David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally… Read Full Bio ↴David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 – 10 January 2016), known professionally as David Bowie, was an English singer-songwriter and actor. A leading figure in the music industry, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century. Bowie was acclaimed by critics and musicians, particularly for his innovative work during the 1970s. His career was marked by reinvention and visual presentation, and his music and stagecraft had a significant impact on popular music.

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)

Teenage Wildlife
David Bowie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, how come you only want tomorrow?
With its promise of something hard to do

A real-life adventure
Worth more than pieces of gold

Blue skies above, sun on your arms
Strength in your stride and hope in those squeaky-clean eyes

(Hope in those squeaky-clean eyes)
You'll get chilly receptions everywhere you go
Blinded with desire, I guess the season is on

So you train by shadow boxing, search for the truth
But it's all, but it's all used up
Break open your million-dollar weapon and push your luck
Still you push, still you push your luck

A broken-nosed mogul are you
One of the new-wave boys

Same old thing in brand, new drag
Comes sweeping into view, whoa, hoe, hoe, hoe, hoe, hoe
As ugly as a teenage millionaire
Pretending it's a whizz-kid world
You'll take me aside, and say

"Well, David, what shall I do?
They wait for me in the hallway"
I'll say, "Don't ask me, I don't know any hallways"
But they move in numbers and they've got me in a corner

I feel like a group of one
No, no, they can't do this to me
I'm not some piece of teenage wildlife
(Ooh, not some piece of teenage wildlife
Ooh, not some piece of teenage wildlife)

Those midwives to history put on their bloody robes
And the word is that the hunted one is out there on his own
And you're alone for maybe the last time
And you breathe for a long time
Then you howl like a wolf in a trap and you daren't look behind

You fall to the ground, like a leaf from a tree
And look up, one time, at that vast blue sky
Scream out of line as they shoot you down

No, no, I'm not a piece of teenage wildlife
I'm not a piece of teenage wildlife
(Ooh, not a piece teenage wildlife
Ooh, not a piece of teenage wildlife)

And no one will have seen and no one will confess
The fingerprints will prove that you couldn't pass the test
There'll be others on the line, filing past, who'll whisper low
"I miss you," he really had to go

Well, each to his own, he was another piece of teenage wildlife
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
'Nother piece of teenage wildlife
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)

'Nother piece of teenage wildlife
(Ooo, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)

Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)

(Ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife

Ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife
Ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)

Overall Meaning

"Teenage Wildlife" is one of David Bowie's songs discussing the characteristics of the music industry and criticising the trends that dominated the industry during his era. In the song, Bowie highlights the desire of some artists to gain quick success and fame without taking the time to develop their art. He addresses the young artists' lack of life experience and their eagerness to become part of the industry. Bowie suggests that being a true artist requires a deep understanding of oneself and the world, and emphasizes that these qualities are unlikely to be found among young artists who lack the patience to develop.

The lines "Well, how come you only want tomorrow? With its promise of something hard to do, a real-life adventure worth more than pieces of gold" is Bowie questioning the intentions of young musicians who are only focused on getting through tomorrow, without focusing on the process or the experience. Bowie is advising them to take a step back and focus on the essential aspects of being an artist, which is the experience.

Furthermore, Bowie criticises what he sees as the phoniness of the music industry, portrayed in the lines "As ugly as a teenage millionaire, Pretending it's a whizz-kid world." In a world where people aspire to be rich and famous for the sake of being rich and famous, Bowie suggests that true artists should not buy into the industry's superficial image but should focus on their art.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, how come you only want tomorrow?
Why are you always focused on the future without appreciating the present?

