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)

China Girl
David Bowie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, oh, oh, little China girl
Oh, oh, oh, little China girl

I could escape this feeling, with my China girl
I feel a wreck without my, little China girl
I hear her heart beating, loud as thunder
Saw they stars crashing
I'm a mess without my, little China girl

Wake up mornings where's my, little China girl
I hear her heart's beating, loud as thunder
Saw they stars crashing down
I feel a-tragic like I'm Marlon Brando
When I look at my China girl
I could pretend that nothing really meant too much
When I look at my China girl
I stumble into town just like a sacred cow
Visions of swastikas in my head
Plans for everyone
It's in the whites of my eyes
My little China girl
You shouldn't mess with me
I'll ruin everything you are
You know, I'll give you television
I'll give you eyes of blue
I'll give you men's who want to rule the world
And when I get excited
My little China girl says
Oh baby, just you shut your mouth
She says, sh-sh-shhh
She says, sh-sh-shhh
She says
She says
And when I get excited
My little China girl says
Oh baby, just you shut your mouth
And when I get excited
My little China girl says
Oh baby, just you shut your mouth
She says, sh-sh-shhh
She says

Oh, oh, oh, little China girl
Oh, oh, oh, little China girl

Oh, oh, oh, little China girl
Oh, oh, oh, little China girl

Overall Meaning

David Bowie's China Girl is a song that's widely speculated about, especially the meaning behind it. The song is an ode to Asian culture, drawing influence from its delicate beauty and its controversial nature. The song explores the singer's relationship with his lover, whom he refers to as the China Girl. He admits to being a mess without her, hearing her heart beating loud as thunder. But despite this, he's willing to pretend that nothing really matters when he's with her, a trait that is explored throughout the song.

The singer provides a glimpse into his psyche throughout the song, especially in the second part of the verse. He mentions visions of swastikas in his head, but it's difficult to decipher the meaning behind this line. Is it a way to express dissatisfaction with the regime, which China underwent during the cultural revolution, or is it alluding to something more sinister? Whatever it is, the song builds up to a climactic ending, where the singer offers his lover material things, but she just wants him to be quiet and embrace their love.

There are several interpretations of China Girl, but what remains consistent is the beauty of Bowie's music, voice, and lyrics. The song's controversial nature only adds to its charm, and the way the singer portrays the Asian culture subverts stereotypes, making it even more enjoyable to listen to.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, oh, oh, little China girl
Repeating the phrase, setting the scene for the whole song

I could escape this feeling, with my China girl
The singer feels he could escape his emotional turmoil with the help of his partner, whom he calls his China girl

I feel a wreck without my, little China girl
The singer feels helpless and lost without his China girl, as if he is a wreck or completely broken down

I hear her heart beating, loud as thunder
The artist is tuned in to how his partner is feeling, and her heart is beating loudly, signaling her emotions are intense

Saw they stars crashing
An alternative, poetic way of saying he witnessed an end or downfall, likely in contrast to the intense and passionate connection he feels with his China girl

Wake up mornings where's my, little China girl
The singer wakes up wondering where his China girl is, which implies she may not be with him all the time

I feel a-tragic like I'm Marlon Brando
The singer feels like he is in a tragic, pitiful state like Marlon Brando may have portrayed in some of his films

When I look at my China girl
The artist is so entranced by his China girl's beauty, that looking at her brings some relief from his chaotic thoughts and feelings

I could pretend that nothing really meant too much
In the presence of his China girl, the artist can temporarily forget about the bigger issues of the world and find solace in the moment

I stumble into town just like a sacred cow
The artist feels as if he is blindly wandering around like a sacred cow, which is a symbol of the divine in some cultures

Visions of swastikas in my head
The singer is having disturbing visions of Nazi symbols, which suggests he is struggling with complex and dark issues that are affecting his mental state

Plans for everyone
The artist may have plans for himself and his partner, but he seems to recognize that everyone has their own plans and desires that may not align with his own

It's in the whites of my eyes
The singer's feelings and emotions are so strong that it's visible in his eyes

My little China girl
The singer is referring to his partner, who he sees as his little China girl

You shouldn't mess with me
The singer is warning someone not to mess with him, as he may lash out and cause harm

I'll ruin everything you are
If someone messes with him, the artist is threatening to ruin everything they hold dear

You know, I'll give you television
The artist is offering to give someone entertainment, suggesting he has access to wealth or resources

I'll give you eyes of blue
The singer is making a promise about changing someone's eye color, which seems impossible and perhaps ridiculous, suggesting that he is making empty promises or trying to impress someone with grandiose statements

I'll give you men's who want to rule the world
The singer is offering to introduce someone to powerful men who want to control everything, which suggests that he sees this as something valuable, but it could also indicate that he is entangled with people of questionable ethics or motives

And when I get excited
The artist is acknowledging that he can become excited or agitated at times

My little China girl says
The artist's partner, his little China girl, is an important source of guidance and support for him

Oh baby, just you shut your mouth
His China girl is telling him to be quiet or to not say certain things, perhaps to avoid getting into trouble or causing harm

She says, sh-sh-shhh
The singer's China girl is shushing him or calming him down from becoming too excited or agitated

Oh, oh, oh, little China girl
The song ends the way it began, reinforcing the importance of the artist's China girl through repetition

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Bowie, James Osterberg

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS