The single was not released in America, being judged too risqué by RCA (though according to NME critics Roy Carr and Charles Shaar Murray, "it did just great on import in Memphis, Tennessee") and did not officially appear stateside until it was finally issued on the compilation ChangesOneBowie in 1976. While the hook ("John, I'm only dancing / She turns me on / But I'm only dancing") has long been considered a gay tease, author Nicholas Pegg points out that the song's narrator "could just as easily be a straight man reassuring the girl's lover".
Musically in a light R&B style, the track was re-recorded on 20 January 1973 during the Aladdin Sane sessions, in a slightly different arrangement featuring Ken Fordham on saxophone. Often called the "sax version", this was issued as a single in April 1973 with exactly the same catalogue number as the first release, creating a collector's nightmare. Generally held to be superior to the original cut, the sax reworking also appeared on early pressings of ChangesOneBowie before it was replaced with the original single version. In 1974, a completely reworked funk-influenced version was recorded as "John, I’m Only Dancing (Again)".
John I'm Only Dancing
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Joe is awful strong, bet your life he's putting us on
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
Oh move me, touch me
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
Oh shadow love was quick and clean, life's a well-thumbed machine
I saw you watching from the stairs, you're everyone that ever cared
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
Move me, touch me
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I'm only dancing
John, I'm only dancing
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I'm only dancing
Dancing
Won't someone dance with me?
Touch me, ohh
"John I'm Only Dancing" is a song by David Bowie that was recorded in September 1972 during the sessions for "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars" but remained unreleased until April 1973. It was then released as a single in the UK and reached number 12 on the charts. The song is often interpreted as being about homosexuality and sexual freedom, which was a controversial topic at the time.
The opening lines of the song describe two characters, Annie and Joe, who are being introduced by the singer. Annie is described as a neat eater and Joe is said to be very strong, although the singer implies that he might be putting on a show. The chorus then kicks in, with the singer addressing someone called John and telling him that he's only dancing with a girl who is turning him on but doesn't get the wrong idea. The verses continue with abstract lyrics that mention "shadow love" and how life is like a well-thumbed machine. The singer is implying that he wants more than just dancing, but he is limited by societal norms and expectations.
One interpretation of the song is that it's about Bowie coming to terms with his sexuality and trying to express himself in a world where homosexuality was still very much taboo. The singer of the song is torn between his desire for physical intimacy with another man and the fear of being judged and rejected by a society that doesn't accept him. The chorus, "John, I'm only dancing," is a defense mechanism, a way to deflect suspicion and preserve his image. Bowie himself later said that the song was "a kind of throwaway" and that he didn't put much thought into the lyrics. However, the song remains a fan favorite and a testament to Bowie's talent for creating catchy pop hooks with deeper meanings.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, Annie's pretty neat, she always eats her meat
Annie is a nice and well-behaved person who is not picky about what she eats
Joe is awful strong, bet your life he's putting us on
Joe is extremely strong and seems to be playing a joke on us
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
I am feeling very lonely and in need of affection
Oh move me, touch me
I am desiring physical contact and intimacy
John, I'm only dancing
I am only dancing and not engaging in any inappropriate behavior
She turns me on, but I'm only dancing
Although I am attracted to her, I am only dancing and not acting on my feelings
She turns me on, don't get me wrong
I am acknowledging my attraction but also clarifying that I am not doing anything about it
Oh shadow love was quick and clean, life's a well-thumbed machine
My previous romantic relationship was brief but passionate, and life feels routine and monotonous
I saw you watching from the stairs, you're everyone that ever cared
I noticed you watching me from afar and it reminded me of everyone who has ever cared about me
Dancing
I am enjoying the act of dancing and the freedom it brings
Won't someone dance with me?
I am inviting someone to join me in the joy of dancing
Touch me, ohh
I am still yearning for physical touch and closeness
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Guy
A Splendid performance from
Our Mr David Bowie . . .
Taken from us Long before his time. .
Gone but Never forgotten
R.i.P David
The Legacy you Left,
Never will be Lost,
We’ll Keep the Flame Bright Whatever the cost,
Now you have joined the greats in a better place,
On our Lives is an indelible trace .
i think of you when i Hear those songs.
Thinking of a better future that we all Long for. . .
Theresa Pierce
One of the most beautiful creatures to ever bless the earth, the one and only David Bowie. RIP Ziggy Stardust
dickbagger
✨✨⭐
ian thompson
Sometimes 🤣🤣
alla rumi
Amen 💜
Lit Romney 🌈
He's just a starman now
Freecloud
Amazing how this track sounds even better now than it did 50 years ago ! Like so many of Bowie's songs, they haven't aged at all...in fact, they still sound daring and original. What a genius he was.
Andrew McBrinn
One of the great underrated tracks of all time. This, Lady Stardust and Ziggy Stardust are the 3 that sum up the Ziggy era.
ShaggyDog
Velvet Goldmine has to be in there as well.
Nicolas H
Suffragette City?
Julian Coquelet
ShaggyDog Moonage Dream: am I a joke to you?