@ALBUM: young.americans
Lyrics to David Bowies _Young Americans_ album.
Below are the lyrics to the Ryko CD version of the album, which includes
three bonus tracks not found on the original release. Those who have the
LP might remember the lyrics were printed on the paper album sleeve. Use
has been made of this source, but quite a few changes and additions have
been made (as well as the three bonus songs).The main difficulty encountered was deciding just what lyrics to write,
as both David and the background singers are frequently singing at the
same time, often with entirely different lyrics. In general, I wrote
down what David sings, and only included backing parts where David is
silent, or where the backing singers are the dominate lyric.Scott Hannon.
@SONG: Young Americans
They pulled in just behind the fridge,
he lays he 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 no-where
Heaven knows, she'd've taken anything, but{Chorus, *she* version}
[All night]
*She* wants the young American
[Young American, young American, *she* wants the young American]
[All right]
but *she* wants the young AmericanScanning life through the picture window,
[Doo-doo-doo-woo] she finds the slinky vagabond
[Doo-doo-doo-woo] He coughs as he passes up her red Mustang, but
Heaven forbid, she take anything
But the freak, and his type, all for nothing,
[Doo-doo-doo-woo] misses a step and cuts his hand. But
[Doo-doo-doo-woo] showing nothing, he swoops like a song
She cries "Where have all Papas' heroes gone?"{chorus, *she* version}
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?", had{chorus, *he* version}
Do you remember
your President Nixon?
[Doo-doo-doo-woo] Do you remember
the bills you have to pay,
or even yesterday?Have you have been an un-American?
[Doo-doo-doo-woo] Just you and your idol singing falsetto
[Doo-doo-doo-woo] 'bout leather, leather everywhere, and
not a myth left from the ghetto
Well, well, well, would you carry a razor
[Doo-doo-doo-woo] in case, just in case of depression?
[Doo-doo-doo-woo] Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors,
blushing at all the afro-Sheila's
Ain't that close to love?
[Doo-doo-doo-woo] Well, ain't that poster love?
[Doo-doo-doo-woo] Well, it ain't that Barbie doll,
her heart's been broken just like you have{chorus, *you* version}
You ain't a pimp and you ain't a hustler
A pimps' got a Cadi and a lady got a Chrysler
Blacks got respect, uhh, whites got his soul train
Mamas' 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 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 still got faces?
Ain't there one damn song that can make me
break down and cry?{chorus, *I* version}
{chorus, *I* version}
{chorus, *I* version}@SONG: Win
[Hey, it ain't over]
Me, I hope that I'm crazy
I feel you driving and you're only the wheel
Slow down, let some-one love you
Oww, 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,
but I say it's hip
to be alive{chorus}
Now your smile is spreading thin
Seems you're trying not to lose
Since I'm not supposed to grin
All you've got to do is win[Oww, that's all ya gotta do]
[Oww, it ain't over]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}
[Oww, that's all ya gotta do]
[Oww, it ain't over]{chorus}
[Oww, thats all ya gotta do]
[Oww] Got to do is win [it ain't over]
Well, your smile is spreading thin
[Oww, seek and believe in you]
Since you're trying not to lose
[Oww, it ain't over, no, no]
Since I'm not supposed to grin
[Oww, that's all ya gotta do]
All you've got to do is win
[Oww, it ain't over, no]
[Oww, seek and believe in you]
All you've got to do is win
[Oww, it ain't over, no, no]
Oww, all you've got!
