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)
Because You're Young
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Come out to play
Little metal faced-boy
Don't stay away
They're so war-torn and resigned
She can't talk anymore
What are they trying to prove?
What would they like to find?
It's love back to front and no sides (like I say)
These pieces are broken (like I say)
These pieces are broken (oh, no, no, no, no, no)
Because you're young
You'll meet a stranger some night
Because you're young
What could be nicer for you?
And it makes me sad
So I'll dance my life away
A million dreams, a million scars
He punishes hard
Was loving her such a crime?
She took back everything she said
Left him nearly out of his mind
They're people I know, people I love
They seem so unhappy
Dead or alive
It's love back to front and no sides (like I say)
These pieces are broken (like I say)
These pieces are broken (oh, no, no, no)
Because you're young
You'll meet a stranger some night
Because you're young
What could be nicer for you?
And it'll makes me sad
So I'll dance my life away
A million dreams, a million scars
A million dreams
A million scars
A million
A million dreams
A million dreams
A million
A million
A million
A million
The lyrics of David Bowie's song "Because You're Young" are enigmatic and full of symbolism. The opening lines describe a "psychodelicate girl" and a "little metal faced-boy," two characters that illustrate the vulnerability and isolation of youth. The war-torn and resigned atmosphere suggests a world of conflict and confusion, where communication and meaningful relationships are difficult to achieve. The question "what are they trying to prove? what would they like to find?" hints at the existential angst and search for identity that people experience in their formative years.
The chorus highlights the contrast between the optimism and the sadness of youth. The line "because you're young, you'll meet a stranger some night, what could be nicer for you?" implies the excitement and adventure of encountering new people and experiences. However, the following line "and it makes me sad, so I'll dance my life away, a million dreams, a million scars" suggests that this joy is fleeting and comes at a cost. The repetition of "a million dreams, a million scars" emphasizes the bittersweet nature of youth, with its limitless potential and inevitable disappointments.
The final verse tells the story of a couple that is torn apart by the harsh realities of life. The line "he punishes hard, was loving her such a crime?" suggests that the man is abusive and controlling, taking out his frustrations on the woman he claims to love. The woman eventually leaves him, but the damage has already been done. The last lines "they're people I know, people I love, they seem so unhappy, dead or alive" convey the sadness and nostalgia of looking back on one's youth and the people who have been lost along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
Psychodelicate girl
A fragile girl, who may be prone to experiencing hallucinations or unusual thoughts
Come out to play
Step out of your comfort zone and experience new things
Little metal faced-boy
A young boy with a tough exterior, potentially masking vulnerability or emotion
Don't stay away
Don't be afraid to engage and interact with others
They're so war-torn and resigned
These people have been through hardship and struggle, and may feel defeated or hopeless
She can't talk anymore
Unable to express her thoughts or feelings, potentially due to trauma or psychological distress
What are they trying to prove?
Questioning the motives behind the actions of those around us
What would they like to find?
Wondering what others hope to achieve or discover
It's love back to front and no sides (like I say)
Love can be complicated and confusing, with no clear direction or solution
These pieces are broken (like I say)
The situation or relationship is beyond repair or has already suffered irreparable damage
These pieces are broken (oh, no, no, no, no, no)
Emphasizing the irreparable nature of the damage or loss
Because you're young
Being young can make you more susceptible to experiencing new things and taking risks
You'll meet a stranger some night
You never know who you might meet or what experiences you may have
What could be nicer for you?
Implying that the meeting of a stranger could lead to exciting, positive experiences
And it makes me sad
Reflecting on the fact that others' positive experiences can sometimes affect us negatively
So I'll dance my life away
Using dancing as a coping mechanism or distraction from negative emotions
A million dreams, a million scars
One can have many hopes and aspirations, but also many disappointments and wounds
He punishes hard
The man in question is harsh or severe in his treatment of others
Was loving her such a crime?
Questioning the validity or fairness of a relationship being punished or criticized by others
She took back everything she said
The woman in question reneged on promises or statements she made previously
Left him nearly out of his mind
The man in question is severely affected by the recent events or experiences
They're people I know, people I love
These situations involve those who are significant to the artist, and therefore have a personal impact
They seem so unhappy
The singer perceives a sense of discontent or sadness in those around them
Dead or alive
Whether someone is physically present or not, their impact can still be felt in one's life
A million
An abundance or multitude of something
A million dreams
Numerous aspirations, hopes and ambitions
A million scars
Countless emotional wounds or negative experiences
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID BOWIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
bully hunter
Psychodelicate girl
Come out to play
Little metal faced-boy
Don't stay away
They're so war-torn and resigned
She can't talk anymore
What are they trying to prove?
What would they like to find?
It's love back to front and no sides (like I say)
These pieces are broken (like I say)
These pieces are broken (oh, no, no, no, no, no)
Because you're young
You'll meet a stranger some night
Because you're young
What could be nicer for you?
And it makes me sad
So I'll dance my life away
A million dreams, a million scars
He punishes hard
Was loving her such a crime?
She took back everything she said
Left him nearly out of his mind
They're people I know, people I love
They seem so unhappy
Dead or alive
It's love back to front and no sides (like I say)
These pieces are broken (like I say)
These pieces are broken (oh, no, no, no)
Because you're young
You'll meet a stranger some night
Because you're young
What could be nicer for you?
And it'll makes me sad
So I'll dance my life away
A million dreams, a million scars
A million dreams
A million scars
A million
A million dreams
A million dreams
A million
A million
A million
A million
Andy2018 Wat
I loved the singles Fashion and Ashes to Ashes when they came out, but it took many more years to appreciate the brilliance of the Scary Monsters album. Better late than never.
gardini100
i like to think Bowie was a little ahead in time , song i found weird during the 90s sounds great to day
sal economos
Was in the same undecided boat on its arrival.
Not sure of the music when I first heard it except for the singles..
Its sounding much better today.
stephen fermoyle
it is interesting how so many BOWIE SONGS that never got released are true gems.
Rob Tyman
Agree. Think this track should have been a single.....maybe should have been released before Ashes to Ashes ...in other words the lead single from Scary Monsters.
stephen fermoyle
teenage wildlife
Michaela Scanlon
One of David Bowie's best tracks, full of life and melody.
Alison Shenton
YES AND I LOVE LOVE LOVE IT ❤️❤️🦋🌈 RIP DAVID BOWIE SLEEP WELL STARMAN
Bobby Delacroix
It took years to make the decision, but I finally consider Scary Monsters to be his best album. Every song is amazing and way ahead of it’s time. The guitar work by Fripp and Townsend add so much character to this stage of Bowie’s sound 🙌
Steven Mcgihon
I did it today.