Oh! You Pretty Things
David Bowie The Spiders From Mars Lyrics


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Wake up you sleepy head
Put on some clothes, shake up your bed
Put another log on the fire for me
I've made some breakfast and coffee
Look out my window and what do I see
A crack in the sky and a hand reaching down to me
All the nightmares came today
And it looks as though they're here to stay

What are we coming to
No room for me, no fun for you
I think about a world to come
Where the books were found by the golden ones
Written in pain, written in awe
By a puzzled man who questioned
What we were here for
All the strangers came today
And it looks as though they're here to stay

Oh you Pretty Things
Don't you know you're driving your
Mamas and Papas insane
Oh you Pretty Things
Don't you know you're driving your
Mamas and Papas insane
Let me make it plain
You gotta make way for the Homo Superior

Look at your children
See their faces in golden rays
Don't kid yourself they belong to you
They're the start of a coming race
The earth is a bitch
We've finished our news
Homo Sapiens have outgrown their use
All the strangers came today
And it looks as though they're here to stay

Oh you Pretty Things
Don't you know you're driving your
Mamas and Papas insane
Oh you Pretty Things
Don't you know you're driving your
Mamas and Papas insane




Let me make it plain
You gotta make way for the Homo Superior

Overall Meaning

The song "Oh! You Pretty Things" by David Bowie is a reflection of his fascination with the idea of evolution and the potential for a new superior race. The lyrics of the song start with a call for action to the listener to wake up and face the new dawn. It refers to a crack in the sky and a hand reaching out, which seems like it's trying to communicate with the human race.


The song goes on to discuss the potential of a new world where books are found by the golden ones, and they are written in pain and awe, by a puzzled man who questioned the purpose of our existence. Bowie believes in the evolution of the human race where a superior breed, Homo Superior, will exist.


The song ends with a warning to parents that their children are not their property and that they are the start of a coming race. Bowie emphasizes the point that the earth is a bitch and that Homo Sapiens have outgrown their use. The final lines of the song repeat the chorus of the song, which is a plea to make way for the Homo Superior.


Line by Line Meaning

Wake up you sleepy head
Get up from bed, be active and alert.


Put on some clothes, shake up your bed
Change you attire, fix up your bed as you get ready to face the day.


Put another log on the fire for me
Add more fuel to the fire to keep it going for warmth or to cook food.


I've made some breakfast and coffee
Food and drink has been prepared for your consumption.


Look out my window and what do I see
Observing the surroundings outside the window.


A crack in the sky and a hand reaching down to me
A strange, apocalyptic vision of the sky and subsequent religious imagery.


All the nightmares came today
All the bad things happened at once, causing fear and uncertainty.


And it looks as though they're here to stay
The problems appear permanent and may not go away.


What are we coming to
What is happening to us?


No room for me, no fun for you
A life without enjoyment, restrictions for growth and fulfillment.


I think about a world to come
A hopeful projection of the future.


Where the books were found by the golden ones
In a perfect world, books would be cherished by people who knew their value.


Written in pain, written in awe
Books are full of moments of high and low emotions expressed by the author.


By a puzzled man who questioned
An author who was perplexed about the world and its meaning.


What we were here for
The author was questioning the purpose of human existence.


All the strangers came today
Strange people showed up on this particular day, reiterating the theme of uncertainty and the unknown.


And it looks as though they're here to stay
Again, the uncertainty and ambiguity of the future are revealed.


Oh you Pretty Things
Addressing a group of young, attractive people.


Don't you know you're driving your
Implying that these young people may be responsible for a host of troubles.


Mamas and Papas insane
These young people's parents may be suffering because of their actions.


Let me make it plain
Making things clear and transparent for the listener.


You gotta make way for the Homo Superior
A reference to the idea of the evolution of a superior human being, possibly through science or other means.


Look at your children
Advice to parents to observe their kids.


See their faces in golden rays
Seeing the beauty and innocence in their children.


Don't kid yourself they belong to you
A reminder that children have their own identities, thoughts and feelings, separate from their parents.


They're the start of a coming race
Children are the future of the human race, and will eventually take over from their elders.


The earth is a bitch
A disparaging view of the planet that we live on.


We've finished our news
Humanity has consumed and created all the news it can.


Homo Sapiens have outgrown their use
Suggesting that evolution may take humans beyond their current form.


Oh you Pretty Things
Reiterating the idea of addressing a group of young, attractive people.


Don't you know you're driving your
The young, attractive people's actions are responsible for negative consequences.


Mamas and Papas insane
The parents of these young people may suffer the results of their children's actions.


Let me make it plain
Again, making things clear and transparent.


You gotta make way for the Homo Superior
The idea that there may be a superior form of humanity that will eventually replace us.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVID BOWIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@ulladubullab

I will never forget the moment when I shook hands with Bowie, we talked a bit and I got his autograph ( life complete 🥂 )...this was in 2002

@mrmercury8553

Lucky you are friend

@seankilburn7200

I wasn’t even alive. How time flies.

@waynenorthspacebuoy3529

Totally agree ... Absolutely ... and then I try to cover a few songs as Space Boy . on YT ... hahahaha .... what a laugh.

@CruiseBro16

lucky

@ostimeg

m'jaw dropd.

61 More Replies...

@hu3an8ty14

David’s music and lyrics are timeless. This has always been one of my absolute favourites. Thank you posting. We miss him terribly. Looking back, we had a genius in our midst, a man who brought joy to everyone’s life.

@GeorgeTheDinoGuy

He had a way of making the most important moments of our lives into songs

@sylviecloutier2275

J’ai toujours aimer David bowie je l écoute depuis l âge de 18 ans j en n ai 60 aujourd hui

@GeorgeTheDinoGuy

@@sylviecloutier2275 fantastique!

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