No Control
David Bowie Lyrics


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Stay away from the future
Back away from the light
It's all deranged - no control
Sit tight in your corner
Don't tell God your plans
It's all deranged
No control
If I could control tomorrow's haze
The darkened shore wouldn't bother me
If I can't control the web we weave
My life will be lost in the fallen leaves
Every single move's uncertain
Don't tell God your plans
It's all deranged
No control
I should live my life on bended knee
If I can't control my destiny
You've gotta have a scheme
You've gotta have a plan
In the world of today, for tomorrow's man
No control
Stay away from the future
Don't tell God your plans
It's all deranged
No control
Forbidden words, deafen me
In memory, no control
See how far a sinful man
Burns his tracks, his bloody robes
You've gotta have a scheme
You've gotta have a plan
In the world of today, for tomorrow's man
I should live my life on bended knee
If I can't control my destiny
No control I can't believe I've no control
It's all deranged
I can't believe I've no control
It's all deranged




Deranged
Deranged

Overall Meaning

The song "No Control" by David Bowie talks about the feeling of being lost and uncertain about the future. The lyrics advise the listener to stay away from the future and back away from the light, suggesting that there is something dangerous and uncontrolled there. The repeated phrase "It's all deranged, no control" emphasizes the idea that the world is chaotic and unpredictable. The lyrics also mention the idea of making plans and trying to control one's destiny, but ultimately acknowledging that every single move is uncertain and one cannot always control the outcome.


The chorus repeats the phrase "You've gotta have a scheme, you've gotta have a plan, in the world of today, for tomorrow's man." This could be interpreted as a critique of the pressure to constantly plan and strategize in modern society, to always be thinking about the future and the next steps. The song seems to suggest that it's impossible to have complete control over one's life, and that sometimes it's better to simply sit tight and stay in one's corner.


Overall, "No Control" is a meditation on the fear and uncertainty that comes with facing an unpredictable future, and the difficulty of trying to make plans and control one's life in such a world.


Line by Line Meaning

Stay away from the future
Avoid thinking too much about the unknown future


Back away from the light
Don't let yourself be blinded by the brightness of illusions


It's all deranged - no control
Everything is chaotic and beyond our control


Sit tight in your corner
Stay still and safe in your comfort zone


Don't tell God your plans
Life is unpredictable, don't assume that your plans will come to fruition


If I could control tomorrow's haze
If only I could determine the difficult times ahead


The darkened shore wouldn't bother me
I wouldn't be worried about the future's uncertainties


If I can't control the web we weave
If I can't shape the fabric of my existence as I intended


My life will be lost in the fallen leaves
My existence will just drift away without a meaningful purpose


Every single move's uncertain
There's no certainty in our decisions and actions


I should live my life on bended knee
One should be humble and accept life's circumstances with grace


You've gotta have a scheme
You must have a plan for the future


In the world of today, for tomorrow's man
We must prepare for what's coming in the future


Forbidden words, deafen me
Some truths are too hard to be spoken aloud


In memory, no control
We can't change the past, we can only keep it in our memories


See how far a sinful man
Look at how someone who's committed certain wrongs can go


Burns his tracks, his bloody robes
The traces of someone's past sins can haunt them and lead to their own downfall


No control I can't believe I've no control
Feeling powerless leads to disbelief and angst


It's all deranged
Everything feels chaotic and out of order


Deranged
A state of chaos and confusion




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN PETER GEORGE ENO, DAVID BOWIE, Brian Eno

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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