With its promise of something hard to do
The uncertainty of the future is what drives you

A real-life adventure
You seek challenge and excitement in life

Worth more than pieces of gold
Money is not as valuable as the experiences you have

Blue skies above, sun on your arms
You feel free and alive under the open sky

Strength in your stride and hope in those squeaky-clean eyes
You feel invigorated and optimistic about the future

(Hope in those squeaky-clean eyes)
Even though you may be naive, you still have faith in what's to come

You'll get chilly receptions everywhere you go
People will not always be welcoming to your idealistic views

Blinded with desire, I guess the season is on
Your passion for adventure and change guides you, even if it may not always be rational

So you train by shadow boxing, search for the truth
You prepare yourself by practicing to understand the world

But it's all, but it's all used up
Your efforts don't always lead to success

Break open your million-dollar weapon and push your luck
Use everything at your disposal to strive for more

Still you push, still you push your luck
You're determined to succeed despite the odds

A broken-nosed mogul are you
You're a successful figure, but have been through hardships

One of the new-wave boys
You embrace new ideas and ways of thinking

Same old thing in brand, new drag
Your message is the same, but you present it in a different way

Comes sweeping into view, whoa, hoe, hoe, hoe, hoe, hoe
You introduce your ideas in a bold and impressive way

As ugly as a teenage millionaire
You don't aspire to be rich and superficial; you want to make a difference

Pretending it's a whizz-kid world
The world is full of young people like you who have the potential to make things better

You'll take me aside, and say
You come to me for advice and guidance

"Well, David, what shall I do?
You're unsure of how to navigate the challenges ahead

They wait for me in the hallway"
You feel pressured by those who want to see you succeed

I'll say, "Don't ask me, I don't know any hallways"
I don't have all the answers, and can't always guide you in the right direction

But they move in numbers and they've got me in a corner
You feel overwhelmed and outnumbered by those who oppose you

I feel like a group of one
You feel isolated in your beliefs and ideas

No, no, they can't do this to me
You won't let others bring you down or change your belief in yourself

I'm not some piece of teenage wildlife
You won't be reduced to a superficial stereotype of young people

(Ooh, not some piece of teenage wildlife Ooh, not some piece of teenage wildlife)
You won't let anyone treat you as such

Those midwives to history put on their bloody robes
Those in power who have shaped history have done so via violent means

And the word is that the hunted one is out there on his own
Those who go against the norm are often ostracized by society

And you're alone for maybe the last time
You feel isolated and unsure of whether anyone else shares your beliefs

And you breathe for a long time
You pause to reflect on your life and beliefs

Then you howl like a wolf in a trap and you daren't look behind
You let out a cry of defiance and refuse to look back

You fall to the ground, like a leaf from a tree
You feel defeated and vulnerable

And look up, one time, at that vast blue sky
You see the possibility of hope and success

Scream out of line as they shoot you down
You refuse to go down without a fight and make your voice heard

No, no, I'm not a piece of teenage wildlife
You refuse to let others define you by your age or stage in life

(Ooh, not a piece teenage wildlife Ooh, not a piece of teenage wildlife)
You won't let anyone put you in a box

And no one will have seen and no one will confess
No one will acknowledge or take responsibility for the challenges you face

The fingerprints will prove that you couldn't pass the test
You will bear the negative consequences of the challenges you face, even if they're not your fault

There'll be others on the line, filing past, who'll whisper low
Others in your position will face the same challenges you do

"I miss you," he really had to go
Others will lament the loss of potential and could-have-beens

Well, each to his own, he was another piece of teenage wildlife
Everyone is their own person and has the potential to make their own impact

Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
Another young person trying to make their mark

'Nother piece of teenage wildlife
Another young person seeking adventure and change

Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
A reminder of the wildness and potential of youth

Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
Celebrating the energy and spirit of young people

Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
A call to embrace the passion and drive of youth

Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
An anthem for young people who want to make a difference in the world

Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
A reminder that youth is fleeting and should be cherished

Wildlife (ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
A celebration of youthful ideals and passion

(Ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife Ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife Ooh, 'nother piece of teenage wildlife)
Embracing the energy, spirit, and potential of young people

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID BOWIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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