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)
This Is Not America
David Bowie Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(Sha, la, la, la, la)
Little piece of you
A little peace in me
Will die (this is not a miracle)
For this is not America
Promise not to stare
Too long (this is not America)
For this is not the miracle
There was a time
A storm that blew so pure
For this could be the biggest sky
And I could have the faintest idea
For this is not America
(Sha, la, la, la, la)
(Sha, la, la, la, la)
(Sha, la, la, la, la)
This is not America (no)
This is not (sha, la, la, la, la)
Snowman melting from the inside
Falcon spirals
To the ground (this could be the biggest sky)
So bloody red, tomorrow's clouds
A little piece of you
A little piece in me
Will die (this could be a miracle)
For this is not America
There was a time
A wind that blew so young
For this could be the biggest sky
And I could have the faintest idea
For this is not America
(Sha, la, la, la, la)
(Sha, la, la, la, la)
(Sha, la, la, la, la)
This is not America (no)
This is not (sha, la, la, la)
This is not America (no)
This is not
This is not America (no)
This is not (sha, la, la, la)
The lyrics of David Bowie and Pat Metheny Group's song "This is Not America" open up with the line "This is not America," where America symbolizes a utopia desired by the world. The song suggests that the idea of America is not consistent anymore, and the world has lost hope in its old notion of the country. A little piece of the singer and his listener is dying with that realization. The singer acknowledges that their expectations of America may never be achieved, and the dreams might never come true. The song talks about a failed promise, of something great that could have happened, which never did.
The second verse continues the theme of loss and fading hopes. "Blossom fails to bloom this season," may depict America's failure to prosper and grow while "promise not to stare too long" may suggest that staring at the weaknesses for too long may lead to disappointment. The song talks about how America is starting to crumble from within, like the "snowman melting from the inside." The song suggests that the hope and promise Americans once believed in are dying, and the possibility of restoring it to its former glory may not be possible anymore. The song ends with the repetition of "This is not America," which reiterates the theme of loss and failed expectations.
Line by Line Meaning
This is not America
The current state of affairs does not reflect the ideals and values that America stands for.
(Sha, la, la, la, la)
Little piece of you
The individual is affected by the changes that are happening around them.
A little peace in me
The impact of the external changes is personal and internal to the individual.
Will die (this is not a miracle)
The changes that are happening are not a positive transformation or the result of an extraordinary event.
For this is not America
The current state of affairs does not reflect the principles that America stands for.
Blossom fails to bloom this season
The normal cycle of life is disrupted.
Promise not to stare
The current situation is unpleasant and should not be dwelled upon.
Too long (this is not America)
It is not healthy or sustainable to dwell on the current situation, as it does not align with American values.
For this is not the miracle
The current situation is not a positive transformation or the result of an extraordinary event.
There was a time
There was a time in America when things were better and reflected its values.
A storm that blew so pure
A time when change was for the better, and it aligned with American values.
For this could be the biggest sky
Change can be transformative and larger than what one can imagine.
And I could have the faintest idea
In the past, there was room for growth and a better understanding of how to bring effective changes that align with American values.
This is not America (no)
The current state of affairs does not align with American values or principles.
Snowman melting from the inside
The current situation is affecting individuals and is affecting them on a personal level.
Falcon spirals to the ground
The current situation is harming society and causing it to become weaker, like a falcon that is losing its strength.
So bloody red, tomorrow's clouds
The future holds violent and unsettling events.
Will die (this could be a miracle)
The current situation could be an opportunity for positive change, but it is not being viewed as such.
For this is not America
The current state of affairs does not reflect the values that America stands for.
There was a time
There was a time when America was better, and it reflected its values.
A wind that blew so young
A time when change was for the better, and it aligned with American values.
For this could be the biggest sky
Change can be transformative and larger than what one can imagine.
And I could have the faintest idea
In the past, there was room for growth and a better understanding of how to bring effective changes that align with American values.
This is not America (no)
The current state of affairs does not align with American values or principles.
(Sha, la, la, la, la)
(Sha, la, la, la, la)
(Sha, la, la, la, la)
This is not America (no)
The current state of affairs does not align with American values or principles.
This is not (sha, la, la, la, la)
This is not America (no)
The current state of affairs does not align with American values or principles.
This is not
This is not America (no)
The current state of affairs does not align with American values or principles.
This is not (sha, la, la, la)
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Bowie, Lyle Mays, Patrick B Metheny
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@mickgriffin4939
This man was a musical genius.
@jowi_24seven43
I saw him live at Bercy Village, Paris. My then gf, later wife, then ex wife, offered me the tickets. Best concert ever. We were in front row. And unlike most concerts he played many old school 80/90 songs. It was fantastic and a memory I will always cherish. I believe it was around year 2004.
@anthony27334
Don't forget Pat Metheny/ Lyle Mays wrote the music
@claudiacorcione2257
Absolutely❤
@paulgriffiths7233
What a tune!! I suppose the Bowie purists prefer his own songs but for me this is one of his best, love it 🇺🇸🎼
@sharonkelley1850
❤
@martinsiebert738
True true😊😊😊😊
@espacosacerdotesdeafrodite6857
I'm yet to grow tired of this mesmerizing, sensual song. David and Pat are geniuses.
@franniej.3110
This song is beyond greatness and if u are sad it will rip u to pieces.
@robyndismon394
Yes. It will
.I am there