The Bewlay Brothers
David Bowie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

And so the story goes they wore the clothes
They said the things to make it seem improbable
Whale of a lie like they hope it was

And the good men tomorrow had their feet in the wallow
And their heads of brawn were nicer shorn
And how they bought their positions with saccharin and trust
And the world was asleep to our latent fuss
Sighing's swirl through the streets like the crust of the sun, the Bewlay Brothers

In our wings that bark
Flashing teeth of brass
Standing tall in the dark
Oh, and we were gone
Hanging out with your dwarf men
We were so turned on
By your lack of conclusions

I was stone and he was wax so he could scream and still relax
Unbelievable
And we frightened the small children away
And our talk was old and dust would flow
Through our veins and though it was midnight back at the kitchen door
Like the grim face on the cathedral floor
The solid book we wrote cannot be found today
And it was stalking time for the moon boys, the Bewlay Brothers

With our backs on the arch
And if the Devil may be here
But he can't sing about that
Oh, and we were gone
Real cool traders
We were so turned on
You thought we were fakers

And now the dress is hung, the ticket pawned
The factor max that proved the fact is melted down
Woven on the edging of my pillow
And my brother lays upon the rocks
He could be dead, he could be not, he could be you
He's chameleon, comedian, Corinthian and caricature
Shooting up pie in the sky
Bewlay brothers
In the feeble, in the bad
Bewlay brothers

In the blessed and cold
In the crutch-hungry dark
Was where we flayed our mark
Oh, and we were gone
Kings of Oblivion
We were so turned on
In the night walk pavilion

Lay me place and bake me pie I'm starving for me gravy
Leave my shoes and door unlocked I might just slip away

Just for the day, ay
Please come away, ay
Just for the day, ay
Please come away, ay
Please come away, ay
Just for the day, ay
Please come away, ay
Please come away, ay
Please come away
Please come away




Away
Away

Overall Meaning

The Bewlay Brothers by David Bowie is a surreal and enigmatic song that employs cryptic lyrics to explore themes of identity, transformation, and alienation. The song tells the story of the titular Bewlay brothers, who are portrayed as unpredictable and elusive characters that exist outside of societal norms. The song is complex and multilayered, and its meaning is open to interpretation. The lyrics are rich in imagery and metaphors, making it difficult to discern what the Bewlay brothers are supposed to represent.


The song's opening lines set the tone for what follows: "And so the story goes they wore the clothes, they said the things to make it seem improbable." The Bewlay brothers are presented as outsiders who manipulate their appearance and speech to create an impression that is deliberately misleading. The next few lines are equally bewildering: "Whale of a lie like they hope it was, and the good men tomorrow had their feet in the wallow." This refers to the way that people can be deceived into believing something that is patently false, even when the evidence suggests otherwise. The Bewlay brothers are presented as having the power to shape reality to their will.


Line by Line Meaning

And so the story goes they wore the clothes
The Bewlay Brothers wore certain outfits that stood out and caught people's attention, which began their story.


They said the things to make it seem improbable
The brothers would say things that didn't sound very believable in order to impress others or add to their mysterious vibe.


Whale of a lie like they hope it was
Their stories were often exaggerated or outright lies, which seemed to please them and add to their mystique.


And the good men tomorrow had their feet in the wallow
People who were considered good or upright often engaged in questionable behavior themselves, but this fact was not yet apparent.


And their heads of brawn were nicer shorn
Even traditionally strong, decisive men could change their ways or be swayed by the Bewlay Brothers' charisma.


And how they bought their positions with saccharin and trust
The brothers were able to secure their own status and influence through a combination of sweet-talk and building trust with people in important positions.


And the world was asleep to our latent fuss
Despite the brothers' growing reputation and the increasing number of rumors being circulated about them, most people remained unaware of the real consequences that lay in store as a result of their actions.


Sighing's swirl through the streets like the crust of the sun, the Bewlay Brothers
The sound of hushed whispers and rumors about the Bewlay Brothers was present everywhere, becoming a persistent and noticeable backdrop to daily life.


In our wings that bark
The imagery of 'wings that bark' could refer to the sharp, aggressive language the brothers used to assert their superiority over others.


Flashing teeth of brass
Their 'flashing teeth of brass' could represent their fearlessness and determination when it came to getting what they wanted.


Standing tall in the dark
The brothers were known to be imposing and difficult to read in certain situations, making them a mystery to those around them.


Oh, and we were gone
The brothers could be incredibly impulsive and unpredictable, constantly moving on to new adventures and leaving others confused and disoriented.


Hanging out with your dwarf men
This line could reflect the idea that the brothers enjoyed the company of people who were weaker or less capable than themselves, which may have made them feel even more powerful.


We were so turned on
The brothers were often energized by the attention and power they wielded, even if the reality was sometimes non-existent or based on falsehoods.


By your lack of conclusions
The Bewlay Brothers seemed to seek out situations where their own authority or control could be highlighted, often at the expense of others' ability to reach firm decisions.