Is all you've got
[It ain't over]
Min-no-va....@SONG: Fascination (L. Vandross, D. Bowie)
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'cha 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, oow]
fascination comes around
[Ahh, Oow-woo-oow][Fascination] Your soul is calling
like when I'm walking
Seems that everywhere I turn
I hope you're waiting for me
I-I know that people think
that I'm a little crazy
Oww, better sex is fun
I think I like fascination
Still, tic{chorus}
{chorus}
{etc}
@SONG: Right
{verse 1}
Takin' it all the right way,
keepin' it in the back
Takin' it all the right way,
never no turnin' back
Never need, no,
never no turnin' back{verse 2}
Flyin', just a sweet place,
comin' inside and sail
Flyin', just a sweet place,
never been known to fail
Never been, no,
never been known to fail{scat}
Wishing you,
wishing that sometimes
[sometimes]
Doin' it, doin' it right, 'til [doin' it] one time
[one time]
Gets you when your down
[nobody, nobody, do it again, get off]
Eh, sometimes,
[doin']
wishin' sometimes, [give it back] up there, up there
[givin' it]
Ah, my darlin'
[No] Ah, my darlin', [givin' it] ah, [up there] why?
[gimme, gimme] Up there, [yeah] gimme
[doin' it]
taken with me
[sometimes]
lovin' it, doin' it [right] 'til [take it] one time
Gimme
[doin' it] Givin' it
[givin' it back]{verse 1}
{verse 1}
{verse 1}
{verse 2}
{verse 1}Never no turning back
Never, never, never
{etc}
@SONG: Somebody Up There Likes Me
Let the lies go
Let...He's everybodys token, on everybodys wall
Blessin' all the papers, thanking one and all
Hugging all the babies, kissing all the ladies
Knowing all you think about from writing on the wall{chorus 1}
He's so divine,
his soul shines
Breaks the night,
sleep tight
His ever lovin' face
smiles on the whole human race
(He says "I'm somebody"){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"He's the sabbath 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, uh,
anyone with sense could see
Nothing left his eye un-moved, he
had the plan, he had to use{chorus 1 and 2}
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}
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?{chorus 2}
[somebody, somebody, somebody]
[somebody, somebody]
[somebody, somebody]
[somebody, somebody]
Somebody [somebody]
Somebody [somebody]
Somebody [somebody, somebody]
Yes, somebody [somebody]
Somebody [somebody]
Somebody [somebody, somebody]
Yeah, can't remember [somebody] peace so well
Oh, space to ramble, [somebody] space to boogie
Soul shine [Oow-oow]
He's so divine
He's somebody
{etc}
@SONG: Across the Universe (J. Lennon, P. McCartney)
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 openned mind,
possesing and caressing me{Chorus 1}
Nothing's gonna change my world
Nothing's gonna change my world{chorus 1}
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}
{chorus 1}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 1}
{chorus 1}
{chorus 1}{chorus 2}
Nothing
Nothing
Nothing
Nothing's gonna
Nothing's gonna change my world{chorus 2}
{chorus 3}
Nothing's gonna change it
Nothing's gonna change itHey
{chorus 3}
{chorus 3}
Nothing's gonna change my world
{chorus 3}
Nothing's gonna change my world
@SONG: 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 heart-aches,
oww, 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,
[Oow-oow-oow-oow] so many times
*Six steel Jew* 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 ta-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 [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 ya take it?] Mmmmm
Why don't you take it?
[Right to your heart]
Can you hear me?
[Why don't ya take it?]
Can you feel me? ah
[Why don't ya take it?] Can ya? Can ya? In a-right
[Why don't ya take it?] Wuhhh
Right down, right down
[Right to your heart]
Can you take it? Feel me?
[Why don't ya take it?]
Down, to right down
[Why don't ya take it?]
into your heart
[Why don't ya take it?]
Oww, to your heart
[Right to your heart]
Take it down, take it down
[Why don't ya take it?]
[Why don't ya take it?]
Take it in right
[Right to your heart]
Oww-oww
@SONG: Fame (D. Bowie, J. Lennon, C. Alomar)
Fame, makes a man take things over
Fame, lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame, puts you there, where things are hollow
FameFame, it's not your brain, it's just the flame
that burns the change to keep you insane
FameFame, what you like is in the Limo
Fame, what you get is no tomorrow
Fame, what you need you have to borrow
FameFame, "Nien! It's mine!" is just his line
to bind your time, it drives you to, ah, crime
FameCould it be the best, could it be?
