Bowie developed an interest in music from an early age. He studied art, music and design before embarking on a professional career as a musician in 1963. "Space Oddity", released in 1969, was his first top-five entry on the UK Singles Chart. After a period of experimentation, he re-emerged in 1972 during the glam rock era with his flamboyant and androgynous alter ego Ziggy Stardust. The character was spearheaded by the success of Bowie's single "Starman" and album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, which won him widespread popularity. In 1975, Bowie's style shifted towards a sound he characterised as "plastic soul", initially alienating many of his UK fans but garnering him his first major US crossover success with the number-one single "Fame" and the album Young Americans. In 1976, Bowie starred in the cult film The Man Who Fell to Earth and released Station to Station. In 1977, he again changed direction with the electronic-inflected album Low, the first of three collaborations with Brian Eno that came to be known as the "Berlin Trilogy". "Heroes" (1977) and Lodger (1979) followed; each album reached the UK top five and received lasting critical praise.
After uneven commercial success in the late 1970s, Bowie had three number-one hits: the 1980 single "Ashes to Ashes", its album Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps), and "Under Pressure" (a 1981 collaboration with Queen). He achieved massive commercial success in the 1980s starting with Let's Dance (1983). Between 1988 and 1992, he fronted the hard rock band Tin Machine before resuming his solo career in 1993. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bowie continued to experiment with musical styles, including industrial and jungle. He also continued acting; his roles included Major Jack Celliers in Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence (1983), Jareth the Goblin King in Labyrinth (1986), Pontius Pilate in The Last Temptation of Christ (1988), and Nikola Tesla in The Prestige (2006), among other film and television appearances and cameos. He stopped touring after 2004 and his last live performance was at a charity event in 2006. In 2013, Bowie returned from a decade-long recording hiatus with The Next Day. He remained musically active until his death from liver cancer at his home in New York City. He died two days after both his 69th birthday and the release of his final album, Blackstar (2016).
During his lifetime, his record sales, estimated at over 100 million records worldwide, made him one of the best-selling musicians of all time. In the UK, he was awarded ten platinum, eleven gold and eight silver album certifications, and released 11 number-one albums. In the US, he received five platinum and nine gold certifications. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Rolling Stone ranked him among the greatest artists in history. As of 2022, Bowie was the best-selling vinyl artist of the 21st century.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Bowie
Studio albums
David Bowie (1967)
David Bowie/Space Oddity (1969)
The Man Who Sold the World (1970)
Hunky Dory (1971)
The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars (1972)
Aladdin Sane (1973)
Pin Ups (1973)
Diamond Dogs (1974)
Young Americans (1975)
Station to Station (1976)
Low (1977)
"Heroes" (1977)
Lodger (1979)
Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980)
Let's Dance (1983)
Tonight (1984)
Never Let Me Down (1987)
Black Tie White Noise (1993)
The Buddha of Suburbia (1993)
Outside (1995)
Earthling (1997)
Hours (1999)
Heathen (2002)
Reality (2003)
The Next Day (2013)
Blackstar (2016)
07 The pretty things are going
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What to say
What to do on a sunny day
Who to phone
Who to fight
Who to dance with on a Sunday night
Reaching the very edge, you know
I'm going to the other side this time
Reaching the very edge
You're still breathing but you don't know why
Life's a bit and sometimes you die
You're still breathing but you just can't tell
Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell
I am a drug
I am a dragon
I am the best jazz you've ever seen
I am a dragon
I am the sky
I am the blood at the corner of your eye
I found the secrets, I found gold
I find you out before you grow old
I find you out before you grow old
What is eternal?
What is damned?
What is clay and what is sand?
Who to diss?
Who to trust?
Who to listen to?
Who to sus?
