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)
Bombers
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
I think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
Seemed a good idea
To drop a bomb on the wasteland here
And he was old and so serene
So the general sat in his deck chair
And the red light flashed, beware
And the pilot felt quite big-time
As the bomb sailed through the air
Now the captain sang and sang
As the bang went bang
But their eyes popped out
When the smoke began to clear
It was positively queer
All clear, wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
"Die," said the General
"Cobblers," said the man
So the Pentagon sent a cable
And the Queen a telegram
A-bombs, H-bombs, even very small ones
Ripped apart that sand
'Til the stench was just revolting
And the sky a greenish tan
But the soldier said "Sir
There's a crack in the world"
And the rivers went "Splash"
And the bits flew far and wide
As the universe sighed
All clear, wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
All clear, wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
When the smoke had blown away
There was nothing left to view
Except a man, dear Lord, who looked like you
Floating high up in the sky
“Bombers” is a song by David Bowie that was released as a B-side for his single “The Laughing Gnome” in 1967. The song is a commentary on war, specifically nuclear war, and its destructive consequences. The lyrics describe a scene where pilots drop bombs on a wasteland, killing an old man who was the only one in the area. The story continues with the General ordering the use of more powerful bombs that cause further destruction and yield disastrous consequences. Eventually, nothing is left except for a man who is likened to God, floating in the sky. The song reminds us that war is not just about the enemy, but it has brutal effects on innocent people, the environment, and even ourselves.
The song was based on Bowie’s firsthand experience of living in London during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. Despite the cold war being a distant matter, the crisis caused widespread panic and left many people to wonder how to prepare for nuclear attacks. As a result of the crisis, the British Government launched a “Protect and Survive” campaign to help citizens protect themselves from nuclear attacks.
Line by Line Meaning
All clear wail the sirens
The sirens announce the end of the bombing and the 'all clear' signal.
Sunshine on the wasteland
The sun is shining after the bombs, albeit over the wasteland landscape caused by the bombing.
Old man sitting in the white sand
An elderly man is sitting calmly in a beach with white sand, despite being in the middle of a warzone.
Think we're in for a big surprise
The artist and the listener are caught off guard and are expecting the unexpected.
Right between the eyes
Someone or something will be hit with a surprise or shock directly and with accuracy.
Seemed a good idea
To drop a bomb on the wasteland here
The decision to drop a bomb on the deserted wasteland region seems sensible, presuming no one would be hurt.
Only one man could be seen
And he was old and so serene
Captain sat in his deck chair
And the red light flashed beware
Only one person, an elderly man, was visible in the region where the bombing was about to occur. Meanwhile, Captain was relaxing in his deck chair ignoring the warning signals.
Pilot felt quite big-time
As the bomb sailed through the air
The pilot of the plane was feeling important as he launched the bomb from the air.
Well, they danced and sang
When the bang went bang
When the lights popped out
And the smoke began to clear
It was positively queer
The bomb explodes and people start celebrating, but the aftermath is strange and unexpected.
Die" said the General
"Cobblers" said the man
So the Pentagon sent a cable
And the Queen a telegram
After the bombing, the General declares that people will die, but someone dismisses it as rubbish. Officials from the Pentagon and the Queen send telegrams after the event.
A-bombs, H-bombs, even very small ones
Ripped apart that sand
'Til the stench was just revolting
And the sky a greenish tan
Different bombs devastated the sand wasteland, and the smell is nauseating while the color of the sky is changed to green.
But the soldier said "Sir,
There's a crack in the world"
And the figures went "squash"
And the bits flew far and wide
How the universe sighed!
A soldier points out a crack in the world before people start getting squeezed and broken apart. The universe sighed after the massacre.
When the smoke had blown away
There was nothing left to view
Except a man dear Lord who looked like you
Floating high up in the sky
After the smoke cleared, there was nothing left to see except a man looking just like someone's visage who was seen floating in the sky.