Really be, really, babe?
Could it be, my babe, could it, babe?
Really be, really, babe?Is it any wonder
I reject you first?
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Is it any wonder
you're too cool to fool
Fame
Fame, bully for you, chilly for me
Got to get a rain-check on pain
Fame{vocoder}
ba ba be
ba be ba be
ba be ba beba ba ba ba
ba ba
baby, baby
baby
Fame
What's your name?{whispered}
Feelin' so gay
Feelin' gay
@SONG: Who Can I Be Now
Everybody's raised in blindness
Everybody knows it's true
Everybody feels that
everything is real,
anybodys' point of of view
Nobody can break their bondage
Everyone can feel their chains
But even in my life
I knew you found your sight
and nothing would be quite the samePlease help me
Who can I be now?
You found me
Who can I be?
Felled apart, you found me
Now can I be now?
You found me
Now can I be real?
Can I be real?
[somebody real]Hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
If it's all a vast creation
Putting on a face that's new
Some-one has to see, uhh,
row for him and me
Some-one, might as well be you
Up in Heaven, any angel
writes a special game to play
Oh-ho, could we, could we make a star
to snatch their angels, boy
Made you row, boy, every dayPlease help me
Who can I be now?
You found me
Who can I be?
Felled apart, you found me
Now can I be now?
You found me
Now can I be real?
Can I be?
Who can I be now?
You found me
Who can I be?
Felled upon, you found me
Now can I be now?
You found me
No-o-ow can I, can I be real?
Can I be real?
Can I be real?
Can I be?
[Who] can I be?
Oh babe, babe
[Now] Yeah, can I be [now]?
You found me
[Now] can I be free?
Can I...
@SONG: It's Gonna Be Me
Hey Jack, I better shake it off
Put her out of my head
The thinking of all, just another young girl last night
Oh brother! I left a woman
in that morning day
Been on that trip so many times
Good-God! was really yesterday
I've tried so many, many, many, many, many
many ways
I've lied and taken off into the day,
leaving another girl to
weep over the breakfast tray
Loved her before I knew her name
Hit me! Jack, 'cause I'm
gone! love her way[Come back, my *brain*] {?}
Come back my brain
Feel holy again, I gave her
[I gave her] oww, baby, baby
Gotta give her, oww, baby, baby
that kind of love
can only destroy
I gave her, oww, baby, baby
Gettin' down, if I'm gonna be, the baby wants it
Gonna be me
[It's gonna be me]There was no rein to check me
when all th-ose little things walked on by
Oh! but I couldn't feel this, stammer out a word,
when that angel stuck in my mind
Oo, oo, oo, oo
Lookin' for love won't hold me back
[No!]
I'm gonna love her way
Come back my brain
Fell holy again
I gave her
Gotta give it, love
Oww, baby, baby
That kind of love
can only destroy
I gave her, oww, baby, baby
Gotta get it now, If I'm
gonna be her baby
It's gonna be me, yeahLet's play, not play this record
Waitin' for the telephone to ring
Wiped-out and bitter, with a
bag clutched in her hand
All the cars sound like they're
pulling in the drive
Umm, no, no, no, no, no, uhh
I see her now
A little tear running down her check
Laugh! Let down
People looking for me
I want to race down her street
and knock hard, hard, hard on the door 'til
Until she breaks down in my arms like a
*Tracy tie*, yell "I feel the pain" {?}
I'll be so strong again and againCome back my brain, yeah
I'm holy again
I'll take ya, oww, babe, baby, baby
We're gonna have, oww, baby, baby,
My kind of love
can only bring you joy
I'm gonna, oww, baby
Yeah, got far
Give you, baby, baby
'Cause it's gonna be me [It's gonna be me]
Umm, hmm, hmm
@SONG: John, I'm Only Dancing (1975 single [disco] version)
[Dancin'] I'm having so much love
[Dancin'] To pack, I pack a gun
[Dancin'] Boogie down with Dead, and I
I give my house in the country
if you slipped us some funk, cat
[Music] I'm dancin' in the street
[Oow, music] I tore my shoes from my feet
[Romancin'] It's got me dirty and sweet
It's got you reelin' an' rockin',
won't you let me slam my thing, an'
[Fallin'] I think it's all I can do
[Fallin'] Just like we're beating it, too
[Umm, fallin'] Give a little, take a little, give a little back
Jumpy John, the great goose, has gone
gotta line on my hand, Charlie on my back[John] I'm only dancing
[She turns me on] I'm only dancing
[She turns me on] Oh, but she moves me
[Don't get me wrong] I-I-I-I-I
[I'm only dancing, oow-oow]
[I'm only dancing, oow-oow][Dancin'] Have you heard the news?
