National Poetry Month #17 - Rock n' Roll Suicide
Rock n' Roll Suicide
David Bowie
Time takes a cigarette, puts it in your mouth
You pull on your finger
Then another finger, then your cigarette
The wall-to-wall is calling, it lingers, then you forget
Oh, you're a rock n' roll suicide
You're too old to lose it, too young to choose it
And the clocks waits so patiently on your song
You walk past a cafe
But you don't eat when you've lived too long
Oh no no no, you're a rock 'n' roll suicide
Shift 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 ride your mind
They're 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 with me and you're not alone
Let's turn on and be not alone
Give me your hands 'cause you're wonderful
Give me your hands 'cause you're wonderful
Oh give me your hands.
David Bowie (b. 1947) has described 'Rock n' Roll Suicide' as being in the tradition of the 'French chanson', drawing on Baudelaire, Machado and Jacques Brel. It was released in 1974 as the closing track of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.
David Bowie
Time takes a cigarette, puts it in your mouth
You pull on your finger
Then another finger, then your cigarette
The wall-to-wall is calling, it lingers, then you forget
Oh, you're a rock n' roll suicide
You're too old to lose it, too young to choose it
And the clocks waits so patiently on your song
You walk past a cafe
But you don't eat when you've lived too long
Oh no no no, you're a rock 'n' roll suicide
Shift 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 ride your mind
They're 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 with me and you're not alone
Let's turn on and be not alone
Give me your hands 'cause you're wonderful
Give me your hands 'cause you're wonderful
Oh give me your hands.
David Bowie (b. 1947) has described 'Rock n' Roll Suicide' as being in the tradition of the 'French chanson', drawing on Baudelaire, Machado and Jacques Brel. It was released in 1974 as the closing track of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust.