The Young Americans sessions mostly concluded by late 1974. During this tim… Read Full Bio ↴The Young Americans sessions mostly concluded by late 1974. During this time, Bowie was staying in New York, where he met John Lennon. The pair jammed together, leading to a one-day session at Electric Lady Studios in January 1975. There, Carlos Alomar had developed a guitar riff for Bowie's cover of "Footstompin'" by The Flairs, which Bowie thought was "a waste" to give to a cover. Lennon, who was in the studio with them, sang "ame" over the riff, which Bowie turned into "Fame" and he thereafter wrote the rest of the lyrics to the song. Lennon performed backing vocals and guitar on the track and worked on the tape loops.

Bowie would later describe the song as "nasty, angry", and fully admitted that the song was written "with a degree of malice" aimed at the Mainman management group with whom he had been working at the time. In 1990, Bowie reflected: "I'd had very upsetting management problems and a lot of that was built into the song. I've left that all that behind me, now... I think fame itself is not a rewarding thing. The most you can say is that it gets you a seat in restaurants."

"Fame" became Bowie's biggest hit to that point in the U.S. Bowie would later claim that he had "absolutely no idea" that the song would do so well as a single, saying "I wouldn't know how to pick a single if it hit me in the face."

Fame
David Bowie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Fame (fame) makes a man take things over
Fame (fame) lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame (fame) puts you there where things are hollow
Fame (fame)

Fame, not your brain, it's just the flame
That burns your change to keep you insane (sane)
Fame (fame)

Fame (fame), what you like is in the limo
Fame (fame), what you get is no tomorrow
Fame (fame), what you need you have to borrow
Fame (fame)

Fame, "Nein, it's mine", is just his line
To bind your time, it drives you to crime (crime)
Fame (fame)

Could it be the best, could it be?
Really be, really, babe?
Could it be, my babe, could it, babe?
Could it, babe? Could it, babe?

Is it any wonder I reject you first?
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Is it any wonder you're all too cool to fool?
Fame (fame)
Fame, bully for you, chilly for me
Gotta get a rain check on fame (fame)
Fame

Fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, fame, fame, fame
Fame, what's your name?

(Feeling so gay)
(Feeling gay)

Overall Meaning

In David Bowie's "Fame," the lyrics explore the dangers and pitfalls of the concept of celebrity culture. The song critiques the way in which fame can take over a person's life, making them paranoid and self-absorbed, leading to criminal behavior and a lack of true connections with others. The repetition of "Fame" throughout the song highlights the obsessive nature of this concept in our society, and the way in which it can consume individuals.

Bowie describes how fame can allow people to act recklessly, without fear of consequences, as it can make them feel invincible. However, this can lead to feelings of emptiness, as they are constantly seeking validation and fulfillment through external means. The line "Fame, not your brain, it's just the flame that burns your change to keep you insane," suggests that fame can strip people of their true selves and force them to put on a facade to stay relevant.

The chorus of the song poses the question, "Could it be the best, could it be?", as Bowie seems to be questioning whether fame is truly worth sacrificing one's true self for. The final lines of the song, "Gotta get a rain check on fame, what's your name," can be interpreted as Bowie suggesting that taking a break from the limelight and reconnecting with one's true self is necessary in order to maintain a sense of sanity.

Line by Line Meaning

Fame (fame) makes a man take things over
Fame drives a person to try and control everything.

Fame (fame) lets him loose, hard to swallow
Fame gives one freedom, but it's difficult to handle.

Fame (fame) puts you there where things are hollow
Fame takes one to a place where material things and social status are valued more than true meaning and fulfillment.

Fame, not your brain, it's just the flame That burns your change to keep you insane (sane) Fame (fame)
Fame corrupts a person's values and mentality and keeps them addicted to it.

Fame (fame), what you like is in the limo Fame (fame), what you get is no tomorrow Fame (fame), what you need you have to borrow Fame (fame)
Fame provides instant gratification but offers no real security, forcing one to constantly rely on it.

Fame, "Nein, it's mine", is just his line To bind your time, it drives you to crime (crime) Fame (fame)
Fame creates a desire to own and control everything, which can lead to harmful actions.

Could it be the best, could it be? Really be, really, babe? Could it be, my babe, could it, babe? Could it, babe? Could it, babe?
Is fame really worth the obsession and attention it receives?

Is it any wonder I reject you first? Fame, fame, fame, fame Is it any wonder you're all too cool to fool? Fame (fame)
Fame can be manipulative and deceiving, which can cause one to be cautious and skeptical.

Fame, bully for you, chilly for me Gotta get a rain check on fame (fame) Fame
Fame is more of a burden than a blessing, and sometimes it's better to take a break from it.

Fame, fame, fame, fame Fame, fame, fame, fame Fame, fame, fame, fame Fame, fame, fame, fame Fame, fame, fame, fame Fame, fame, fame, fame Fame, what's your name?
Repetition of fame emphasizes its negative impact and constant presence in society.

(Feeling so gay) (Feeling gay)
These lines refer to feeling happy, which contrasts the negative tone of the song and adds an ironic twist.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Carlos Alomar, David Bowie, John Lennon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS