Oh, hear this Robert Zimmerman
David Bowie is addressing Bob Dylan, whose real name is Robert Zimmerman, in this line.

I wrote a song for you
David Bowie has written a song for Bob Dylan and is singing it now.

About a strange young man called Dylan
The song David Bowie is singing is about Bob Dylan, who is a strange young man according to David Bowie.

With a voice like sand and glue
Bob Dylan has a unique voice that sounds both rough and sticky, according to David Bowie.

Some words had truthful vengeance
Bob Dylan's lyrics were sometimes cutting and held a lot of truth in them, which could hurt people.

That could pin us to the floor
Bob Dylan's lyrics were so powerful that they can leave a deep impact on people's minds.

Brought a few more people on
Bob Dylan's songs attracted more fans to his concerts.

And put the fear in a whole lot more
Bob Dylan's songs also made some people fear him.

Ah, here she comes
David Bowie is referring to a person or an idea that he is not fond of in this line.

Here she comes, here she comes again
This person or idea keeps coming back again and again.

The same old painted lady
This person or idea is like an old, tired cliché.

From the brow of the superbrain
This person or idea is coming from a place of authority, but David Bowie is not impressed.

She'll scratch this world to pieces
This person or idea will destroy everything if given the chance, according to David Bowie.

As she comes on like a friend
This person or idea will try to win people over with a friendly appearance.

Couple of songs from your old scrapbook
David Bowie is referring to a couple of old Bob Dylan songs that can do something specific in the next lines.

Could send her home again
These old Bob Dylan songs can make this unwelcome person or idea go away.

Gave your heart to every bedsit room, at least a
Bob Dylan's songs have touched the hearts of many people, who may not have been able to afford anything more than a simple room.

Picture on my wall
David Bowie has a picture of Bob Dylan on his wall.

And you sat behind a million pair of eyes
Bob Dylan was watched by millions of people during his concerts.

And told them how they saw
Bob Dylan's songs helped people see their own lives and the world around them in a different way.

Then we lost your train of thought
Bob Dylan's recent music may have lost some of its focus or direction, according to David Bowie.

Your paintings are all your own
Bob Dylan is an artist in the purest sense of the word, according to David Bowie.

While troubles are rising, we'd rather be scared
People are prefer to be scared and stick together during tough times, rather than face their problems alone.

Together than alone
People are stronger together when facing difficult situations.

Now hear this, Robert Zimmerman
David Bowie is addressing Bob Dylan again in this line.

Though I don't suppose we'll meet
David Bowie doesn't expect to meet Bob Dylan in person anytime soon.

Ask your good friend Dylan
David Bowie is asking Bob Dylan to reach out to someone named Dylan who is his good friend.

If he'd gaze a while down the old street
David Bowie wants Bob Dylan's friend to take a trip down memory lane and remember the past.

Tell him we've lost his poems
People have lost the taste for poetry in general in the modern age.

So we're writing on the walls
People have taken to writing graffiti on walls in order to express themselves.

Give us back our unity
People want to feel connected in a world that can be very isolating.

Give us back our family
People want to feel like part of a larger community or family.

You're every nation's refugee
Bob Dylan is a wandering troubadour who belongs to no particular nation, according to David Bowie.

Don't leave us with their sanity
David Bowie is concerned that people will lose their minds if they have to deal with the challenges of the modern world without music, poetry and art.

Ah, couple of songs from your old scrapbook
David Bowie is returning to the notion that Bob Dylan's old songs can make a big difference.

Could send her home again
Old Bob Dylan songs can still make this person or idea go away.

Oh, here she comes
David Bowie is singing about the unwelcome person or idea again.

Here she comes, and here she comes
This person or idea keeps coming back, again and again.