This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
He's everybody's token, on everybody's wall
Blessing all the papers, thanking one and all
Hugging all the babies, kissing all the ladies
Knowing all that you think about from writing on the wall
He's so divine, his soul shines
Breaks the night, sleep tight
His ever loving face smiles on the whole human race
He says, I'm somebody
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 savage 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, yeah
Everyone with sense could see
Nothing left his eye unmoved, he
Had the plan, he had to use (somebody)
He's so divine, his soul shines (somebody)
Breaks the night, sleep tight (somebody out there, somebody)
His ever loving face smiles on the whole human race (somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody out there)
He's got his eye on your soul, his hand on your heart
He says, don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody)
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
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
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?
Keep your eyes on your soul, keep your hand on your heart
He says, don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody) likes me
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) (somebody)
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) (somebody)
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody somebody)
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody somebody)
Yeah, can't remember (somebody) peace so well
Oh, space to ramble, (somebody, somebody) space to boogie
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh, somebody)
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh)
Somebody, somebody, somebody
Yeah, can't remember, peace so well
Can't remember peace so well
Can't remember peace so well
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
Soul shine
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh, somebody)
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh)
Blessing all the papers, thanking one and all
Hugging all the babies, kissing all the ladies
Knowing all that you think about from writing on the wall
He's so divine, his soul shines
Breaks the night, sleep tight
His ever loving face smiles on the whole human race
He says, I'm somebody
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 savage 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, yeah
Everyone with sense could see
Nothing left his eye unmoved, he
Had the plan, he had to use (somebody)
He's so divine, his soul shines (somebody)
Breaks the night, sleep tight (somebody out there, somebody)
His ever loving face smiles on the whole human race (somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody out there)
He's got his eye on your soul, his hand on your heart
He says, don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody)
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
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
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?
Keep your eyes on your soul, keep your hand on your heart
He says, don't hurry, baby
Somebody up there (somebody) likes me
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) (somebody)
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) (somebody)
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody somebody)
Somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody) somebody (somebody somebody)
Yeah, can't remember (somebody) peace so well
Oh, space to ramble, (somebody, somebody) space to boogie
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh, somebody)
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh)
Somebody, somebody, somebody
Yeah, can't remember, peace so well
Can't remember peace so well
Can't remember peace so well
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
Soul shine
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh, somebody)
Soul shine (Ooh-ooh)
So divine
Somebody (ooh-ooh)
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A obscure song from Young Americans--what great lyrics and fantastic sax by David Sanborn. The thought that there is going to be a leader that deceives is pretty prevalent in Bowies writing. Big Brother, etc. As usual, the lyrics are excellent-- "nothing left his eye unmoved/he had the plan he had to use" that is great commentary about dictators or despots. Classic bowie....
....Obscure? Know no-one who's not acquainted with this song...<br />
....Obscure? Know no-one who's not acquainted with this song...<br />
i always kinda got the impression that this song had something to do with John F. Kennedy- maybe the "Savage son of the TV tube/ Now you pick 'em off the screen" lines, and how a history tracher nce comented that the Kennedy/Nixon election had the first televised debates, and the American populace was suddenly confronted with an image that had more impact than the abstract ideas that were being discussed. it's clearly about politics, and how any agenda can be easily masked by a good media image.
anyway, it has this awesome tone of a devil sliding into a well loved position bt dint of his selling skills. Keep your eyes on your soul, keep your hand on your heart.
Easily one of the best I've ever heard from Bowie. It should've gone on the Best Of Bowie compilation. Or whatever else there is..
bowie's best song, hands down, followed by jump they say & bring me the disco king. THAT - SAX. it melts my very soul.
The backing "oohs" at the end of the song remind me a lot of the backing vocals Bowie sang on Lou Reed's "Satellite of Love" a few years earlier. Very similar style.
I had always thought that this song was about Christ later replaced by TV evangelism with this part being Christmas Day ...
Planets wrote the day was due All the wisest men around - [my edit: referring to the Magi who navigated the desert like sailors using the stars. And Bowie knew he star of Bethlehem was a planetary conjunction] Predicted that a man was found
Who looked a lot like you and me Everyone with sense could see Nothing left his eye unmoved Had the plan, he had to use
(Somebody) He's so divine, his soul shines (Somebody) Breaks the night, sleep tight (Somebody up there)
(Somebody) His ever loving face smiles on the whole human race (Somebody, somebody, somebody up there)
(Somebody) He's got his eye on your soul His hand on your heart He says, "Don't hurry, baby" Somebody up there (Somebody)