Alabama Song
David Bowie Lyrics


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Oh, show me the way to the next whiskey bar
Oh, don't ask why, no, don't ask why
For we must find the next whiskey bar

Or if we don't find the next whiskey bar
I tell you we must die, I tell you we must die
I tell you, I tell you, I tell you we must die
Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have whiskey or you know why

Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have whiskey or you know why

Oh, show us the way to the next little dollar
Oh, don't ask why, oh, don't ask why
For we must find the next little dollar

Or if we don't find the next little dollar
I tell you we must die, I tell you we must die
I tell you, I tell you, I tell you we must die

Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have dollar or you know why

Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have dollar or you know why

Oh, show us the way to the next little girl
Oh, don't ask why, no, don't ask why
For we must find the next little girl

Or if we don't find the next little girl
I tell you we must die, I tell you we must die
I tell you, I tell you, I tell you we must die

Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have little girl or you know why

Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say auf Wiedersehen
We've lost our good old mama




And must have little girl or you know why
You know why, you know why

Overall Meaning

"Alabama Song" is a song composed by Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill in 1927 for their opera, "Mahagonny." It was later popularized by David Bowie in 1978. The song is about the desperation of alcoholics and the lengths they will go to acquire their next drink. The singer pleads with the moon of Alabama to guide him to the next whiskey bar, little dollar, and little girl. The urgency is heightened by the repeated declaration that if they don't find what they're looking for, they will die.


The song is a commentary on the excesses of capitalism and the desperation that drives people to seek out the pleasures that it promises. The repeated refrain of "don't ask why" suggests that the characters are not even sure why they are doing what they are doing, but they feel compelled to continue nonetheless. The song also explores the themes of loss and the desire for escape, with the repeated reference to the loss of their "good old mama."


The song's haunting melody and melancholy lyrics make it a powerful commentary on the struggles of addiction and the allure of escapism. Bowie's version is an iconic interpretation of the song, and his unique vocal inflections add an extra layer of emotion to the already poignant lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, show me the way to the next whiskey bar
We are in dire need of alcohol as it is the only thing that can provide us solace.


Oh, don't ask why, no, don't ask why
The reason for our need for alcohol is not important, we just need it.


For we must find the next whiskey bar
Our survival depends on finding the next place to get our fix.


Or if we don't find the next whiskey bar
If we fail in our mission to find alcohol, we will not be able to go on living.


I tell you we must die, I tell you we must die
Without alcohol, we will not be able to continue living and thus will face death.


Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say goodbye
We acknowledge that we must part ways and leave Alabama behind.


We've lost our good old mama
We have lost a nurturing figure and feel lost without them.


And must have whiskey or you know why
We need whiskey in order to forget our troubles and move on with our lives.


Oh, show us the way to the next little dollar
We need money to acquire alcohol and survive.


For we must find the next little dollar
Our future depends on finding a way to get money, even if it means struggling.


Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say auf Wiedersehen
We are leaving Alabama behind and moving on, saying goodbye for now.


And must have little girl or you know why
We need human connection and intimacy, something to help us through our troubles.


You know why, you know why
The reason we need alcohol, money, and intimacy is deeply personal and does not need to be explained to anyone.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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