Rubber Band
David Bowie Lyrics
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There's a rubber band that plays tunes out of tune
In the library garden Sunday afternoon
While a little chappie waves a golden wand
Rubber Band
In 1910 I was so handsome and so strong
My moustache was stiffly waxed and one foot long
And I loved a girl while you played teatime tunes
Dear Rubber Band, you're playing my tune out of tune, oh
Rubber Band
Won't you play a haunting theme again to me
While I eat my scones and drink my cup of tea
The sun is warm but it's a lonely afternoon
Oh, play that theme
Rubber Band
How I wish that I could join your Rubber Band
We could play in lively parks throughout the land
And one Sunday afternoon, I'd find my love
Rubber Band,
In the '14-'18 war I went to sea
Thought my Sunday love was waiting home for me
And now she's married to the leader of the band, oh
(spoken)
Oh sob... I hope you break your baton
The lyrics to David Bowie's song Rubber Band depict a casual Sunday afternoon in an idyllic library garden where a rubber band is playing tunes out of tune. The scene is brought to life with references to a little chappie who waves a golden wand, tea-time tunes being played, and the sun being warm on a lonely afternoon. The song continues with a story about a man who reminisces about his past; how in 1910, he was handsome and strong with a stiffly waxed one-foot-long mustache, and loved a girl while the rubber band played teatime tunes. But now, the rubber band is playing his tune out of tune, and he pleads with them to play a haunting theme again to him while he eats his scones and drinks his cup of tea.
As the song progresses, the man wishes he could join the rubber band and play in lively parks throughout the land. He dreams of a Sunday afternoon where he'll find his love. However, his fortunes take a turn for the worse when he reveals that in the '14-'18 war, he went to sea and thought his love was waiting for him at home. Sadly, he discovers she's now married to the leader of the band. The song ends with him sobbing and wishing ill on the rubber band.
The lyrics to Rubber Band are laced with nostalgia and vivid imagery depicting the different moods of the narrative. The song was written before David Bowie became a household name, and it gives the listener a glimpse of his songwriting prowess before he became famous. The song is often considered one of the lesser-known gems of his repertoire.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a rubber band that plays tunes out of tune
A rubber band is playing songs with unmelodious tunes in the library garden on a Sunday afternoon.
While a little chappie waves a golden wand
A small boy is waving a wand in the air while the rubber band is playing.
In 1910 I was so handsome and so strong
The singer recalls his youthful days when he was attractive and fit in the year 1910.
My moustache was stiffly waxed and one foot long
In 1910, the artist had a long, stiffly waxed mustache that was one foot long.
And I loved a girl while you played teatime tunes
The artist reminisces about his past love for a girl while the rubber band played their music in the background.
Dear Rubber Band, you're playing my tune out of tune, oh
The singer addresses the rubber band, telling them they're playing his melody incorrectly.
Won't you play a haunting theme again to me
The singer asks the rubber band to play a melancholic melody for him once more.
While I eat my scones and drink my cup of tea
The artist describes his current activity of having tea and scones while the rubber band continues to play.
The sun is warm but it's a lonely afternoon
Despite the warmth of the sun, the artist feels lonely on this Sunday afternoon.
Oh, play that theme
The artist implores the rubber band to continue playing the same musical theme.
How I wish that I could join your Rubber Band
The singer expresses a desire to be part of the rubber band and play music with them.
We could play in lively parks throughout the land
If he were part of the rubber band, they could perform in parks across the country.
And one Sunday afternoon, I'd find my love
On any given Sunday afternoon show, the singer might come across his true love.
In the '14-'18 war I went to sea
The singer recalls his experience at sea during World War I, between the years 1914-1918.
Thought my Sunday love was waiting home for me
During his deployment, the singer believed his girlfriend would be waiting for him when he returned home.
And now she's married to the leader of the band, oh
The woman he loved is now married to the band's leader, causing sadness and remorse for the artist.
Oh sob... I hope you break your baton
The artist expresses his frustration by wishing ill on the band's conductor, hoping he breaks his baton.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID BOWIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kadavrexqis
LYRICS:
Rubber band
There's a rubber band that plays tunes out of tune
In the library garden Sunday afternoon
While a little chappie waves a golden wand
Rubber band
In 1910 I was so handsome and so strong
My moustache was stiffly waxed and one foot long
And I loved a girl while you played teatime tunes
Dear Rubber band, you're playing my tunes out of tune, oh
Rubber band, Won't you play a haunting theme again to me
While I eat my scones and drink my cup of tea
The sun is warm but it's a lonely afternoon
Oh, play that theme
Rubber band
How I wish that I could join your Rubber band
We could play in lively parks throughout the land
And one Sunday afternoon I'd find my love
Rubber band
In '14-'18 war I went to sea
Thought my Sunday love was waiting home for me
And now she's married to the leader of the band, oh
Oh sob: I hope you break your baton
@noramehzad7008
Rubber band
There's a rubber band that plays tunes out of tune
In the library garden Sunday afternoon
While a little chappie waves a golden wand
Rubber band
In 1910 I was so handsome and so strong
My moustache was stiffly waxed and one foot long
And I loved a girl while you played teatime tunes
Dear Rubber band, you're playing my tunes out of tune, oh
Rubber band, Won't you play a haunting theme again to me
While I eat my scones and drink my cup
of tea
The sun is warm but it's a lonely afternoon
Oh, play that theme
Rubber band
How I wish that I could join your Rubber band
We could play in lively parks throughout the land
And one Sunday afternoon I'd find my love
Rubber band
In '14-'18 war I went to sea
Thought my Sunday love was waiting home for me
And now she's married to the leader of the band, oh
[spoken]
Oh sob: I hope you break your baton
@Nicholas-kt4ul
"Rubber Band"
David Bowie #DavidBowie
Rubber Band
There's a rubber band that plays tunes out of tune
In the library garden Sunday afternoon
While a little chappie waves a golden wand
Rubber Band
In 1910, I was so handsome and so strong
My moustache was stiffly waxed and one foot long
And I loved a girl while you played teatime tunes
Dear Rubber Band, you're playing my tune out of tune
Oh
Rubber Band
Won't you play a haunting theme again to me
While I eat my scones and drink my cup of tea?
The sun is warm but it's a lonely afternoon
(Oh, play that theme)
Rubber Band
How I wish that I could join your Rubber Band
We could play in lively parks throughout the land
And one Sunday afternoon, I'd find my love
Rubber Band
In the '14-'18 war I went to sea
Thought my Sunday love was waiting home for me
And now she's married to the leader of your band, oh
Oh yeah
I hope you break your baton
@angdata9371
Now is 2019, we are watching "Bowie in 1969 singing a track from 1966 setting in 1910"
What a time 🤣
@briannacampbell1758
Wtf, it's so awesome wait no, groovy
@spookyjeff2364
Who the fuck messing with the time machine
@angdata9371
Probably Tin Machine. I mean, they left a sly hint right in the name!
@josearmando9933
oof
@blackpooljock
If its set in 1910 how come hes singing about the 14-18 war (WW1). He's reminiscing about the past so it must have been set post Nov. 1918
@canadianstudmuffin
Always liked David Bowie a lot but in the past year he has become one of my all time favorite artists with even his least loved albums being superb to me.
@unknownpassenger4025
It's you!
@canadianstudmuffin
@The Subterranean I noticed myself too! 😁
@mr.bloodvessel260
Being dead always brings a surge in popularity!