Cactus
David Bowie Lyrics
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Just wishing that I had just something you wore
I put it on when I go lonely
Will you take off your dress and send it to me?
I miss your kissin' and I miss your head
And a letter in your writing doesn't mean you're not dead
Make your dress all wet and send it to me
I miss your soup and I miss your bread
And a letter in your writing doesn't mean you're not dead
So spill your breakfast and drip your wine
Just wear that dress when you're die
D-A-V-I-D
Sitting here wishing on a cement floor
Just wishing that I had just something you wore
Bloody your hands on a cactus tree
Wipe it on your dress and send it to me
Sitting here wishing on a cement floor
Just wishing that I had just something you wore
The song Cactus by David Bowie is a haunting and melancholic tune that tells the story of a man who is desperately missing a woman. He is sitting alone on a cement floor, wishing that he had something of hers to hold onto. The man longs for her touch, her kiss, and even her handwritten letter. Although he acknowledges that a letter doesn't necessarily mean she's not dead, he holds onto hope that she'll somehow return to him. He even goes so far as to ask her to send him her dress, so that he can feel some connection to her. The chorus, which repeats the same phrase twice, reinforces the idea that the man is stuck in his feelings and can't move on from the pain of losing her.
Line by Line Meaning
Sitting here wishing on a cement floor
I am sitting here, longing for someone or something that is not here.
Just wishing that I had just something you wore
I wish I had a reminder of you.
I put it on when I go lonely
When I am feeling lonely, I put on the item that reminds me of you.
Will you take off your dress and send it to me?
Can you send me a personal item, like a dress, that belongs to you?
I miss your kissin' and I miss your head
I miss your affection and your company.
And a letter in your writing doesn't mean you're not dead
Receiving a letter from you does not mean you are not gone.
Run outside in the desert heat
Go outside, into the heat of the desert.
Make your dress all wet and send it to me
Soak your dress in water and send it to me.
I miss your soup and I miss your bread
I miss your humble offerings of food.
And a letter in your writing doesn't mean you're not dead
Receiving a letter from you does not mean you are still here.
So spill your breakfast and drip your wine Just wear that dress when you're die
Live life fully, even if it means making a mess, and when you pass, be remembered in that dress.
D-A-V-I-D
Name chanting
Bloody your hands on a cactus tree
Toughing through a painful ordeal, such as injury from a prickly cactus.
Wipe it on your dress and send it to me
Cleanse the injury on your dress, and send it to me as a symbol of the pain.
Sitting here wishing on a cement floor
Reiterating the longing felt at the beginning of the song.
Just wishing that I had just something you wore
Reiterating the desire for a reminder of the person or thing being missed.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHARLES THOMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-iw3qr5hi1u
Sitting here wishing on a cement floor
Just wishing that I had just something you wore
I put it on when I go lonely
Will you take off your dress and send it to me?
I miss your kissin' and I miss your head
And a letter in your writing doesn't mean you're not dead
Run outside in the desert heat
Make your dress all wet and send it to me
I miss your soup and I miss your bread
And a letter in your writing doesn't mean you're not dead
So spill your breakfast and drip your wine
Just wear that dress when you're die
D-A-V-I-D
Sitting here wishing on a cement floor
Just wishing that I had just something you wore
Bloody your hands on a cactus tree
Wipe it on your dress and send it to me
Sitting here wishing on a cement floor
Just wishing that I had just something you wore
@playrough5712
I have a strong suspension from the album "Heathen than crossing to Reality than the Next Day and finally Black Star " david bowie was probably diagnosed with cancer but the beginning stage of him being sick .
I listen to all his albums leading up to his final album
I think he was warning us through his music he was sick. from Heathen to Black Star the lyrics and sound got darker.
R.I.P Dave Bowie.
thank you so much for all your talents and music
if wasn't for " Life on Mars and Rock and Roll Suicide "
I wouldn't have experienced your masterpieces.
@philipsong4246
I didn't even know he covered the pixies. Respect. This is actually one of my favorite pixies songs too, this and brick is red.
@jodi21nd
they were bowie’s favorite band
@jodi21nd
well i made out more bc i def have much to learn from u. as you commented about something i said recently in what 2028. that’s some shite. but more your subscriptions are small in number and each a few hondo videos but so many followers. so i’m intrigued enough to not be lazy and topics if im translating titles without reading -ive needed answers. y im lonely. i’m real and keep school mom at distance or this part. im distanced but nice and funny but don’t hide my crazy so our kids are tight but what i wish i could always enjoy is more often work.
@jodi21nd
and in case you suffer from insomnia… I was looking up a picture of guy who plays John Douglas/Marquee on Mike Tyson mysteries. checking his real picture and see he was a real person. very flamboyant yet known for his boxing prowess; those rarely r on same resume. seemed to move between two countries in europe and wife divorced him prob for his penis love 😊 and b saw 90 so she went on to test drive her own god bless. he remarried as he thought more convincing than i love Vaj t-shirt but was wrong. had it annulled I would’ve denied that annulment for sole purpose that her name was elthel!! I think that’s like beard in French. I really hope this is all true. Meaning if you know, otherwise don’t rain on my Parade. He’s flamboyant and messes people up in the ring. If that was today I would pitch my marketing to them directly and say just that I would rub my phone boys in their face saying do you want to lose to this? He’s scared I get in their head and I get more competitors that be terrifying and instantly in your head.
can I see if Tyson was effeminate and instead made a move on Holyfield and nibbled on his ear sexually that news would follow way further and faster. and Holyfield would have so much more to lose. I’m pretty sure I’m sleep talking right now. Have a great day. Everyone is crazy enough to read this so me. 🙃😉
@diasehmai
Bowie played every instrument on this track except bass. Vocals, backing vocals, drums, keyboards, guitar. Bloody brilliant.
@christiansmith9962
Interesting that he didn't play bass. That seems like the easiest part of this song!
@diasehmai
@Christian Smith I reckon he just figured Tony Visconti could play the bass part more effectively. I don't think bass was David's strongest instrument. Here's a really good interview about the recording of that LP:
http://www.bowiewonderworld.com/press/00/020616livewire.htm
@evacostelloe4479
@Christian Smith iol
@evacostelloe4479
@Christian Smith 8o9m9999o0
2
@gtr8367
dude wtf are you babbling about, his band recorded with the instruments they play