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)

Big Brother
David Bowie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Don't talk of dust and roses
Or should we powder our noses?
Don't live for last year's capers
Give me steel, give me steel, give me pulses unreal

He'll build a glass asylum
With just a hint of mayhem
He'll build a better whirlpool

We'll be living from sin, then we can really begin

Please savior, savior, show us
Hear me, I'm graphically yours

Someone to claim us, someone to follow
Someone to shame us, some brave Apollo
Someone to fool us, someone like you

We want you Big Brother, Big Brother

I know you think you're awful square
But you made everyone and you've been every where
Lord, I think you'd overdose if you knew what's going down

Someone to claim us, someone to follow
Someone to shame us, some brave Apollo
Someone to fool us, someone like you
Someone to claim us, someone to follow
Someone to shame us, some brave Apollo
Someone to fool, someone like you
Someone to claim us, someone to follow
Someone to shame us, some brave Apollo
Someone to fool, someone like you

We want you Big Brother

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of David Bowie's "Big Brother" song are an interesting and powerful commentary on society's obsession with powerful figures who can supposedly save us from our own problems. The opening lines of "Don't talk of dust and roses, Or should we powder our noses? Don't live for last year's capers," imply a disdain for the frivolous things in life and a desire for something more. The repetition of "Give me steel, give me steel, give me pulses unreal," seems to suggest a desire for something strong and unyielding, something that can't be easily manipulated or swayed.

The song then delves into the concept of a "Big Brother," someone who can guide and protect us from the dangers of the world. The line "He'll build a glass asylum, With just a hint of mayhem" brings to mind images of an all-powerful, shadowy figure who can control everything from behind the scenes. The repeated pleas for help from a "savior" and a desire for someone to "claim us, someone to follow" show the desperation of people to find someone to lead and protect them.

The lyrics of "Big Brother" are an intense commentary on the dangers of blindly following powerful figures and the urge to seek safety and security in the arms of a strong leader. At the same time, the lyrical repetition of certain phrases, along with the hypnotic music, create a sense of urgency and need. Bowie was known for his thought-provoking lyrics, and this song is a perfect example of his ability to create a thought-provoking and powerful message through music.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't talk of dust and roses
Don't speak of nostalgia and romanticism

Or should we powder our noses?
Are we supposed to engage in frivolous activities?

Don't live for last year's capers
Don't dwell on past experiences

Give me steel, give me steel, give me pulses unreal
I want something with strength and vitality that's beyond ordinary

He'll build a glass asylum
Big Brother seeks to contain and control us through a transparent facade

With just a hint of mayhem
There will be chaos and disorder within the system

He'll build a better whirlpool
Big Brother wants to trap us in a cycle of self-destruction

We'll be living from sin, then we can really begin
Once we are bound by our transgressions, Big Brother will have complete power over us

Please savior, savior, show us
Big Brother is worshiped as a deity and is begged for guidance

Hear me, I'm graphically yours
People will do anything for Big Brother's attention

Someone to claim us, someone to follow
We want someone to lead us and give us purpose

Someone to shame us, some brave Apollo
We want someone to hold us accountable and inspire us like a god

Someone to fool us, someone like you
We are willing to be deceived and controlled by someone like Big Brother

We want you Big Brother, Big Brother
We desire to be a part of Big Brother's regime

I know you think you're awful square
You consider yourself to be mundane and ordinary

But you made everyone and you've been every where
Despite your average appearance, you have power over everyone and have a strong influence

Lord, I think you'd overdose if you knew what's going down
If you knew the true extent of your control and the harm it causes, it may break you

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DAVID BOWIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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