In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Time takes a cigarette, puts it in your mouth
You pull on your finger
Then another finger, then your cigarette
The water wall is calling
It lingers, then you forget
Oh no, no no, you're a rock 'n' roll suicide
You're too old to lose it, too young to choose it
And the clock 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
Chev 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 and be not alone
Gimme your hands, 'cause you're wonderful
Gimme your hands, 'cause you're wonderful
Oh, gimme your hands
You pull on your finger
Then another finger, then your cigarette
The water wall is calling
It lingers, then you forget
Oh no, no no, you're a rock 'n' roll suicide
You're too old to lose it, too young to choose it
And the clock 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
Chev 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 and be not alone
Gimme your hands, 'cause you're wonderful
Gimme your hands, 'cause you're wonderful
Oh, gimme your hands
Lyrics submitted by LilBowieGirl, edited by WiseOldGuy, Flamencoprof
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
This song literally saved my life. I was spiraling down fast, cutting myself, contemplating suicide. Everything. One night listening to my iPod on shuffle I was considering ending it. After 10 years of depressio , who needs one more? I'm only 17 and I felt my time was up. Then this song came on, I wasn't paying attention really because I was writing a suicide note, then as I'm ready to slit my wrists, I hear, "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 "
after that I broke down and cried and thanked God for that message being given to me when I was about to end it. If I had one thing to say to David Bowie, it'd be thank you for saving my life and helping me get onto the road to recovery.
that verse makes me think of my closest friend, who is always saying these things to me. though not in the same words, and sometimes not in words at all. "you're watching yourself but you're too unfair." if she said that to me I would cry.<br /> <br /> all this, it sounds sentimental or histrionic I suppose. anyway she does what she can to lessen my pain, and I try to do the same for her. she is spiritually gifted. so am I, she says...but I find that difficult to believe.<br /> <br /> thank you Hime17. I too have stood on that ledge wondering why would I want to live another day. I am afraid of people, and spend most of my time alone. even so (at 45) I'm grateful to have survived. it will be a lifelong struggle.
Keep fighting loves, you're not alone : )
@Hime17 <br /> <br /> beautiful. I wish I'd paid more attention to this song when I was going through my own depressive crisis.<br /> <br /> You're not alone and you're wonderful. <br /> <br /> Lovely message, no? =)
@Hime17 <br /> I have known David Bowie since I was a teenager and recently saw Phish cover Ziggy Stardust in Las Vegas and relived my earlier emotional experiences with this album. <br /> Your story brought me to tears. No matter what the original meaning was, this song and it's heart-wrenching lyrics carry on after David's death. <br /> Your story is so very powerful, especially considering your age and your life before you...Thank you for your inspiration. <br /> I love you and I don't even know you.
@Hime17 Happy that you are Ok. It is amazing what kind of power one song can have on many lives.
@Hime17 Hope you are thriving in life and thank you for this awesome and heartfelt lyrics meaning. Wherever you are, just know that you're not alone
The song isn't about an actual suicide. A "Rock and Roll Suicide" is the same thing that Huey Nueton described as a "Revolutionary Suicide": someone who gives his entire life and everything he is to a revolution. Instead of revolution it's rock and roll. It describes how Ziggy gave everything he was to rock and roll. The song basically talks about how "you" (Ziggy) has nothing in the end, because he gave everything to the music.
@BillySpears yes about the man who gave his everything to a case. But its about a man who commited suicide and through his suicide gave inspiration to Elvis to create the song 'Heartbreak Hotel' and essentially create rock n roll music. Elvis was part of David Bowie's inspiration to create Ziggy Stardust along with other influential figures like Beethoven, H.G.Wells and the Babylonians. <br />
In the story of Ziggy, I think it deals with the suicide of Lady Stardust after she's killed the Spiders from Mars, who had killed Ziggy, though that's all speculative. It's the end of the album, the end of the band, and the end of the world.
@Akasha Hi, I don't know where you came up with this story about Lady Stardust killing the Spiders from Mars, it sounds like pure fiction to me, but I can yell you one thing with certainly, as a former acquaintance of a truly sweet man and rock star, Marc Bolan of T-Rex, who was killed in a car crash tragically 2 weeks before his 30th birthday, and as one who has met Bowie here in Philly, I can tell you unequivocally that Lady Stardust is a tribute to, about Marc Bolan. Lady Stardust therefore is not a she, it's written about Marc. Where you came up with all the other stuff, well, you have a vivid and misinformed imagination I think but, regardless, Lady Stardust is about Marc Bolan. Peace.
@peterpaul The whole album is pure fiction...what is your point? This site is for fans to discuss what the songs mean to us and what we think they mean. <br /> Your name-dropping makes you sound like a loser desperate for attention...Peace.
Lady Stardust was Marc Bolan of T Rex, and the kids killed Ziggy, not The Spiders...actually I believe the kids drove him to kill himself, hence the title "Rock 'N' Roll Suicide".
Can you just imagine hearing this song at Ziggy's retirement concert? I've heard that Bowie anounced Ziggy's retirement at that final show and then dove right into this song, with all the fans screaming and crying. And as soon as it was finnished, he hopped into a car and drove away with all the fans chasing after him.
The last part of the song seems to be about comforting the fans. Imagine your at that concert and Bowie announces his retirement, only you dont know he's playing the part of Ziggy, so you think its the last concert he'll ever do period...so those last lines were meant as a reassurance...dont fret because Ziggy will always be with you sort of thing. Pure magic.
Watching the Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars video, my heart break so for those kids in the audience when he makes that announcement......every time...
I was going through a rather hairy period when I heard this song and it certainly cheered me up. When you're depressed and on the edge of suicide, someone telling you "no, love, you're not alone" can be very strengthening. All hail Bowie!
Here Bowie is talking about his youth and how getting old is one thing that can never be stopped. The more you try to enjoy life the faster is slips through your're fingers. i think this song is so beautiful- lyrics, emotion, and the music are all superb.
I think he is. I mean... we all know Bowie was heavily influenced by Nirvana!
Just think about it. KurtTBO gave us a very important hint to understand every Bowie Song. Every Bowie song is about Nirvana. Like Lady Stardust is about Kurt Cobain using drags on stage and Life On Mars is about Kurt Cobain watching a film. Kurt Cobain is known to have inspired Bowie a lot in the 70's . And for the name, you are SO right, Ziggy? I mean what is that supossed to be? Where does that guy come from?Space or what?
@rocknrollin bitch I especially love the song where Kurt Cobain puts on his red shoes and dances under the moonlight....you know, the serious moonlight?
@rocknrollin bitch yeah but at the same time i kinda hate bowie for ripping off 2 other artists. first Nirvana, then Queen. freakin copycat. also Ziggy Stardust is just a ripoff of the guy from Cygnet Committee by Max Lorentz.
@rocknrollin bitch, what are you smoking? Or maybe you didn't do your research? Or maybe you're blowing smoke and everyone jumps onboard and believes everything they read on the internet? Guess it's possible Bowie was influenced by Cobain @ age 5, NOT!<br /> <br /> Ziggy Stardust originally released in 1972<br /> Cobain born 1967
this song saved my life, it tells u no matter what lifes still worth living for!
Where other rock stars have sold their souls at the crossroads or indulged in pleasures that sent them to an early grave, Bowie cleverly sacrifices Ziggy, thereby opening the door to eternal youth (or at least an extra few years of artistic credibility). I love the way he sings "Oh no, love! You're not alone."
As with the rest of this album, the song shouldn't be analysed without reference to the whole album, and the whole album shouldn't be analysed without taking the time to get into each moment of every song because the whole thing is worth it.