Scary Monsters
David Bowie; Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

She had an horror of rooms she was tired you can't hide beat
When I looked in her eyes they were blue but nobody home
She could've been a killer if she didn't walk the way she do, and she do
She opened strange doors that we'd never close again

She began to wail jealousies scream
Waiting at the lights know what I mean
Scary monsters, super creeps
Keep me running, running scared
Scary monsters, super creeps
Keep me running, running scared

She asked me to stay and I stole her room
She asked for my love and I gave her a dangerous mind
Now she's stupid in the street and she can't socialise
Well I love the little girl and I'll love her till the day she dies

She wails
Jimmy's guitar sound jealousies scream
Waiting at the lights know what I mean

Scary monsters, super creeps
Keep me running, running scared
Scary monsters, super creeps
Keep me running, running scared

Scary monsters, super creeps
Keep me running, running scared
Scary monsters, super creeps
Keep me running, running scared

Oh oh woh-oh
Oh, oh-oh-oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh woh-oh
Oh, oh-oh-oh oh




Oh oh oh, oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Overall Meaning

"Scary Monsters" is a somewhat enigmatic song that seems to touch on themes of fear, isolation, and madness. The first few lines paint the picture of a woman who is exhausted and paranoid, having a horror of rooms and feeling like she can't hide. When the singer, presumably David Bowie, looks into her eyes, he sees emptiness and a lack of connection with reality. The woman is also described as having a dangerous energy that could have made her a killer, but she avoids going down that path.


The lyrics take a turn in the next verse, as the woman becomes jealous and starts to scream. The singer speaks of waiting at the lights, which might refer to being at a standstill in life or waiting for some kind of opportunity to arise. Throughout the song, there is a sense of being pursued or hunted by some kind of "scary monsters" or "super creeps," which keeps the singer running scared.


The song ends with an extended instrumental section that includes some wailing vocals and guitar sounds. The final repetition of "scary monsters, super creeps" is somewhat ominous and leaves the listener with a sense of uncertainty.


Overall, "Scary Monsters" seems to be exploring some dark and unsettling emotions, possibly related to mental illness or social alienation. The lyrics are open to interpretation, but it's clear that Bowie and Reznor were crafting a song that was both haunting and provocative.


Line by Line Meaning

She had an horror of rooms she was tired you can't hide beat
She had a fear of being confined in rooms and was exhausted from constantly hiding and avoiding danger.


When I looked in her eyes they were blue but nobody home
When I gazed into her gaze, I realized that she appeared vacant and detached, as if her mind was elsewhere.


She could've been a killer if she didn't walk the way she do, and she do
If she did not walk and move as she does, she could have had the potential to be a murderess.


She opened strange doors that we'd never close again
She introduced us to unfamiliar experiences and ways of thinking that we could never forget or unlearn.


She began to wail jealousies scream
Her bitter and insecure emotions erupted into an anguished scream.


Waiting at the lights know what I mean
We stood waiting for an indeterminate amount of time, unsure of what the future held or what awaited us at the next turn.


Scary monsters, super creeps
We encountered terrifying entities and malevolent beings that were beyond our understanding and comprehension.


Keep me running, running scared
These horrifying experiences motivated us to continue moving and avoiding danger, always fearful of what may come our way.


She asked me to stay and I stole her room
She requested my presence and I took advantage of her hospitality, claiming her space for myself.


She asked for my love and I gave her a dangerous mind
She desired my affection and I provided her with a harmful and unstable mentality.


Now she's stupid in the street and she can't socialise
She has been reduced to a foolish and socially inept state, unable to interact or communicate effectively with others.


Well I love the little girl and I'll love her till the day she dies
Despite the harm I caused her, I still care for her deeply and will continue to do so until the end of her life.


Jimmy's guitar sound jealousies scream
The sound of Jimmy's guitar elicited an envious and aggressive cry.


