For more information and trivia on "Changes" check out http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=3414/.
Changes
David Bowie Lyrics
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Mmm
Still don't know what I was waitin' for
And my time was runnin' wild
A million dead end streets and
Every time I thought I'd got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweetSo I turned myself to face me
But I've never caught a glimpse
How the others must see the faker
I'm much too fast to take that test
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Don't want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
There's gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
Mmm, yeah
I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultationsThey're quite aware of what they're goin' through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Don't tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Where's your shame?
You've left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can't trace time
Strange fascinations fascinate me
Ah, changes are taking
The pace I'm goin' through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Ooh, look out, you rock 'n' rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Pretty soon now you're gonna get older
Time may change me
But I can't trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can't trace time
The opening lines of David Bowie's Changes speak to his confusion and dissatisfaction with his own life, a theme he explores throughout the song. He confesses that he still does not know what he is waiting for, and that despite all his efforts, he feels like he is running in place. He has tried to find success and happiness, but each time he gets close, it eludes him. This lack of fulfillment has left him feeling like a "faker" and has prevented him from seeing himself clearly.
But then, Bowie pivots to the central theme of the song: change. He implores the listener to "turn and face the strange," to embrace the unknown and unpredictable forces that shape our lives. He recognizes that being resistant to change is ultimately futile, and that it is better to adapt and grow with the world around us. To illustrate this point, he uses vivid imagery to describe the impermanence of life, specifically the way that days and people come and go, like ripples in a stream.
Bowie also takes time to chastise those who would try to stifle change in others, particularly young people. He notes that these "children that you spit on" are well aware of what they are going through, and do not appreciate being told how to live their lives. This vitriol is contrasted with the song's more hopeful and transcendent message of embracing change and growth.
Overall, Changes is a powerful and deeply personal exploration of Bowie's relationship with himself, the world around him, and the ever-changing nature of life itself.
Line by Line Meaning
Still don't know what I was waitin' for
I am uncertain about the purpose of my life
And my time was runnin' wild
I was wasting my time recklessly
A million dead end streets and
I had encountered countless unsuccessful paths
Every time I thought I'd got it made
Whenever I thought I had succeeded
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
I found the achievement to be unsatisfying
So I turned myself to face me
I introspected to understand myself better
But I've never caught a glimpse
However, I am yet to perceive my true self
How the others must see the faker
I wonder how others view me as a phony
I'm much too fast to take that test
But I am unwilling to undergo tests to confirm my doubts
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Changes are happening
Turn and face the strange
I must confront the unknown
Don't want to be a richer man
Money is not my goal
There's gonna have to be a different man
I must become a better version of myself
Time may change me
Over time, I will evolve
But I can't trace time
But I cannot slow down time or analyze its effects
I watch the ripples change their size
I observe how things evolve
But never leave the stream
However, everything remains part of the same system
Of warm impermanence
Everything has a fleeting nature
And so the days float through my eyes
Days pass by quickly
But still the days seem the same
Even though time is moving, everything remains stagnant
And these children that you spit on
I observe how society disdains and belittles its youth
As they try to change their worlds
But I notice their eagerness to change the world
Are immune to your consultations
They do not need your advice
They're quite aware of what they're goin' through
They are conscious of their struggles
Don't tell them to grow up and out of it
Do not discourage them from dreaming and growing
Where's your shame?
You should be ashamed of yourselves
You've left us up to our necks in it
Society has left the youth to face problems alone
Strange fascinations fascinate me
I am intrigued by oddities
Ah, changes are taking
The world is evolving
The pace I'm goin' through
Things are changing too fast for me to grasp
Ooh, look out, you rock 'n' rollers
Hey, musicians, be cautious
Pretty soon now you're gonna get older
You will age fast
But I can't trace time
Despite my attempts, I cannot comprehend the effects of time
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@itsonlyapapermoon61
This Song was Authored and gifted to Us from God
There is only ONE POWER , God IT-Self
There is no good and no evil, by believing in two powers, you break the 1st commandment, thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Jesus christ, I of myself can do Nothing, the Father does the work through me.
Evil Appearances are Karmic Law in Action 🎬 ❤
Joel Goldsmith A PARENTHESIS in Eternity...another of God's Messangers
@tomdillon3143
Loved this song since the first time I heard it when I was 13. Seems like yesterday. I'm 63 now. "Oooh look out you rock-n-rollers. Pretty soon now you're gonna get older." He was damn sure right about that.
@thomascraymer8712
This song is applicable to any generation, actually!
You are around the same age as my own parents, both in their early '60s, but me as a 30 year old, am listening, and love this song
What's more, I know teens who listen to this too, so this music must have aged very well
And the message Bowie portrayed here is universal, for any generation
@otman558
Yes, he wasn't wrong
@Mmmmmmmmmm-w2w
C’est ce que j’appelle avoir du talent, être un génie dans son domaine: coller à la réalité et toucher l’excellence et l’universel ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@江旻育
3:32
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@gildardorivasvalles6368
This song is transcendental. It goes beyond the time when it was written. It's a piece of the "always-present" of human experience. I love this song.
@Lin-bt4pk
OMG, yes.❤
@flunkyminion
Change is always happening. According to Eastern philosophy, which Bowie was into when he was trying on a hippie identity in his young days, states that the only permanent phenomena is change. Bowie was a deep thinker, as well as being a chameleon, corinthians and caricature.
@carlmcsandwich9554
@@flunkyminion what do you mean by a "corinthians"
@itsonlyapapermoon61
This Song was Authored and gifted to Us from God
There is only ONE POWER , God IT-Self
There is no good and no evil, by believing in two powers, you break the 1st commandment, thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Jesus christ, I of myself can do Nothing, the Father does the work through me.
Evil Appearances are Karmic Law in Action 🎬 ❤
Joel Goldsmith A PARENTHESIS in Eternity...another of God's Messangers