I'm reaching the very edge, you know
I'm reaching the very edge
I'm going to the other side this time
I'm reaching the very edge
You're still breathing but you don't know why
Life's a bit and sometimes you die
You're still breathing but you just can't tell
Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell
I am a dragon
I am a drug
I am the best jazz you've ever heard
I am a dragon
I am the sky
I am the blood at the corner of your eye
I found the secrets, I found gold
I find you out before you grow old
I find you out before you grow old
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
(Yes, ah)
The pretty things are going to hell
They wore it out but they wore it well
Still breathing but you don't know why
Still breathing but you just can't tell
Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell
In "The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell," David Bowie delves into the human need for guidance and direction in life. The first verse, "What to do/What to say/What to wear on a sunny day/Who to phone/Who to fight/Who to dance with on a Sunday night," sets up the confusion and uncertainty that comes with making choices in life. The next verse highlights the need for something eternal, something that can't be taken away, "What is eternal?/What is damned?/What is clay and what is sand?/Who to dis?/Who to truss?/Who to listen to?/Who to suss?" The chorus brings in a sense of impending doom, "You're still breathing but you don't know why/Life's a bit and sometimes you die/You're still breathing but you just can't tell/Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell."
Bowie then takes on the role of a guide or drug, someone who can help others navigate life, "I am a drug/I am a dragon/I am the best jazz you've ever seen/I am a dragon/I am the sky/I am the blood at the corner of your eye." He claims to have found the secrets and is able to "find you out before you grow old." The repetition of "I am a dragon" emphasizes the power and strength Bowie is embodying.
Ultimately, "The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell" is a commentary on the fleeting nature of beauty and material things, and the importance of finding something deeper and eternal to hold onto in the face of an uncertain world.
Line by Line Meaning
What to do
Uncertainty of what actions to take
What to say
Uncertainty of what words to speak
What to wear on a sunny day
Uncertainty of what outfit to adorn on a sunny day
Who to phone
Undecided on who to call
Who to fight
Uncertainty of who to engage with in combat
Who to dance with on a Sunday night
Undecided on who to dance with on a Sunday night
Reaching the very edge, you know
Approaching a precarious situation
Reaching the very edge
Close to a critical moment
Going to the other side this time
Crossing a threshold, entering a new phase of life
You're still breathing but you don't know why
Life feels meaningless or devoid of purpose
Life's a bit and sometimes you die
Life is temporary and unpredictable
You're still breathing but you just can't tell
Uncertainty about existence
Don't hold your breath but the pretty things are going to hell
Things may look good on the surface but they are deteriorating beneath it
I am a drug
I have a strong effect on people
I am a dragon
I am powerful and fierce
I am the best jazz you've ever seen
I am impressive and unique
I am the sky
I am endless and expanse
I am the blood at the corner of your eye
I signify pain, injury, or death
I found the secrets, I found gold
I have uncovered hidden information or wealth
I find you out before you grow old
I discover the truth about people before they age
What is eternal?
Contemplation of the concept of eternity
What is damned?
Questioning what is condemned or cursed
What is clay and what is sand?
Pondering the differences between materials
Who to dis?
Deciding who to discredit or scorn
Who to truss?
Deciding who to trust and depend on
Who to listen to?
Determining who to take advice or guidance from
Who to suss?
Deciding who to scrutinize carefully
They wore it out but they wore it well
Something has been used excessively but was effective
Lyrics Β© Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Bowie, Reeves Gabrels
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mazoku
Such an underrated song. This is also probably the most 90s sounding song Bowie ever madeπ
Viola
He was pure presence and had a great band, love it
peta james
music just doesn't get any better than Bowie! awesome songs x
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Crimson Kng
I love David Bowie's music. Plus, he's so cool.
andrea salvi
This is the time of the switch between Gabrels and Plati, basically. The band was put together for the brief Hours tour and is the seed of what will become Bowies's definitive band in the next years, which will turn out to be one of the very best he ever had. Sterling Campbell, Garson, Plati and Gail-Ann are all there, the finishing touch will be Earl Slick. This song, boy... I can't get it out of my mind, it's pure DavidReeves, wicked, sneering, brutal, totally awesome, even if, I have to agree with a few comments here, this performance sounds a little subsided.
Scoobydoonut
This is great, I just love it. David is just wonderful as always. :)
Keith Rose
Gail with that bass line in Cracked Actor. This band is awesome.
Major Tom Ashes to ashes
π
Sylvi Jeffery
Great Performance!! Loved his 1999hair....