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


Lyrics submitted by LilBowieGirl, edited by WiseOldGuy, Flamencoprof

Rock 'n' Roll Suicide song meanings
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    General Comment

    I always think about Ziggy Stardust, the album, as beginning with the death of the entire world ("Five Years") and ending with the saving of one life ("Rock 'n' Roll Suicide"). I agree with farrell way upthread who says that "you" (the would-be suicide) doesn't go through with it. I base this on the repeated "gimme your hands" - the narrator ("I") is taking the hands of the would-be suicide so he/she can't kill him/herself. (That's why it's "hands" not "hand"). Then the final ten seconds of the song when the strings rise to a triumphant note.

    stormvilleon October 11, 2016   Link

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