When the Wind Blows
David Bowie; Lyrics
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Made in a bar at the railway station,
And there's a story, a kind of fable,
On a card at the corner table.
On it is a message; been there some time.
It starts of, "The coffee tasted so fine"
It says, "One day, this may find you,
We sat here together just to pass time;
You said how the coffee tasted so fine."
It goes on to say, "I love you
If you should find this I must hear from you."
It gives a number but the name has faded away.
All that is left are just the words, "Maybe someday"
That's the story and the fable;
Never leave alone from a corner table.
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo.
Doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo doo doo doo.
The lyrics to David Bowie's song "When the Wind Blows" describe a story of a chance encounter between two people at a railway station bar. The singer discovers a card on a table, which has been there for some time, and reads a message on it. The message is a kind of fable that says if you find this card, it means you were meant to see it. The singer shares the story of the chance encounter with the reader and explains the message further. The message is a declaration of love from an unknown person to someone they met at the bar. The singer encourages the reader never to leave alone from a corner table, suggesting that life is full of unexpected opportunities.
The lyrics of "When the Wind Blows" are open to interpretation, but overall they seem to convey a message about the importance of seizing life's opportunities and taking risks. The chance encounter at the bar represents an opportunity for love, and the singer advises the reader to be open to similar experiences. The fable is also a reminder that seemingly random occurrences may have greater significance than initially assumed. The message on the card suggests that fate or destiny might be at work, and that there may be connections between individuals that are meant to be discovered.
Overall, "When the Wind Blows" is a thought-provoking song that inspires reflection on life's missed opportunities and unexpected connections. Bowie's lyrics convey a sense of wonder and possibility, encouraging listeners to embrace life's mysteries and seize the day.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a full time reservation
Someone has reserved a spot in the bar at the railway station on a permanent basis.
Made in a bar at the railway station,
The reservation was made specifically in the bar located in the railway station.
And there's a story, a kind of fable,
The singer proceeds to tell a tale, like a fable, that is associated with this reservation.
On a card at the corner table.
The message of the fable is written down on a card at the corner table of the bar.
On it is a message; been there some time.
The card contains a message that has been there for a while.
It starts off, "The coffee tasted so fine"
The message on the card starts with the singer recounting how great the coffee tasted.
It says, "One day, this may find you,
The note continues with a message directed at someone who may find it in the future.
These few words may remind you.
The few words written on the card may jog the recipient's memory.
We sat here together just to pass time;
The artist and someone else sat together at the table of the bar, possibly having a conversation just to kill time.
You said how the coffee tasted so fine."
During this conversation, the recipient of the card complimented on how great the coffee tasted.
It goes on to say, "I love you
The message then takes a romantic turn, with the writer declaring their love to the recipient.
If you should find this I must hear from you."
The writer makes it clear that they want to hear from the recipient if they happen to come across the message in the future.
It gives a number but the name has faded away.
The card contains a phone number that has been worn out, but the recipient can still make out the digits.
All that is left are just the words, "Maybe someday"
The message on the card ends with the sentiment that perhaps one day, the recipient and writer can be together again.
That's the story and the fable;
The singer reiterates that this is a story and a fable meant to impart some sort of lesson or message.
Never leave alone from a corner table.
The lesson being that one should never leave alone from a table located in the corner of a bar, possibly because there's a chance for love and romance in the air.
Doo doo doo doo, doo doo doo doo.
The song ends with a simple melody, possibly to allow the listener to ruminate on the fable and its meaning.
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