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)
Earthling
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I want certainty
I don't want knowledge
I want certainty
I don't want knowledge
I want certainty
In the street a man shouts out loud
Into the midday sun
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
Oh I get a little bit
Afraid sometimes
Earthlings on fire
Earthlings on fire
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
Sure I get a little bit
Afraid sometimes
Earthlings on fire
Earthlings on fire
Earthlings on fire
Earthlings on fire
I don't want knowledge
I want certainty
I don't want knowledge
I want certainty
In a house a man drops dead
As he hits the floor he sighs
What a morning
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
With the sound, with the sound
With the sound of the ground
Sometimes earthlings on fire
I don't want knowledge
I want certainty
Oh I get a little bit
Afraid sometimes
I don't want knowledge
I want certainty
I don't want knowledge
I want certainty
Oh I get a little bit
Afraid sometimes
The lyrics of David Bowie's "Earthling" seem to be commenting on the human condition and the desire for certainty amidst chaos and uncertainty. The repetition of "I don't want knowledge, I want certainty" suggests that the singer is seeking some form of stability or security, perhaps in response to the unpredictability of life. This desire for certainty is juxtaposed with the chaotic scene described in the first verse, where a man's wallet drops and money flies into the sun. This image suggests the fleeting nature of material possessions and the transience of earthly concerns in the grand scheme of things.
The refrain "Earthlings on fire" adds another layer to the song's commentary. It could refer to the destructive tendencies of humans, both towards each other and towards the planet itself. The repeated use of the phrase suggests that this theme is central to the song's message. The final verse, in which a man drops dead and sighs "what a morning", could be seen as a bleak commentary on the fragility and impermanence of life.
Overall, the lyrics of "Earthling" seem to be a meditation on the human drive for security, certainty, and permanence in the face of an uncertain and ever-changing world. The chaotic imagery and repeated refrain of "Earthlings on fire" suggest a deep-seated anxiety about the state of the world and the human tendency to create destruction and chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't want knowledge
I do not desire mere information, but an indisputable truth or certainty.
I want certainty
I desire a definite and unambiguous answer, rather than being left in doubt or ambiguity.
In the street a man shouts out loud
A scene of chaos or confusion where people are prone to emotional outbursts.
A wallet drops and money flies
Suddenly, a significant amount of money becomes scattered or lost, symbolizing moments of loss or carelessness.
Into the midday sun
This could imply that the loss or chaos seems insignificant, since it disappears in the brightness or vitality of life.
With the sound, with the sound
Repetitive and reminiscent of chanting or a ritual, emphasizing the importance of sound and repetition in certain cultures.
With the sound of the ground
Another reminder of the importance of sound and repetition, grounding oneself in a physical or spiritual sense.
Oh I get a little bit afraid sometimes
Despite seeking certainty, there are moments of vulnerability or fear when life seems unpredictable or chaotic.
Earthlings on fire
A metaphor for the chaos and destruction humans can cause on the planet, as well as in society.
In a house a man drops dead
Another sudden or unexpected loss of life, making one contemplate the fleeting nature of existence.
As he hits the floor he sighs
The sound of a sigh or release at the moment of death, encapsulating the sense of finality and acceptance.
What a morning
A reflection on the randomness of events and how a normal morning can quickly turn into a moment of grief or tragedy.
Sometimes earthlings on fire
A repetition of the earlier metaphor, reminding the listener of the ongoing turmoil in the world and the potential for destruction.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID BOWIE, REEVES C. GABRELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Johmathan .B. Swift
It would be nice, I mean an absolutely fantastic YouTube event if David Bowie's YouTube channel
had a Live Chat with some of the people David worked with. I believe Brian Eno would be up for it,
along with Iggy Pop, maybe Toni Visconti, Robert Fripp, members of Queen, Trent Reznor, Ian Hunter,
Nile Rodgers, that list goes on. Plus, you could have artists like St Vincent who was influenced by David,
along with many others. David's channel could have different artists at different time slots.
The event could be all day long.
Seriously, I think it's a great idea.
They could also have live donations to a favorite charity.
We should do these events while we still have the opportunity to.
guts 🛸
EARTHLING UNDERRATED ALBUM
Common Sense Made Simple
Agreed° I remember when it came out a lot of the long time fans I knew refused to buy it meanwhile I fell in love with him. more after it... He went on tour with NIN around that time and he was the headliner... I was told the stadiums would empty after NIN and barely anyone would stay for Bowie... I was shocked to hear that...
Jaime Gonzalez
CRIMINALLY underrated
I took a few listens but when it clicked I had this album on repeat for months
dolaylı tümleç
criminally underrated*
James Hyatt
Sure is
DANIEL EMILE GEORGES
@dolaylı tümleç it was NOT underrated. by the music press in 1997. It had very good reviews over the world at the time, and one million copies’and more was bought at the time. Just, remindber, David Bowie sold over 140 million of his albums during his life, and he is the most listening dead légende now on Deezer, Spotify, ….réfléchissez un peu avant d’écrire n.importe quoi. Excusez mon anglais, mais votre commentaire et beaucoup d’autres m’exaspère. Love on ya !
monowavy
This and Outside are such amazing outbursts of art.
monowavy
also the guitar in this album is so nasty it's amazing
Meowmeow Fuzzyface
This and outside are one of my favourite albums of all time little wonder was always my favourite idk why it's just crazy but amazing it was
KlausBahnhof
'Outburst of art' is exactly the right description, good work with that one!