Cat People
´óÎÀ.±«ÒÁ(David Bowie) Lyrics
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I can stare for a thousand years
Colder than the moon
Well, it's been so long
And I've been running on fire
With gasoline
Red like jungle burning bright
Those who feel me near
Pull the blinds and change their minds
It's been so long
Still this pulsing night
A plague I call a heartbeat
Just be still with me
But you wouldn't believe what I've been through
You've been so long, well, it's been so long
And I've been putting out the fire with gasoline
Putting out the fire with gasoline
See these tears so blue
An ageless heart that can never mend
Tears can never dry
A judgement made can never bend
See these eyes so green
I can stare for a thousand years
Just be still with me
You wouldn't believe what I've been through
Well you've been so long, it's been so long
And I've been putting out fire with gasoline
Putting out fire with gasoline
Putting out fire
I've been putting out fire
Well it's been so long, so long, so long
Yes it's been so long, so long, so long
I've been putting out fire
Been so long, so long, so long
Been so long, so long, so long
Been so long, so long, so long
...
The song "Cat People" by David Bowie is a slow-burning, moody track that uses vivid imagery to explore the troubled mind of someone who has experienced great trauma. The opening stanza describes the eyes of the singer as "so green" and capable of staring for a thousand years, suggesting a deep weariness and exhaustion. The coldness of the moon is used to contrast this weariness, suggesting a desire for distance and isolation. What follows is a confession that the singer has been "running on fire with gasoline," implying that they're trapped in a cycle of self-destruction.
The next verse sees the singer dive deeper into their pain, describing their eyes as "so red" and comparing them to a jungle burning bright. Those who can feel the singer's presence are said to "pull the blinds and change their minds," suggesting that the singer's pain is as contagious as it is overwhelming. The pulsing night is compared to a plague that the singer calls a heartbeat, hinting at a sense of futility and hopelessness. Finally, the singer offers the listener the chance to "just be still with me," acknowledging that their experience may be hard to understand.
The final verse is a reflection on the nature of trauma and pain. The tears in the singer's eyes are "so blue," suggesting that the pain they feel is ageless and has endured for a long time. A judgement made can never bend, indicating that the singer has been judged and found wanting by others. Nevertheless, the singer invites the listener once again to be still with them, even as they continue to put out the fire with gasoline.
Line by Line Meaning
See these eyes so green
I can stare for a thousand years
Colder than the moon
Well, it's been so long
My eyes are piercing and cold, like I've been staring into the abyss for centuries. It's been so long since I've felt warmth or companionship.
And I've been running on fire
With gasoline
I've been living on the edge, balancing danger and passion like trying to run while on fire. It's reckless and dangerous, but also thrilling.
See these eyes so red
Red like jungle burning bright
Those who feel me near
Pull the blinds and change their minds
It's been so long
My intense presence and fierce passion can be overwhelming, causing those around me to shut me out or change their minds about being close to me. It's been so long since I've been able to connect with someone.
Still this pulsing night
A plague I call a heartbeat
Just be still with me
But you wouldn't believe what I've been through
You've been so long, well, it's been so long
And I've been putting out the fire with gasoline
Putting out the fire with gasoline
My heart is like a disease that won't let me rest. But if you could just be with me without judgment, you wouldn't believe the pain and trauma I've experienced. And yet, I keep trying to extinguish my troubles with dangerous and self-destructive habits.
See these tears so blue
An ageless heart that can never mend
Tears can never dry
A judgement made can never bend
My heart is broken beyond repair, and my tears will never fully wash away the pain. And once someone has judged me or made assumptions about me, it feels impossible to change their perceptions.
See these eyes so green
I can stare for a thousand years
Just be still with me
You wouldn't believe what I've been through
Well you've been so long, it's been so long
And I've been putting out fire with gasoline
Putting out fire with gasoline
If only someone could look into my eyes and truly connect with me, they would understand the depth of my pain and struggle. But it's been so long since I've found that connection, and I keep trying to use reckless and destructive behaviors to numb my pain.
Putting out fire
I've been putting out fire
Well it's been so long, so long, so long
Yes it's been so long, so long, so long
I've been putting out fire
Been so long, so long, so long
Been so long, so long, so long
Been so long, so long, so long
I keep trying to put out the fire of my pain and trauma, but it's been so long that I've forgotten how to do it in a healthy way. And the longer I try to ignore or numb my pain, the harder it becomes to break free.
Contributed by Gavin A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.