a capsule
Loves to be loved, loves to be loved

Ah, the Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
The Jean Genie let yourself go! Go! Go!

The Jean Genie lives on his back
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
The Jean Genie let yourself go! Go! Go! Go!

from Aladdin Sane (1973)

Drive-In Saturday
(David Bowie)

Let me put my arms around your head
Gee, it's hot, let's go to bed
Don't forget to turn on the light
Don't laugh babe, it'll be alright
Pour me out another phone
I'll ring and see if your friends are home
Perhaps the strange ones in the dome
Can lend us a book we can read up alone

And try to get it on like once before
When people stared in Jagger's eyes and scored
Like the video films we saw

His name was always Buddy and he'd shrug and ask to stay
She'd sigh like Twig the Wonder Kid and turn her face away
She's uncertain if she likes him
But she knows she really loves him
It's a crash course for the ravers
It's a Drive-in Saturday

Jung, the foreman prayed at work
That neither hands nor limbs would burst
It's hard enough to keep formation with this fall out saturation
Cursing at the Astronette that stands in steel by his cabinet
He's crashing out with Sylvian
The Bureau Supply for ageing men

With snorting head he gazes to the shore
Which once had raised a sea that raged no more
Like the video films he saw

His name was always Buddy and he'd shrug and ask to stay
But she'd sigh like Twig the Wonder Kid and turn her face away
She's uncertain if she likes him
But she knows she really loves him
It's a crash course for the ravers
It's a Drive-in Saturday, yeah

His name was always Buddy and he'd shrug and ask to stay
And she'd sigh like Twig the Wonder Kid and turn her face away
She's uncertain if she likes him
But she knows she really loves him
It's a crash course for the ravers
It's a Drive-in Saturday, yeah, yeah

Dri-i-ive-in Saturday, it's a Dri-i-ive-in Saturday
It's a Dri-i-ive-in Saturday ....

from Aladdin Sane (1973)

Let's Spend The Night Together
(M. Jagger/K. Richards)

A don't you worry 'bout what's been on my mind
I'm in no hurry, I can take my time
I'm goin' mad and my tongue's gettin' tired /tied
I'm off my head and my mouth's gettin' dry
Ah my my my my my

Let's spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
Let's spend the night together now

I feel so strong that I can't disguise, oh my
But I just can't apologize, no
Don't hang me up but don't let me down
We could have fun just a-groovin' around
And around and around-a

Let's spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
Let's spend the night together now

You know I'm smiling, baby
You need some guiding, baby
I'm just decidin', baby
Let's spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
Let's spend the night together now

This doesn't happen to me every day
No excuses offered anyway, hey
I'll satisfy your every need
And now I know you will satisfy me
Oh my, my, my, my-y

Let's spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
Let's spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
Let's spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever ....

They said we were too young
Our kind of love was no fun
But our love comes from above
Do it! Let's make love - woh!

Let's spend the night together
Now I need you more than ever
Let's spend the night together now

from Aladdin Sane (1973)

originally performed by 'Rolling Stones' 1967

Sorrow
(B. Feldman/J. Goldstein/R. Golteberer)

With your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue
The only thing I ever got from you was
Sorrow, sorrow
You're acting funny, trying to spend my money
You're out there playing your high class games of
Sorrow, sorrow

You never do what you know you oughta
Something tells me you're the Devil's daughter
Sorrow, sorrow - oh oh oh

I tried to find her 'cause I can't resist her
I tried to find her 'cause I can't resist her
I never knew just how much I missed her
Sorrow, sorrow

With your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue
With your long blonde hair and your eyes of blue
The only thing I ever got from you was
Sorrow, sorrow - ohohoho ohohohoho

With your long blonde hair
I couldn't sleep last night
With your long blonde hair

from Pin-Ups (1973)

originally performed by 'Merseys' 1966

Rebel Rebel
(David Bowie)

Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do ....

You got your mother in a whirl
She's not sure if you're a boy or a girl
Hey, babe, your hair's alright, hey, babe, let's go out tonight
You like me and I like it all, we like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they play it hard
You want more and you want it fast
They put you down, they say I'm wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on

Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so!
Don't you?

Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do

You got your mother in a whirl
'Cause she's not sure if you're a boy or a girl
Hey, babe, your hair's alright, hey, babe, let's stay out tonight
You like me and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they play it hard
You want more and you want it fast
They put you down, they say I'm wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on

Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess, yes it's
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so!
Don't you?

Do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do ....

Rebel Rebel, you've torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so! Don't you?

You've torn your dress, your face is a mess
You can't get enough but enough ain't the test
You've got your transmission and a live wire
You got your cue lines and a handful of ludes
You wanna be there when they can up the dudes
Said I love your dress, you're a juvenile success
Because your face is a mess
So how could they know? I said, how could they know?
So what you wanna know
Calamitys child, ch-chile, ch-ch, a where'd you wanna go?
What can I do for you? Looks like you've been there too
'Cause you've torn your dress and your face is a mess
Oo, your face is a mess, oo-oo, so how could they know?
How could they know?

from Diamond Dogs (1974)