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)
Hearts Filthy Lesson
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Heart's filthy lesson)
(Heart's filthy lesson)
There's always the diamond friendly
Sitting in the Laugh Motel
The heart's filthy lesson
With her hundred miles to hell
Oh, Ramona
If there was only something between us
If there was only something between us
Other than our clothes
Something in our skies
Something in our skies
Something in our blood
Something in our skies
Paddy
Paddy?
Who's been wearing Miranda's clothes?
It's the heart's filthy lesson
Heart's filthy lesson
Heart's filthy lesson
Falls upon deaf ears
(Heart's Filthy Lesson)
It's the heart's filthy lesson
Heart's filthy lesson
Heart's filthy lesson
Falls upon deaf ears
(Heart's filthy lesson)
Falls upon deaf ears
(Heart's filthy lesson)
(Heart's filthy lesson)
(Heart's filthy lesson)
Oh Ramona
If there was only some kind of future
Oh Ramona
If there was only some kind of future
And these cerulean skies
Something in our skies
Something in our skies
Something in our blood
Something in our skies
Paddy
Paddy?
Paddy will you carry me, I think I've lost my way
(Heart's filthy lesson, heart's filthy lesson)
I'm already five years older, I'm already in my grave
I'm already (heart's filthy lesson, heart's filthy lesson)
I'm already
I'm already (heart's filthy lesson, heart's filthy lesson)
Will you carry me?
Oh Paddy
I think I've lost my way
Paddy, what a fantastic death abyss
Paddy, what a fantastic death abyss (heart's filthy lesson)
It's the heart's filthy lesson (Paddy)
Tell the others
(Heart's filthy lesson)
It's the heart's filthy lesson (Paddy)
What a fantastic death abyss
Tell the others (heart's filthy lesson)
It's the heart's filthy lesson
The song "The Hearts Filthy Lesson" by David Bowie seems to be a commentary on the corrupting influences and destructive powers of fame and wealth. The lyrics juxtapose images of the glamorous and the sordid, with references to diamonds and motel rooms alongside phrases like "heart's filthy lesson" and "hundred miles to hell." The chorus repeats the phrase "something in our skies" and "something in our blood," suggesting that these dark impulses and desires are ingrained deep in the human psyche.
The song also seems to touch on themes of personal identity and the search for meaning in life. The singer addresses a woman named Ramona, expressing a longing for a deeper connection between them "other than our clothes." The line "Paddy, who's been wearing Miranda's clothes?" is a cryptic reference to the idea of gender and identity being fluid and malleable, a concept Bowie explored in his work throughout his career. The final lines of the song are a haunting plea for help, with the singer asking a friend named Paddy to carry him out of the abyss of death and confusion.
Line by Line Meaning
There's always the diamond friendly
There's always someone who appears welcoming and kind, but may have ulterior motives
Sitting in the Laugh Motel
This person is likely found in a place of temporary pleasure and carelessness
The heart's filthy lesson
This is referring to a harsh and painful experience that teaches an important lesson about betrayal and deceit
With her hundred miles to hell
This lesson is associated with a negative situation, which is likely to end badly for those involved
Oh, Ramona
This is indicating a specific person or possibly a symbol for hope or desire
If there was only something between us
There is a desire for something to exist between two people, but it currently does not
Other than our clothes
This refers to something deeper and more meaningful than mere physical appearance
Something in our skies
There is a feeling of unexplained or mystical presence in the air
Something in our blood
This feeling is powerful and likely to be ingrained in one's very being
Paddy
This is likely a reference to a specific person, possibly a friend or acquaintance
Paddy?
This may be a call for this person to pay attention or take action
Who's been wearing Miranda's clothes?
Someone has taken something that does not belong to them, possibly as an act of deceit
It's the heart's filthy lesson
This painful experience is being emphasized as the main focus of the song
Falls upon deaf ears
This lesson may go unnoticed or ignored by those who need to learn from it the most
Oh Ramona
The desire for something deeper and meaningful continues
If there was only some kind of future
The hope for a future together is still present, but uncertain
And these cerulean skies
The blue skies represent the beauty and potential of this future, but it may be just out of reach
Paddy will you carry me, I think I've lost my way
The singer is lost and needs someone to guide them
I'm already five years older, I'm already in my grave
This loss of direction has caused the singer to feel like they're running out of time without achieving anything
Will you carry me?
The artist is pleading for Paddy to help them find their way
Paddy, what a fantastic death abyss
This may be sarcastic or playful, but it seems to acknowledge that the situation is dire or dangerous
Tell the others
This may be a call for the truth to be revealed or for others to be warned of the situation
What a fantastic death abyss
This line continues the same theme of acknowledging the dangerous or negative situation
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN PETER GEORGE ENO, DAVID BOWIE, ERDAL KIZILCAY, MIKE GARSON, REEVES GABRELS, STERLING CAMPBELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@tyedyeflower
Many may disagree, but to me, this is Bowie at his sexiest. And such an underrated album.
@bricicando
I totally agree 👍
@couplakooks
Like a drama professor you find yourself awkwardly staring at for far too long during lectures
@white_lotus_rising8812
Couldn't agree more. The man's in the luxuriant flush of his talent and charm.
@RockyBergen
It was great then and it holds up remarkably well. This might be my fave.
@grammernotzi
Bowie aged like fine wine. Sexier in older age!
@punkat13
One of my favourite music videos of all time. The whole 1.Outside album is criminally underrated, easily one of Bowies best works.
@4LIENBR4IN
Agree 100%! Absolutely great album/era, musically, visually, and conceptually. Probably my most favourite. I hope one day it will be regarded as highly as Bowie's earlier work by the fans and critics... "What a fantastic death abyss!"
@danielwood4808
Yes Outside is a masterpiece.
@pamela8329
Roger that. A work of art for the true Bowie aficionado.🖤