David Bowie - Young Americans

Xah Lee, 2005-06-30

Young Americans is a song by by David Bowie, 1975. Beautiful song. Great David Bowie. This song breaks into a picturesque frenzy on American culture.

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

All night
She wants the young American
Young American, young American, she wants the young American
All right
She wants the young American

Ford Mustang ⇒ Vegabond, Ford Mustang, are all American artifacts. See Vagabond, Ford Mustang.

Scanning life through the picture windows
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?”

All night
She wants the young American
Young American, young American, she wants the young American
All right
She wants the young American

Washington ⇒ US capital Washington, D.C.. (Note: this probably isn't refering to Washington (state))

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?

All night
He wants the young American
Young American, young American, he wants the young American
All right
He wants the young American

Nixon ⇒ President of USA 1969 〜 1974, infamous for scandal involving Deep-Throat and the phony victory posture at resignation. Richard Nixon.

Do you remember, your president Nixon? 
Do you remember, the bills you have to pay
Or even yesterday

un-American ⇒ the term un-American usually have a entry in dictonaries. It means: not characteristic of American customs or cultures; not Red-White-Blue, not vagabond, not big cars.

ghetto ⇒ A ghetto is a section of a city occupied by a group who live there especially because of social, economic, or legal pressure. The term ghetto was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. A ghetto is now described as an overcrowded urban area often associated with a specific ethnic or racial population. ghetto

afro-sheilas ⇒ sheila means young woman (Australian slang). Therefore, afro-sheilas here refers to pretty black girls.

Barbie doll ⇒ a very American thing. See Barbie Anthropology

Have you been an un-American? 
Just you and your idol singing 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-sheilas
Ain't that close to love?
Well, ain't that poster love? 
Well, it ain't that Barbie doll
Her heart's been broken just like you have

And
All night
You want the young American
Young American, young American, you want the young American
All right
You want the young American

hustler ⇒ male prostitute.

Cadi ⇒ Cadillac, made by General Motors.

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 shake
I heard the news today, oh boy
I got a suite and you got defeat
Ain't there a man you 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 struck our faces? 
Ain't there one damn song that can make me
Break down and cry?

All night
I want the young American
Young American, young American, I want the young American
All right
I want the young American
Young American
Young American, young American, I want the young American

Lord ⇒ Lord.

(I want with you, I want with you want)
All right
(you want it, I want you you, you want i, I want you want)
Young American, young American, I want the young American (I
want to want, to want, to want , to want i, I want you)
All right
(lord I wanted the young American)
(young American)
Young American, young American
I want the young American
Mmmmmm mmm

“David Bowie -Young Americans”

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The phrase “I heard the news today, oh boy” is from The Beatles's song A Day in the Life.

2011-08-20 Thanks to Shava Nerad for a correction on Washington.