china girl
David Bowie / Stevie Ray Vaughan Lyrics

Oh, oh, oh, little China girl
Repeating the phrase, setting the scene for the whole song

I could escape this feeling, with my China girl
The singer feels he could escape his emotional turmoil with the help of his partner, whom he calls his China girl

I feel a wreck without my, little China girl
The singer feels helpless and lost without his China girl, as if he is a wreck or completely broken down

I hear her heart beating, loud as thunder
The artist is tuned in to how his partner is feeling, and her heart is beating loudly, signaling her emotions are intense

Saw they stars crashing
An alternative, poetic way of saying he witnessed an end or downfall, likely in contrast to the intense and passionate connection he feels with his China girl

Wake up mornings where's my, little China girl
The singer wakes up wondering where his China girl is, which implies she may not be with him all the time

I feel a-tragic like I'm Marlon Brando
The singer feels like he is in a tragic, pitiful state like Marlon Brando may have portrayed in some of his films

When I look at my China girl
The artist is so entranced by his China girl's beauty, that looking at her brings some relief from his chaotic thoughts and feelings

I could pretend that nothing really meant too much
In the presence of his China girl, the artist can temporarily forget about the bigger issues of the world and find solace in the moment

I stumble into town just like a sacred cow
The artist feels as if he is blindly wandering around like a sacred cow, which is a symbol of the divine in some cultures

Visions of swastikas in my head
The singer is having disturbing visions of Nazi symbols, which suggests he is struggling with complex and dark issues that are affecting his mental state

Plans for everyone
The artist may have plans for himself and his partner, but he seems to recognize that everyone has their own plans and desires that may not align with his own

It's in the whites of my eyes
The singer's feelings and emotions are so strong that it's visible in his eyes

My little China girl
The singer is referring to his partner, who he sees as his little China girl

You shouldn't mess with me
The singer is warning someone not to mess with him, as he may lash out and cause harm

I'll ruin everything you are
If someone messes with him, the artist is threatening to ruin everything they hold dear

You know, I'll give you television
The artist is offering to give someone entertainment, suggesting he has access to wealth or resources

I'll give you eyes of blue
The singer is making a promise about changing someone's eye color, which seems impossible and perhaps ridiculous, suggesting that he is making empty promises or trying to impress someone with grandiose statements

I'll give you men's who want to rule the world
The singer is offering to introduce someone to powerful men who want to control everything, which suggests that he sees this as something valuable, but it could also indicate that he is entangled with people of questionable ethics or motives

And when I get excited
The artist is acknowledging that he can become excited or agitated at times

My little China girl says
The artist's partner, his little China girl, is an important source of guidance and support for him

Oh baby, just you shut your mouth
His China girl is telling him to be quiet or to not say certain things, perhaps to avoid getting into trouble or causing harm

She says, sh-sh-shhh
The singer's China girl is shushing him or calming him down from becoming too excited or agitated

Oh, oh, oh, little China girl
The song ends the way it began, reinforcing the importance of the artist's China girl through repetition