This Is Not America
David Bowie and the Pat Metheny Group Lyrics


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This is not America
(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
Blossom fails to bloom this season
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)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of David Bowie and the Pat Metheny Group's song 'This Is Not America' convey the idea that the current state of America is not what it used to be. The opening lines, "This is not America, shalalalala," make it clear that there is something different about the country. The song goes on to talk about how a little piece of everything is dying, that the world is not blooming, and there is no more miracle. The lyrics suggest that there was a time when America was a better place, and that time is no more.


The lyrics also talk about the weather and nature, such as the snowman melting and the falcon spiraling to the ground. The mention of the biggest sky and the faintest idea creates a sense of vastness and ambiguity. The song seems to suggest that even in the biggest sky, we cannot see everything, and we do not have a clear idea of what is happening.


Overall, 'This Is Not America' has a melancholic tone, expressing disappointment and dissatisfaction toward the current state of America.


Line by Line Meaning

This is not America
The current situation does not reflect the true identity of America


Shalalalala
N/A


A little piece of you,
A small part of your identity


The little piece in me,
The corresponding part within me


Will die
Will cease to exist or be evident


(this is not a miracle)
The change is not miraculous or positive


For this is not America
The current situation does not reflect the true identity of America


Blossom fails to bloom this season,
There is a lack of growth or progress during this period


Promise not to stare,
Do not dwell on the negative aspects


Too long
For an extended period of time


(this is not America)
The current situation does not reflect the true identity of America


For this is not the miracle
The change is not miraculous or positive


There was a time,
In the past


A storm that blew, so pure
A powerful and uncontrollable force


For this could be the biggest sky
The potential for something great to happen


And I could have the faintest idea
I don't have a clear understanding


(this is not America)
The current situation does not reflect the true identity of America


Snowman melting from the inside
A gradual loss of identity or integrity


Falcon spirals to,
A bird of prey descending quickly


The ground
Towards the earth's surface


(this could be the biggest sky)
The potential for something great to happen


So bloody red, tomorrow's clouds
A warning sign of danger or destruction


A little piece of you,
A small part of your identity


The little piece in me
The corresponding part within me


Will die
Will cease to exist or be evident


(this could be a miracle)
The change has the potential to be miraculous or positive


For this is not America
The current situation does not reflect the true identity of America


There was a time,
In the past


A wind that blew, so young
A gentle and innocent force


For this could be the biggest sky
The potential for something great to happen


And I could have the faintest idea
I don't have a clear understanding


(this is not America)
The current situation does not reflect the true identity of America


This is not America (No)
An explicit refutation of the current situation


This is not,
Not the reality


Shalalalala
N/A


This is not America (No)
An explicit refutation of the current situation


This is not,
Not the reality


Shalalalala
N/A


This is not America (No)
An explicit refutation of the current situation


This is not,
Not the reality


Shalalalala
N/A




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Bowie, Lyle Mays, Patrick B Metheny

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@judgeovyoursoulvo8685

will live Forever tat wuzzzZzznut Um... my Erica NOOOoooOoowhoaisU
This IS knot #chapleonthe heel um erica

Wake up, beautiful time to reclaim God's greatest Gift !

Sha La La La laaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwhoa America, THIS IS KNOT um eric

Sha La La La

THIS IS NOT ajmerikah NOOOOooooooo !



All comments from YouTube:

@fredvegerano9607

The 80s...the best decade...the best songs...the best movies...the best
school friends...the best saturday morning cartoons...the best time of
my life....I miss those times....my 80s heroes are dying....so sad....I
will never forget that decade...FOREVER IN MY HEART!!!!

@fredvegerano9607

@jedi1967 👍

@javiererazo3916

Totally agree with you, best year ever!

@skew57

✌👌

@sbonamo

Nostalgia is strong in you...

@ulrichhille5241

How sweet is this🥲💖

1 More Replies...

@silversurfer647

As a lot of people say....

The 80's is probably the best decade of great music, and artists ever.
And I agree.

@ChasBeauregarde

For me, as a matter of subjective taste, it may not be the best decade of
great music but is certainly the LAST decade of great music.

@isabelladestegonzaga5529

Aber denk mal - ohne die 70er wären die 80er nicht möglich gewesen!
But think - without the 70s the 80s would not have been possible!

@ulrichhille5241

You will (almost) always stay in love with the music you grew up with. Or at least, it remains the reference pattern. Hence you will compare music from later (or earlier) decades to it. I think, this is because you're most emotionally open to music when you are young. I guess, at 25 or so, you know what music is relevant to you or not. I'm a 59er, so music from the late 60s and to early 80s is my music.

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