In 2003, Rolling Stone magazine printed its list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". Mick Ronson was ranked at number 64, and "Panic in Detroit" as his "essential recording".
Recording
David Bowie was launched to stardom through the release of The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and his performance of "Starman" on the BBC television programme Top of the Pops in early July 1972. To support the album, Bowie embarked on the Ziggy Stardust Tour in both the UK and the US. He composed most of the tracks for the follow-up record on the road during the US tour in late 1972. Because of this, many of the tracks were influenced by America, and his perceptions of the country.
"Panic in Detroit" was written based on friend Iggy Pop's descriptions of revolutionaries he had known in Michigan, Pop's experiences during the 1967 Detroit riots and the rise of the White Panther Party, specifically their leader John Sinclair. "Panic in Detroit" was recorded at London's Trident Studios in January 1973, following the conclusion of the American tour and a series of Christmas concerts in England and Scotland. Like the rest of its parent album, the song was co-produced by Bowie and Ken Scott and featured Bowie's backing band the Spiders from Mars—guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Woody Woodmansey—with backing vocals from Linda Lewis and Juanita Franklin.
A dispute arose between Bowie and Woodmansey during the recording, wherein the latter refused to play the former's desired Bo Diddley drum figure, reportedly arguing it was "too obvious". The drummer instead played sixteenth notes on his tom-toms, with crash cymbals on the chorus phrases. Bowie's friend Geoff MacCormack eventually added congas and maracas that achieved the effect. Biographer Nicholas Pegg says that the disagreement contributed to growing dissent between the singer and drummer, eventually leading to Woodmansey's firing later in the year.
Music and lyrics
Musically "Panic in Detroit" has been described as a "Salsa variation on the Bo Diddley beat"; Pegg considers Ronson's guitar part very "bluesy". The lyrics namecheck Che Guevara and are also said to contain references to John Sinclair of the White Panther Party. Bowie compared the ideas of Sinclair to the rebel martyr Che Guevara for the narrator in "Panic in Detroit". The lyrics are very dark, featuring images of urban decay, violence, drugs, emotional isolation and suicide, adding to the album's overarching theme of alienation. Author Peter Doggett finds a thematic link between the song and Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower", which "used a similar three-chord riff to underpin its apocalypse".
Panic in Detroit
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Kept his gun in quiet seclusion, such a humble man
The only survivor of the National People's Gang
Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph
He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit
He laughed at accidental sirens that broke the evening gloom
They followed none too soon
A trickle of strangers were all that were left alive
Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph
He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit
Putting on some clothes I made my way to school
And I found my teacher crouching in his overalls
I screamed and ran to smash my favorite slot machine
And jumped the silent cars that slept at traffic lights
Having scored a trillion dollars, made a run back home
Found him slumped across the table a gun and me alone
I ran to the window looked for a plane or two
Panic in Detroit he'd left me an autograph
Let me collect dust I wish someone would phone
Panic in Detroit
Panic in Detroit
Panic in Detroit
The lyrics of David Bowie's song "Panic in Detroit" describe a chaotic scene of violence and fear in the city of Detroit. The singer tells the story of encountering a man who looks like the revolutionary figure Che Guevara and who appears to be a member of a violent gang. The man keeps his gun hidden and is described as being humble.
As the song progresses, the sounds of sirens and police warnings become more prominent, leading to a sense of impending doom. The singer sees his teacher crouching in overalls and becomes overwhelmed with fear. He smashes a slot machine and jumps over cars at traffic lights. Eventually, the singer finds the man dead with a gun and an autograph, leaving him alone in a state of panic.
The lyrics of "Panic in Detroit" can be interpreted in a number of ways. Some suggest that the song is a commentary on the violence and unrest of the 1970s, when urban areas like Detroit were experiencing economic decline and social upheaval. Others argue that the song is more about the personal experience of fear and anxiety, and that the city serves as a metaphor for the inner turmoil of the individual.
Line by Line Meaning
He looked a lot like Che Guevara, drove a diesel van
He had a striking physical resemblance to Che Guevara and drove a vehicle powered by diesel fuel
Kept his gun in quiet seclusion, such a humble man
Despite being armed, he was unassuming and kept his weapon hidden from view
The only survivor of the National People's Gang
He was the sole survivor of a notorious criminal organization known as the National People's Gang
Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph
There was chaos in the city of Detroit, yet the artist was still starstruck and requested an autograph from the mysterious figure
He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone
The figure was reluctant to leave his residence and the artist hoped someone would contact him
He laughed at accidental sirens that broke the evening gloom
The figure found humor in the unintended wailing of police sirens that disrupted the quiet of the night
The police had warned of repercussions, they followed none too soon
Law enforcement officials had cautioned of potential consequences, but they were slow to respond
A trickle of strangers were all that were left alive
Following the chaos, only a small number of unfamiliar individuals remained
Putting on some clothes I made my way to school
The artist got dressed and began their journey to school
And I found my teacher crouching in his overalls
Upon arrival to their classroom, the artist discovered their instructor huddled in work clothing
I screamed and ran to smash my favorite slot machine
In a state of frenzy, the singer cried out before destroying their preferred gambling device
And jumped the silent cars that slept at traffic lights
The artist leapt over motionless vehicles that had yet to resume their travels after the chaos
Having scored a trillion dollars, made a run back home
Following a successful financial gain, the singer returned home in haste
Found him slumped across the table a gun and me alone
Upon arriving at their residence, the singer discovered the mysterious figure lying motionless with a firearm in their presence
I ran to the window looked for a plane or two
Desperate for an escape, the singer searched the skies for possible options
Panic in Detroit he'd left me an autograph
Even in his death, the mysterious figure provided the artist with a signed item
Let me collect dust I wish someone would phone
The signed item was of little use to the artist and they hoped for communication from others instead
Panic in Detroit
The chaotic and dangerous state of the city of Detroit continued to persist
Panic in Detroit
The chaos and danger had not yet subsided
Panic in Detroit
The situation remained dire and fearful in the city of Detroit
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
DrJKintobor
on I Can't Give Everything Away
I can totally imagine this being the end theme of Sabrina Online, when Sabrina marries Richard and they drive off into the sunset...
Peter Bonney
on Diamond Dogs
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