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
The last stanza is a repetition of the first corresponding to a clear and peaceful end to the bombing. However, the last line declares that there is still a big surprise to come.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Cam
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
Seemed a good idea
To drop a bomb on the wasteland here
Only one man could be seen
And he was old and so serene
Captain sat in his deck chair
And the red light flashed, beware
Pilot felt quite big-time
As the bomb sailed through the air
Well, they danced and sang
When the bang went bang
When the lights popped out
And the smoke began to clear
It was positively queer
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
"Die" said the General
"Cobblers" said the man
So the Pentagon sent a cable
And the Queen a telegram
A-bombs, H-bombs, even very small ones
Ripped apart that sand
'Til the stench was just revolting
And the sky a greenish tan
But the soldier said "Sir,
there's a crack in the world"
And the figures went "squash",
And the bits flew far and wide
How the universe sighed!
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
When the smoke had blown away
There was nothing left to view
Except a man dear Lord who looked like you
Floating high up in the sky
Aidan Kaye
(Lyrics)
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
Seemed a good idea
To drop a bomb on the wasteland here
Only one man could be seen
And he was old and so serene
Captain sat in his deck chair
And the red light flashed Beware
Pilot felt quite big-time
As the bomb sailed through the air
Well, they danced and sang
When the bang went bang
When the lights popped out
And the smoke began to clear
It was positively queer
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
"Die" said the General
"Cobblers" said the man
So the Pentagon sent a cable
And the Queen a telegram
A-bombs, H-bombs, even very small ones
Ripped apart that sand
'Til the stench was just revolting
And the sky a greenish tan
But the soldier said "Sir,
There's a crack in the world"
And the figures went "squash",
And the bits flew far and wide
How the universe sighed!
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
When the smoke had blown away
There was nothing left to view
Except a man dear Lord who looked like you
Floating high up in the sky
Cam
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
Seemed a good idea
To drop a bomb on the wasteland here
Only one man could be seen
And he was old and so serene
Captain sat in his deck chair
And the red light flashed, beware
Pilot felt quite big-time
As the bomb sailed through the air
Well, they danced and sang
When the bang went bang
When the lights popped out
And the smoke began to clear
It was positively queer
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
"Die" said the General
"Cobblers" said the man
So the Pentagon sent a cable
And the Queen a telegram
A-bombs, H-bombs, even very small ones
Ripped apart that sand
'Til the stench was just revolting
And the sky a greenish tan
But the soldier said "Sir,
there's a crack in the world"
And the figures went "squash",
And the bits flew far and wide
How the universe sighed!
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
All clear wail the sirens
Sunshine on the wasteland
Old man sitting in the white sand
Think we're in for a big surprise
Right between the eyes
When the smoke had blown away
There was nothing left to view
Except a man dear Lord who looked like you
Floating high up in the sky
bgweil
I think this song fits with the rest of Hunky Dory far better than Fill your Heart does, which is either too sappy or too vicious, depending on your impression.
BryanX 64
I thought FYH was weak sauce. Mistake replacing this with it.
riffraffrichard
Nah hunky dorys perfect, my favourite blend of bowie spikeyness and heartfeltness. Though this is a great song!
pabulum28
I'm 29 but I bought this album (with Bombers as a bonus track) like ten years ago...I remember really digging this song back in 1998or so. Thank you SO much for posting this (coincidentally, it was like JUST posted a couple of weeks ago, and I just searched for this for the first time this evening...thanks again).
Space Marketeer Kelly
The man truly responsible for the rock of today and more importantly the joy of music shared between millions and millions.
I know you're "floating high up in the sky" as an angel would.
Berlin
this song is a bop, sad it didnt make the album
Strawberry Lemonade Kristina
A wonderful artifact of Bowie's early 70s Camp phase. This song would have made a wonderful addition to Hunky Dory. One can only speculate as to why it wasn't included. I feel so fortunate to have the Rykodisc edition from 1990 that has this cut.
Vern Pascal
@Strawberry Lemonade Kristina Yeah. I had no idea back in the day when I first listened to Ziggy, and Aladdin Sane, entering High School, that his early stuff prior to Space Oddity was so terrific. I Dig Everything ,Do What You Say, You Got A Habit Of Leaving, Let Me Sleep Beside You ,Karma Man, In The Heat Of The Morning are wonderful and I prefer those to most all of the songs on the 3 prior albums to the aforementioned classics that are still my favorite Bowie albums.
Strawberry Lemonade Kristina
@Vern Pascal I am so looking forward to that! I especially love Bowie's output from 1969 to 1974 so that will be quite a treat. 😃