Friday December 17, 2021 “Young Americans” David Bowie

Not only are we young today but today we are “Young Americans”, thanks to this David Bowie song from his ninth studio album also titled Young Americans, which if you look carefully you will see in the background of a scene from the movie The Man Who Fell to Earth, starring Bowie.

As you are singing the opening line of “Young Americans”, according to Bowie it is always misquoted as it should be “They pulled in just behind the fridge” in honor of comedians Peter Cook and Dudley Moore’s live BBC show Behind The Fridge.  The line near the end, "I heard the news today, oh boy," is of course a reference to the Beatles song "A Day In The Life." John Lennon worked with Bowie on "Fame" and also on Bowie's cover of "Across The Universe." Both songs are on this album.

Bowie recorded most of the songs for Young Americans at Sigma Studios in eight days, usually recording his vocals after midnight because he heard that's when Frank Sinatra recorded most of his vocals, and also because there weren't so many people around.

During Bowie's phase as Tin Machine he worked with a rhythm session composed of brothers Hunt and Tony Sales, sons of TV comedian Soupy Sales and frequent studio musicians on many other records as well. Unrelated but still interesting, for whatever personal reasons Bowie may have had, he refused to be knighted in 2003. 

Stay safe and well...and 'ain't there one damn song that can make me break down and cry'? For me there's a list of songs that will bring a tear to my eyes, maybe we'll do a week of them.

They pulled in just behind the fridge

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 a young American

Young American, young American, she wants the young American

All night

But 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

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

Well she wants the young American

 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 (all right)

Well, he wants the young American

 Do you remember, your President Nixon? (ooh)

Do you remember, the bills you have to pay?

Or even yesterday?

 Have been the un-American? (ooh)

Just you and your idol sing falsetto (ooh)

'Bout Leather, leather everywhere, and

Not a myth left from the ghetto

Well, well, well, would you carry a razor (ooh)

In case, just in case of depression? (ooh)

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 and

 All night

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?

 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 (I want what you want, I want what you want)

All night

You and I

I want you, I

Young American, young American, I want the young American

All right

And all I want is the young American

Young American, young American, I want the young American