David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally… Read Full Bio ↴David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie, was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, and his music and stagecraft had a significant impact on popular music.

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)

Beat of Your Drum
David Bowie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Photograph king, watches you go
Fashions may change, heaven knows, but you still leave a stain on me

Supplement queen, your colours may fade
Seasons may change, weather blows, but you still leave a mark on me

Wrong-negative fades-never the twain, reckless and tame

I like the beat of your drum
I like to look in your eyes
I like to look through your things
I'd like to beat on your drum

I like the smell of your flesh
I like the dirt that you dish
I like the clothes that you wear
I'd like to beat on your drum

Disco brat-follow the pack
Watching you peel, heaven knows, prison can't hold all this greedy intention

Vanity's child-picture you now
Music may change-hi-di-ho keen to follow your nose

Wrong-love out of tune
Sweet is the night, bright light destroys me

I like the beat of your drum
I like to look in your eyes
I like to look through your things
I'd like to beat on your drum

I like the smell of your flesh
I like the dirt that you dish
I like the clothes that you wear
I'd like to beat on your drum

I'd like to beat on your drum
I'd like to beat on your drum
I like your face in the crowd
I'd like to beat on your drum

I'd like to beat on your drum
I'd like to beat on your drum

I'd like to blow on your horn
I'd like to beat on your drum

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to David Bowie's "Beat of Your Drum" seem to be about a certain fascination with someone, particularly their physical presence and the impact they leave on the singer. The first verse addresses the person directly, referring to them as a "photograph king" and a "supplement queen," mentioning that they leave a "stain" and a "mark" on the singer, respectively. This idea of the person leaving a physical mark on the singer is reinforced throughout the song.

The chorus expresses the singer's interest in the person's "beat," their eyes, their possessions, and their flesh. It seems to be an intense desire to be close to the person and experience the things that make them unique, including their scent, their style, and their physicality. The second verse refers to the person as a "disco brat" and a "vanity's child," describing them as someone who follows trends and is caught up in their own image. The lyrics express a sense of admiration mixed with a kind of wariness or hesitation, as the singer seems to acknowledge the potential dangers of becoming too involved with this person.

Overall, "Beat of Your Drum" is a song about the allure of a particular individual, the way they leave an impression on the singer, and the desire to be close to them. It's a relatively straightforward message, but Bowie's lyrics and the unique blend of musical elements in the song give it a distinctly creative and adventurous feel.

Line by Line Meaning

Photograph king, watches you go
You are being observed by someone of great influence, and they are keeping a close eye on you as you leave.

Fashions may change, heaven knows, but you still leave a stain on me
Even though time moves forward and trends change, your impact and presence still affects me deeply and leaves a lasting impression.

Supplement queen, your colours may fade
You may not have everything you need, but you make up for it with your own unique qualities and traits.

Seasons may change, weather blows, but you still leave a mark on me
External circumstances may shift and change, but your presence and influence on me remains constant and significant.

Wrong-negative fades-never the twain, reckless and tame
There is a contrast between what may be considered right and wrong, and sometimes acting impulsively or unpredictably can lead to both negative and positive outcomes.

I like the beat of your drum
I am drawn to your unique rhythm and style.

I like to look in your eyes
I am captivated by your gaze and the emotions it conveys.

I like to look through your things
I am curious about your personal life and the things that define you.

I'd like to beat on your drum
I want to be a part of your world and contribute to your unique rhythm and style.

I like the smell of your flesh
Your natural scent is intoxicating and alluring to me.

I like the dirt that you dish
Your mischievous or rebellious behavior is intriguing and exciting to me.

I like the clothes that you wear
Your fashion choices reflect your personality and individuality, which I find attractive and interesting.

Disco brat-follow the pack
You are part of a younger, trendy generation that follows the latest pop culture trends.

Watching you peel, heaven knows, prison can't hold all this greedy intention
I am closely observing how you navigate through life, and it seems that nothing can contain your ambition and desire for success.

Vanity's child-picture you now
You have a certain vanity or self-importance about you, which is evident in your appearance and demeanor.

Music may change-hi-di-ho keen to follow your nose
You are heavily influenced by contemporary music trends and follow them closely.

Wrong-love out of tune
Your love or desire for someone or something may not fit the traditional or expected mold.

Sweet is the night, bright light destroys me
The night and its pleasures are tempting and alluring, but the harsh reality of daybreak can be overwhelming and exhausting.

I'd like to beat on your drum
Repeating this line emphasizes the singer's desire to be a part of the subject's world and contribute to their unique rhythm and style.

I like your face in the crowd
Even among all the noise and chaos of the world, the subject's presence stands out and captivates the artist.

I'd like to blow on your horn
This line echoes the desire expressed earlier in the song to contribute and amplify the subject's unique sound and style.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID BOWIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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