I was stone and he was wax so he could scream and still relax
This refers to the dynamic between the two brothers, with one (the wax) being more malleable and able to 'flex' to deal with various situations, while the other (the stone) was tougher and more intractable.


Unbelievable
This line could reinforce the idea that the Bewlay Brothers often pushed boundaries or made outrageous claims, which were hard for others to accept or understand.


And we frightened the small children away
Their demeanor and reputation was often disturbing or frightening to younger or more vulnerable members of society.


And our talk was old and dust would flow
The conversations and stories relayed by the brothers had a sense of age and timelessness, as if they had been recounted for generations rather than just within the context of their own lives.


Through our veins and though it was midnight back at the kitchen door
The idea of things flowing through their veins could represent their interconnectivity or shared purpose, even when they were not in the same location or physically in sync. The reference to the kitchen door suggests a domestic, peaceful setting, which contrasts with the chaos implied by the rest of the lyrics.


Like the grim face on the cathedral floor
The image of a gruesome or despairing face on a religious floor could evoke a sense of darkness and foreboding, further emphasizing the macabre and unsettling nature of the Bewlay Brothers' story.


The solid book we wrote cannot be found today
This line could suggest that the Brothers had left behind a legacy or record of their activities, but that much of this had been lost over time or was not easily accessible to others.


And it was stalking time for the moon boys, the Bewlay Brothers
The reference to the 'moon boys' could suggest an affinity for the night or for things that were more mystical or otherworldly. The use of 'stalking time' could indicate a sense of threat or danger that was building around the brothers' activities.


With our backs on the arch
The image of standing with one's back against an arch could suggest a kind of defiance or security, with the arch acting as a protective barrier.


And if the Devil may be here
This phrase almost seems like a challenge, as if the Bewlay Brothers are daring some sort of evil force or adversary to come forward and test them.


But he can't sing about that
This line may be suggesting that the Devil doesn't have the right kind of language or energy to fully describe or understand the complex nature of the Brothers' story or their motivations.


Real cool traders
This line could be projecting a certain level of confidence or success onto the Brothers, as if they were 'real cool traders' who knew how to work the system and manipulate others to get what they wanted.


We were so turned on
This line once again highlights the brothers' desire for power and attention, and how much they were fueled by these things.


You thought we were fakers
This line could be a nod to the fact that many people underestimated the Brothers or thought they were bluffing when in fact they were deadly serious.


And now the dress is hung, the ticket pawned
This line could suggest a shift in the Brothers' fortunes or status, as if they no longer have access to the same resources or are no longer able to exert the same level of influence as before.


The factor max that proved the fact is melted down
This line could be referring to some sort of critical piece of information or evidence that the Brothers required to maintain their image or reputation, but which has vanished or been destroyed.


Woven on the edging of my pillow
The idea of something being 'woven' into one's pillow could suggest a haunting or lingering presence which is always present and unshakeable.


And my brother lays upon the rocks
This line could hint at a sense of tragedy or loss, suggesting that one of the Brothers has been cast down or abandoned in a rocky or unforgiving setting.


He could be dead, he could be not, he could be you
The end of this line could suggest that anyone could fall victim to the dangerous and unpredictable nature of the Bewlay Brothers, and that death or some other fate could be lurking around the corner at any point.


He's chameleon, comedian, Corinthian and caricature
This line could be interpreted as a way of describing the complex, multifaceted nature of the Brothers' personalities and personas. They are constantly shifting and changing, presenting different sides of themselves depending on the context or situation.


Shooting up pie in the sky
This line evokes a sense of hopeful desperation or ambition, as if the Brothers are so determined to succeed that they are willing to take risky or wild chances.


Bewlay brothers
This repetition of the brothers' name acts as a kind of refrain, reinforcing their presence and impact throughout the song.


In the feeble, in the bad
This line could be interpreted as a nod to the Brothers' ability to thrive and take control in situations that are not considered ideal or are less than desirable.


In the blessed and cold
This phrase could suggest that the Brothers were equally adept at handling situations that could be viewed as positive or negative.


In the crutch-hungry dark
The idea of a 'crutch-hungry dark' may be intended to suggest a sense of vulnerability or uncertainty, as if the Brothers are acting out of desperation or a need to assert themselves in the face of difficult circumstances.


Was where we flayed our mark
This line could suggest that the Brothers were able to leave a lasting impression or make their presence felt in even the most challenging environments or circumstances.


Oh, and we were gone
Once again, the Brothers' tendency to move on or disappear quickly is highlighted, suggesting a sense of mystery and elusiveness that surrounds them.


Kings of Oblivion
This line presents the Brothers as being in a state of supreme power or control, and as if they are masterminds of their own lives and their own story.


We were so turned on
The final line of the song echoes the themes of energy, excitement, and recklessness that have been present throughout, reinforcing the idea that the Brothers were driven by a deep passion and intensity that others simply could not match.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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