Back to Top

David Bowie - Young Americans Album Lyrics



David Bowie - Young Americans Lyrics






Young Americans

They pulled in just behind the bridge
He lays her down, he frowns
"Gee my life's a funny thing, am I
still too young?"
He kissed her then and there
She took his ring, took his babies
It took him minutes, took her nowhere
Heaven knows, she'd have taken anything, but

[CHORUS (She)]
All night
She wants the young American
Young American, young American, she wants the young American
All right
She wants the young American

Scanning life through the picture
window
She finds the slinky vagabond
He coughs as he passes her Ford
Mustang, but
Heaven forbid, she'll take anything
But the freak, and his type, all for
nothing
He misses a step and cuts his hand, but
Showing nothing, he swoops like a song
She cries "Where have all Papa's heroes gone?"

[CHORUS (She)]
All the way from Washington
Her bread-winner begs off the bathroom floor
We live for just these twenty years
Do we have to die for the fifty more?"

[CHORUS (HE)]
All night
He wants the young American
Young American, young American,
he wants the young American
All right
He wants the young American

Do you remember, your President Nixon?
Do you remember, the bills you have to pay?
Or even yesterday?
Have been the un-American?
Just you and your idol sing falsetto
'bout Leather, leather everywhere, and
Not a myth left from the ghetto
Well, well, well, would you carry a razor
In case, just in case of depression?
Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors
Blushing at all the afro-Sheeners
Ain't that close to love?
Well, ain't that poster love?
Well, it ain't that Barbie doll
Her hearts have been broken just like you

[CHORUS (YOU)]
All night
You want the young American
Young American, young American, you want the young American
All right
You want the young American

You ain't a pimp and you ain't a hustler
A pimp's got a Cadi and a lady got a Chrysler
Black's got respect, and white's got his soul train
Mama's got cramps, and look at your hands ache
(I heard the news today, oh boy)
I got a suite and you got defeat
Ain't there a man who can say no more?
And, ain't there a woman I can
sock on the jaw?
And, ain't there a child I can hold without judging?
Ain't there a pen that will write before they die?
Ain't you proud that you've still got faces?
Ain't there one damn song that can make me
break down and cry?

[CHORUS (I) (repeat 3 times ad lib)]
All night
I want the young American
Young American, young American, I want the young American
All right
I want the young American

[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: David Bowie
Copyright: Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, TINTORETTO MUSIC, BMG Rights Management




Win

Me, I hope that I'm crazy
I feel you driving and you're only the wheel
Slow down, let someone love you
Ohh, I've never touched you since I started to feel
If there's nothing to hide me
Then you've never seen me hanging naked and wired
Somebody lied, I say it's hip
To be alive

[CHORUS]
Now your smile is wearing (spreading?) thin
Seems you're trying not to lose
Since I'm not supposed to win
All you've got to do is win
Me, I'm fresh on your pages
Secret thinker sometimes listening aloud
Life lies dumb on its heroes
Wear your wound with honor, make someone proud
Someone like you should not be allowed
To start any fires

[CHORUS]
Now your smile is wearing (spreading?) thin
Seems you're trying not to lose
Since I'm not supposed to win
All you've got to do is win

[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: DAVID BOWIE
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management, TINTORETTO MUSIC




Fascination

Got to use her
Every time I feel fascination
I just can't stand still, I've got to
use her
Every time I think of what she pulled me through, dear
Fascination moves sweeping near me
Still I take ya

[CHORUS]
(Fascination) fascination
(sho 'nuff) fascination
(takes a part of me) takes
a part of me
(Can a heart-beat) can a heart-beat
(live in a fever) live in a fever?
(raging inside of me?)
(Fascination) fascination
(oh, yeah) oh yeah
(takes a part of me) takes a part of me
(I can't help it) I can't help it
(I've got to use her) got to use her
(every time, ooh)
Fascination comes around

(Ooh-oo-ooh)
(Fascination) Your soul is calling

Like when I'm walking
Seems that everywhere I turn
I hope you're waiting for me
I know that people think
That I'm a little crazy
Ohh, better sex is fun
I think I like fascination
Still, tick