Oh oh woh-oh
This is a repeated lyrical phrase that does not have a specific meaning.


Oh, oh-oh-oh oh
This is a repeated lyrical phrase that does not have a specific meaning.


Oh oh oh, oh oh
This is a repeated lyrical phrase that does not have a specific meaning.


Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
This is a repeated lyrical phrase that does not have a specific meaning.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@jojo45180

[Verse 1]
She had an horror of rooms, she was tired, you can't hide beat
When I looked in her eyes, they were blue but nobody home
Well, she could've been a killer if she didn't walk the way she do
And she do
She opened strange doors that we'd never close again

[Pre-Chorus]
She began to wail jealousy's scream
Waiting at the lights, know what I mean

[Chorus]
Scary monsters, super creeps
Keep me running, running scared
Scary monsters, super creeps
Keep me running, running scared

[Verse 2]
She asked me to stay and I stole her room
She asked for my love and I gave her a dangerous mind
Now she's stupid in the street and she can't socialise
Well, I love the little girl and I'll love her till the day she dies

[Pre-Chorus]
She wails Jimmy's guitar sound, jealousy's scream
Waiting at the lights, know what I mean

[Chorus]
Scary monsters, super creeps
Keep me running, running scared
Scary monsters and super creeps
Keep me running, running scared

[Chorus]
Scary monsters and super creeps
Keep me running, running scared
Scary monsters and super creeps
Keep me running, running scared

[Chorus]
Scary monsters and super creeps
Keep me running, running scared
Scary monsters and super creeps
Keep me running, running scared








PS: I'm a JoJo's fan too, btw...



@Kabedik

She had an horror of rooms
She was tired you can't hide beat
When I looked in her eyes
They were blue, but nobody home
She could've been a killer
If she didn't walk the way she do, and she do
She opened strange doors
That we'd never close again

She began to wail jealousies scream
Waiting at the light know what I mean

Scary monsters, and super creeps
Keep me running, running scared
Scary monsters, and super creeps
Keep me running, running scared

She asked me to stay and I stole her room
She asked for my love
And I gave her a dangerous mind
Now she's stupid in the street
And she can't socialize
Well I love the little girl
And I'll love her till the day she dies

She wails
Jimmy's guitar sound jealousies scream
Waiting at the light know what I mean

Scary monsters, and super creeps
Keep me running, running scared
Scary monsters, and super creeps
Keep me running, running scared

Scary monsters, and super creeps
Keep me running, running scared
Scary monsters, and super creeps
Keep me running, running scared

Oh oh woh-oh
Oh, oh-oh-oh oh
Oh oh oh, oh oh



All comments from YouTube:

@jimbo1288

This song truly means the world to me.

@SillyGoofyAHHHHHH

I cant even tell if this is a jojo reference or not at this point 💀💀💀

@sussyimpostor6158

Serious question, is this a Jojo reference?

@Birds_In_Crime

​​@@sussyimpostor6158o. Op just really likes this song

However his pfp might be one....
Nah
Or maybe...
Nah...
Just maybe though....
No
Or perhaps...

@eduard_efra

​@Sussy Impostor they have a playlist with Jojo's videos so i'm going to guess that it is

@ChainikVlad

Too bad, certain man already sold za warudo

@IRaul

this song is wild , absolutely infectious , it is forever fossilized in music history!

@Raltze_

you know what else is fossilized… dinosaurs, and you know who else is a dinosaur. not someone names diego brando……$47:!;$48;810:7482&.!Jeifisjehfiid

@Filthyacts69420

Hehe

@michaelgwyndavies2827

this song is just bonkers. not unlike the man himself I guess. I grew up with this man you now from ziggy to the duke and then well I just went back to the Station. in Berlin you now just traveling to see the man standing and then pointing with one arm and then the other, I am talking about Station to Station, do you believe in things that may keep you awake at night. or is it just something that your grand mother told you just to keep you awake at night.

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