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)
Growin' Up
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade
I was open to pain and crossed by the rain and I walked on a crooked crutch
I strolled all alone through a fallout zone and came out with my soul untouched
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said "Sit down" I stood up.
Ooh-ooh growin' up
The flag of piracy flew from my mast, my sails were set wing to wing
I pushed be -52 and bombed 'em with the blues with my gear set stubborn on standing
I broke all the rules, strafed my old high school, never once gave thought to landing,
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said "Come down" I threw up
Ooh-ooh growin' up
I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere and you know it's really hard to hold your breath.
I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress
Well, my feet they finally took root in the earth but I got me a nice little place in the stars
And I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car
I hid in the mother breast of the crowd but when they said "Pull down" I pulled up
Ooh-ooh growin' up. Ooh-ooh growin' up
The lyrics of David Bowie's "Growin' Up" talk about a journey of self-discovery through experimentation and rebellion. In the first stanza, the singer describes himself standing still, wearing a mask and hiding his true identity. He is trying to be someone he is not, and he knows it. However, he is open to pain and vulnerable. He walks on a crooked crutch, indicating that he is trying to find his balance in life. Even though he is alone in this process, he comes out of it with his soul untouched. He feels like he has been in a fallout zone, perhaps indicating that he has been through difficult times, and yet he has overcome them.
In the second stanza, he talks about how he disregarded authority figures and broke all the rules. He is a rebel, and he is proud of it. He sees himself as a pirate, flying the flag, and sailing his life in his own way. He had a jukebox graduate as his first mate, indicating that he is drawn towards artistic and creative people. He bombed his old high school, suggesting that he has let go of his past and moved on towards a new direction. Even though he was opposed by the crowd, he stood his ground and remained true to himself.
The final stanza talks about his cosmic journey and finding his place in the universe. He has taken month-long vacations in the stratosphere, indicating that he has left behind his earthly concerns and has found something greater. He has lost everything he has ever loved or feared, perhaps indicating that he has achieved some sort of enlightenment. He now resides in the stars, indicating that he has found his place in the grand scheme of things. Even though he was asked to pull down, he pulled up, meaning that he has remained true to his principles and has not been swayed by external forces. In the end, the song is the story of a man who has gone through a journey of experimentation, rebellion, and self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
I stood stone-like at midnight suspended in my masquerade
I felt trapped and uncertain of who I was, putting on a façade to appear a certain way.
I combed my hair till it was just right and commanded the night brigade
I was meticulous about my appearance and confident in my ability to lead others.
I was open to pain and crossed by the rain and I walked on a crooked crutch
I was willing to face the hardships of life and persevered despite a difficult upbringing.
I strolled all alone through a fallout zone and came out with my soul untouched
I faced adversity alone and emerged with my spirit unbroken.
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said "Sit down" I stood up.
I often felt lost in the sea of society, but I refused to conform to their expectations.
The flag of piracy flew from my mast, my sails were set wing to wing
I embraced rebellion in my youth, living my life on my terms with no regard for authority.
I had a jukebox graduate for first mate, she couldn't sail but she sure could sing,
I surrounded myself with other young, carefree individuals who shared my love of music and adventure.
I pushed be-52 and bombed 'em with the blues with my gear set stubborn on standing
I expressed my individuality through my music, refusing to follow trends or conform to popular styles.
I broke all the rules, strafed my old high school, never once gave thought to landing,
I rebelled against authority, taking bold actions and shunning the expectations of those around me.
I hid in the clouded wrath of the crowd but when they said "Come down" I threw up
I often felt uncomfortable in the presence of others, and sometimes became physically ill when pressured to conform.
I took month-long vacations in the stratosphere and you know it's really hard to hold your breath.
I sought adventure and escape from the pressures of society, even in the most extreme environments.
I swear I lost everything I ever loved or feared, I was the cosmic kid in full costume dress
At times, I felt isolated and alone, dressing up in a way that made me feel more connected to the universe.
Well, my feet they finally took root in the earth but I got me a nice little place in the stars
Eventually, I found my place in the world, but continued to hold onto my love of adventure and the unknown.
And I swear I found the key to the universe in the engine of an old parked car
Through my experiences and the people I met, I discovered important truths about the world and my place in it.
I hid in the mother breast of the crowd but when they said "Pull down" I pulled up
Though I struggled with fitting in with others, I refused to let them suppress my individuality or drag me down.
Ooh-ooh growin' up. Ooh-ooh growin' up
This repeated chorus represents my ongoing journey of self-discovery and finding my place in the world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jeff Kaufman
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