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)
Jump They Say
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A nation in his eyes
Striped with blood and emblazed tattoo
Streaking cathedral spire
They say
He has no brain
They say
They say
He was born again
They say
Look at him climb
They say 'jump'
They say
He has two gods
They say
He has no fear
They say
He has no eyes
They say
He has no mouth
They say hey that's really something
They feel he should get some time
I say he should watch his ass
My friend don't listen to the crowd
They say 'jump'
Got to believe somebody
Got to believe
The song "Jump They Say" by David Bowie tells the tragic story of a man who is struggling with mental illness and ends up committing suicide by jumping off a building. The lyrics describe the man as a "shaking man" with a "nation in his eyes," suggesting that he is burdened by something larger than himself. The tattoo on his body and the streaking cathedral spire in the background suggest that he may have been a former religious or spiritual person, but his mental state ultimately leads him to his tragic end.
Throughout the song, there are various voices who talk about the man, each one offering a different perspective. Some say that he has no brain, no mood, and was born again. Others say that he has two gods, no fear, no eyes, and no mouth. These voices may represent the different opinions or rumors that people spread about the man, reinforcing the idea that he was a misunderstood and troubled individual.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "they say 'jump'" over and over, suggesting the pressure and influence that others can have on someone's decision to end their own life. The singer of the song warns the man to "watch his ass" and not listen to the crowd, indicating that there may have been warning signs or attempts to help him before he ultimately jumps.
Line by Line Meaning
When comes the shaking man
Here comes a man whose anxiety and nervousness is clear in his demeanor
A nation in his eyes
The man's expression represents the distress and turmoil in the nation's state of mind
Striped with blood and emblazed tattoo
The man's body is both visibly scarred and he has a prominent tattoo that depicts his struggles and past experiences
Streaking cathedral spire
The environment he lives in is religiously influenced and the man's presence stands out amidst this environment
They say he has no brain
People disregard his ideas and intelligence
They say he has no mood
People judge him as emotionally unstable
They say he was born again
People criticize his attempts at changing his ways
They say look at him climb
People mock his struggles and laugh at his attempts of making significant changes in his life
They say 'Jump'
The people around him celebrate his defeat and want him to commit suicide
They say he has two gods
People perceive him to have double standards or beliefs
They say he has no fear
People belittle his concerns and anxieties
They say he has no eyes
People disregard his perspective and opinions
They say he has no mouth
People silence him and don't let him speak his truth
They say hey that's really something
People pretend to appreciate his efforts but they don't really mean it
They feel he should get some time
People suggest that he takes time off, but it is not truly supportive
I say he should watch his ass
David Bowie advises the man to be wary of his surroundings and not let the people bring him down
My friend don't listen to the crowd
David Bowie encourages the man to ignore the negative comments and not let the crowd manipulate him
Got to believe somebody
David Bowie highlights the need for finding someone to trust and providing guidance during tough times
Got to believe
Emphasizes on the need for faith and trust during difficult moments
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: David Jones
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gil Mayer
This song came one year after my cousin, who was one of my best friends, took his own life, after he and hid girlfriend ended their relationship, and he left us a letter.
First time I saw this clip and heard the song the tears just fell off.
The message was clear to me.
But I didn't know, only until years later, that it was written about David's half brother, who committed suicide as well.
The song and the clip are a masterpiece, and the trumpet solo is truly unique.
I have always loved Bowie and creations, but this song together with Heroes, have special meaning for me.
RIP Starman 🙏
.
P.S
I think that the eyes cover that he used this clip gave him the inspiration decades later for Lazarus eye cover.
Ciocan Flavius
[Intro]
When comes the shaking man
A nation in his eyes
Striped with blood and emblazed tattoo
Streaking cathedral spire
[Verse 1]
They say
They say
They say
He has no brain
They say
He has no mood
They say
He was born again
They say
Look at him climb
They say jump
They say jump
[Verse 2]
They say
He has two gods
They say
He has no fear
They say
He has no eyes
They say
He has no mouth
[Chorus]
They say 'hey that's really something'
They feel he should get some time
I say he should watch his ass
My friend don't listen to the crowd
They say jump
They say jump
Watch out!
[Breakdown]
Watch out!
Watch out!
[Chorus]
They say 'hey that's really something'
They feel he should get some time
I say he should watch his ass
My friend don't listen to the crowd
They say jump
[Outro]
Got to believe somebody
They say jump
Jump
Got to believe somebody
They say jump
Jump
Got to believe
They say jump
Got to believe somebody
Jump
Got to believe
Jump
Got to believe somebody
Jump
Got to believe
Jump
Got to believe somebody
Jump
They say jump
They say jump
They say jump
They say jump
Rarity Galora
Unpopular opinion, but Jump They Say is actually my 2nd favourite Bowie song. A criminally underappreciated masterpiece.
TheTuubster
Agree.
AlexKx
No question! And this, "short promotional film"!
battlepope beers
im with you.....
Tim Barton
Black Tie, White Noise unfairly gets maligned. This song is a standout on a very good album some people wish to dismiss. I think the whole album is fantastic! It was in my opinion the beginning of David's creative rebirth. He didn't look back after this one, thankfully.
Pagan
Yes indeed as with 92s outside sometimes concept werx and Bowie is the master of even conceptual lifestyle self imposed rocker ziggy sets out to make himsef a rock god then kills him off lol because he’s to popular, enter the space junkies with issues as his capsule hurls into the Abyss lol major Tom, thin white duke etc Bowie’s awesome and missed , strung out on heaven’s high hitting an all time low,,, SPROCKETS!!!! Gday all!! they say JUMP! ! Fades out out out ou o c ——
Podpower
In my opinion this is one of Bowie's best. Slayed by the critics, but it is incredibly powerful. One of my favorites!
Héctor From
I love this song too. Lucky me I formed my opinion before reading the critics! :D
Cam Smith
Not a huge fan of the album it comes from (Outside remains my favourite overall album from Bowie) but this is probably my favourite track he's ever done.
Amanda Morgan
Someone had an interview with Bowie once and insensitively mentioned Terry to him.Bowie then looked very sad and the interviewer then changed the subject.
These videos of him also resemble mini movies.I may not understand everything,but it is worth watching.
I like the instrument in the background.Something sad about it,too.And the 2 voices at times,very nice.
But yes,it is sad.
At the end,he looks a bit like that death scene in Merry christmas mr.Lawrence when he eventually died.