[CHORUS (twice)]

[ad-lib]

[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: DAVID BOWIE, LUTHER VANDROSS
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, TINTORETTO MUSIC, BMG Rights Management




Right

[CHORUS 1]
Taking it all the right way
Keeping it in the back
Taking it all the right way
Never no turning back
Never need, no
Never no turning back

[CHORUS 2]
Flying in just a sweet place
Coming inside and safe
Flying in just a sweet place
Never been known to fail
Never been, no
Never been known to fail
Wishing you,
wishing that sometimes (sometimes)
Doing it, doing it right, 'til (doing it) one time (one time)

Gets you when you're down
(nobody, nobody, do it again, get off)
Ahhh, sometimes, doing
Wishing sometimes (give it back)
Up there, up there (giving it)
Oh, my darling
(No) Ah, my darling, (giving it) ah (up there) why?
Gimme, gimme, up there, (yeah) gimme, doing
Taking with me (sometimes)
Loving it, doing it (right) 'til (take it) one time
Gimme (doing it)
Giving it (giving it back)

[CHORUS 1 (3 times)]

[CHORUS 2]

[CHORUS 1]

[repeat ad-lib]

Never no turning back
Never, never, never

[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: DAVID BOWIE
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, TINTORETTO MUSIC, BMG Rights Management




Somebody Up There Likes Me

He's everybody's token, on everybody's wall
Blessing all the papers, thanking one and all
Hugging all the babies, kissing all the ladies
Knowing all that you think about from writing on the wall
He's so divine, his soul shines
Breaks the night, sleep tight
His ever loving face smiles on the whole human race
He says "I'm somebody"
He's got his eye on your soul, his hand on your heart

He says "Don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody) likes me"
He's the savage son of the TV tube
Planets wrote the day was due
All the wisest men around
Predicted that a man was found
Who looked a lot like you and me, yeah
Everyone with sense could see
Nothing left his eye unmoved, he
Had the plan, he had to use
He's so divine, his soul shines
Breaks the night, sleep tight
His ever loving face smiles on the whole human race

He says "I'm somebody"
He's got his eye on your soul, his hand on your heart

He says "Don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody) likes me"
Somebody plays my song in tune
Makes me, makes me, makes me stronger for you, babe
Was a way when we were young, that
Any man was judged by what he'd done
But now you pick them on the screen (what they look like)
Where they've been

[CHORUS 2]
He's got his eye on your soul, his hand on your heart

He says "Don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody) likes me"
Leaders come, they hate all the people know
That given time, the leaders go
Tell me, can they hold you under their spell
Can they walk and hold you as well as a
Smile like Valentino?
Could he sell you anything?
Keep your eyes on your soul, keep your hand on your heart

He says "Don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody) likes me"
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody
Yeah, can't remember (somebody) peace so well

Oh, space to ramble, (somebody, somebody) space to boogie

Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh, somebody)
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh)
Somebody, somebody, somebody

[ad-lib]

[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: DAVID BOWIE
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, TINTORETTO MUSIC




Across The Universe

Words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup
They slither wildly as they slip away
Across the universe
Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my opened mind
Possessing and caressing me

[CHORUS (twice)]
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world
Images of broken light which dance before me like a
Million eyes
They call me on and on
Across the universe
Thoughts meander like the restless wind inside a letter box
They tumble blindly as they make their way
Across the universe

[CHORUS 1 (twice)]

Sounds of laughter, shades of life are ringing through my
open ears
Inciting and inviting me
Limitless undying love, which shines around me like a million suns
It calls me on and on and on
Across the universe

[CHORUS (twice)]

[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: John Lennon, Paul Mccartney
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC




Can You Hear Me

Once we were lovers, can they understand?
Closer than others I was your, I was your man
Don't talk of heartaches, ohh, I remember them all
When I'm checking you out one day, to see if I'm Faking it all

[CHORUS]
Can you hear me?
Can you feel me inside?
Show your love, love
Take it in right (take it in right)
Take it in right (take it in right)

There's been many others (Oo-oo-oo-oohh) so many times
Sixty new cities, an' what do I, what do I
What do I find?
I want love so badly, I want you most of all
You know, it's harder to take it from anyone
It's harder to fall
Can you hear me call ya?