[Dancin'] Presisent has got the blues
[Dancin'] I tell you confidently
If he gives it to you, he better take it from me
[*Sam said*] I'll pick up your bones {?}
[Sam said] If the numbers alone
[Sam said] Get off your telephone
Lookin' people in the eye, tell 'em "my, oh, my"
Let your back bone slide while you whistle and cry[John]
[She turns me on]
[She turns me on] love, love, love, we get
[Don't get me wrong] hmm, hmm, hmm, hmm
[I'm only dancing, oww-oww]
[John] I-I-I'm only dancing
[She turns me on]
I-I-I'm only dancing
[She turns me on] I lost my fear,
[Don't get me wrong] and I found, found my way
[I'm only dancing, oow-oow] Please dance with me
[I'm only dancing, oow-oow] Please dance with me
[I'm only dancing, oow-oow] hmm, hmm, hmm-hmm[Dancin', dancin', dancin', woo, woo, woo]
[Dancin', dancin', dancin', woo, woo, woo]
[Dancin', dancin', dancin', woo, woo, woo][Dancin'] I'm only
[Dancin'] I'm only
[Dancin'] I'm only
[Woo, woo, woo]
[Dancin'] I'm only
[Dancin'] I'm only
[Dancin'] I'm only
[Woo, woo, woo]
Can't sing nor hear
I've lost my fear
Cha-Charlie, a dance on
[Woo, woo, woo]
[Woo, woo, woo]
He-he-hey-hey-hey-hey-hey, 'cause
[Woo, woo, woo]
You got white light
You got black light
I've got white light
Take a dance on [Woo, woo, woo]
I'm only
I'm only
I'm only
[Woo, woo, woo]
I've got
I've got
[Woo, woo, woo]
[Woo, woo, woo]
[Dancin'] hey
[Dancin'] hey
[Dancin'] hey
[Woo, woo, woo]
Take a dance on [Dancin']
Take a dance on [Dancin']
Take a dance on [Dancin']
Hey [Woo, woo, woo]
[Dancin', dancin', dancin', woo, woo, woo]
Gotta give me now [Dancin']
Gotta give me now [Dancin']
Gotta give me now [Dancin']
[Woo, woo, woo]
He-hey [Dancin']
He-hey [Dancin']
[Dancin']
[Woo, woo, woo]
Likin' it fine
Makin' it mine
Likin' it fine
Makin' it mine
Likin' it fine
Makin' it
[I'm only dancin', umm-hmm]
[I'm only dancin', dancin', I'm only dancin', umm-hmm]
[I'm only dancin', dancin', I'm only dancin', umm-hmm]
[I'm only dancin', dancin', I'm only dancin', umm-hmm]
[I'm only dancin', hey I'm dancin', hey! I'm only dancin', umm-hmm]
[yes I am, I'm only dancin', hey I'm dancin', hey, dancin', umm-hmm]
[Oww, I'm only dancin', oww, I'm only dancin', I'm only dancin', umm-hmm]
[Oh, I be dancin'...]