[CHORUS]
Well, can you hear me? (yeah)
Can you feel me inside (I do)
Show your love, show your sweet, sweet love
Show me your love
Take it in right (take it in right)
Take it in right, yeah (take it in right)
Take it in right to your love life, baby
Take it in right to your love life
Take it in right, take it in right, right to your love life

Take it in right, ah
Take it in, take it in right
Right down, right down
(Why don't you take it?)
Mmmm, why don't you take it?
(Right to your heart)
Can you hear me?
(Why don't you take it?)
Can you feel me?
(Why don't you take it?)
Can you? Take it in right
(Why don't you take it?)
Wuhh, right down, right down
(Right to your heart)
Can you take it? Feel me?
(Why don't you take it?)
Down, to right down
(Why don't you take it?)
To your heart
(Why don't you take it?)

To your heart
(Right to your heart)
Take it down, take it down
(Why don't you take it? Why don't you take it?)
Take it in right
(Right to your heart)

[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: DAVID BOWIE
Copyright: Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, TINTORETTO MUSIC




Fame

Fame, makes a man take things over
Fame, lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame, puts you there where things are hollow
Fame
Fame, it's not your brain, it's just the flame
That burns your change to keep you insane
Fame
Fame, what you like is in the limo
Fame, what you get is no tomorrow
Fame, what you need you have to borrow
Fame
Fame, "Nein! It's mine!" is just his line
To bind your time, it drives you to, crime
Fame
Could it be the best, could it be?
Really be, really, babe?
Could it be, my babe, could it, babe?
Really, really?
Is it any wonder I reject you first?
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Is it any wonder you are too cool to fool

Fame
Fame, bully for you, chilly for me
Got to get a rain check on pain
Fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame,
fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame, fame,
fame
Fame, fame, fame
Fame
What's your name?

[whispered:]

Feeling so gay, feeling gay?
Brings so much pain?
[ Correct these Lyrics ]

Writer: Carlos Alomar, David Bowie, John Lennon
Copyright: Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, TINTORETTO MUSIC, BMG Rights Management




Back to: David Bowie


Young Americans is the ninth studio album by the English musician David Bowie, released on 7 March 1975 through RCA Records. A departure from the glam rock style of previous albums, the record showcased Bowie's interest in soul and R&B. Music critics have described the sound as blue-eyed soul; Bowie himself labelled the album's sound "plastic soul".

Recording sessions began at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia in August 1974, after the first leg of his Diamond Dogs Tour. The record was produced by Tony Visconti, and includes a variety of musicians, such as the guitarist Carlos Alomar, who became one of Bowie's most frequent collaborators, and the backing vocalists Ava Cherry, Robin Clark and then-unknown singer Luther Vandross. As the tour continued the setlist and design began to incorporate the influence of the new material. The recording sessions continued at the Record Plant in New York City at the tour's end. A collaboration between Bowie and John Lennon yielded a cover of Lennon's Beatles song "Across the Universe" and "Fame" during a January 1975 session at Electric Lady Studios, produced by Harry Maslin. The album's cover artwork is a back-lit photograph of Bowie taken by Eric Stephen Jacobs.

Young Americans was Bowie's breakthrough in the US, reaching the top 10 on the Billboard chart; the single "Fame" became Bowie's first number one hit. Bowie continued developing its sound on Station to Station (1976). Young Americans has received mixed critical reviews on release and in later decades; Bowie himself had mixed feelings about the album. The album proved influential. Bowie was one of the first white artists of the era to overtly engage with black musical styles; other British artists followed suit. The album has been reissued multiple times with outtakes, and was remastered in 2016 as part of the Who Can I Be Now? (1974-1976) box set.
Performed By: David Bowie
Genre(s): Blue-eyed soul, R&B, funk
Producer(s): David Bowie, Harry Maslin, Tony Visconti
Length: 40:00
Released: March 7th, 1975
Year: 1975

Tags:
No tags yet