Lazarus
LIVING ROOM 1 - David Bowie Lyrics
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I've got scars that can't be seen
I've got drama, can't be stolen
Everybody knows me now
Look up here, man, I'm in danger
I've got nothing left to lose
I'm so high it makes my brain whirl
Ain't that just like me?
By the time I got to New York
I was living like a king
There I'd used up all my money
I was looking for your ass
This way or no way
You know, I'll be free
Just like that bluebird
Now, ain't that just like me?
Oh, I'll be free
Just like that bluebird
Oh, I'll be free
Ain't that just like me?
The song "Lazarus" from David Bowie's final album, Blackstar, contains lyrics that are both haunting and melancholic. In the opening lines, Bowie sings, "Look up here, I'm in heaven, I've got scars that can't be seen." This suggests that he is in a state of mind where he is reflecting on his life's struggles and imperfections, and contemplating his own death. Bowie's voice sounds frail and weary, as if he is struggling with his own mortality.
As the song continues, Bowie sings about being "in danger" and how he has "got nothing left to lose." He is in a state of mind where he feels like he is on the edge of a precipice, and he could fall off at any moment. He has also dropped his cell phone down below, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for feeling disconnected from the world around him.
The lines "By the time I got to New York, I was living like a king, there I'd used up all my money, I was looking for your ass" suggest that Bowie had lived a wild and extravagant life, but it had left him empty and alone. Now, he is looking for something or someone to help him make sense of it all. The repetition of the line "Ain't that just like me?" reinforces the idea that Bowie is acutely aware of his own flaws and how they have led him to this moment.
Overall, "Lazarus" is a introspective and haunting song that shows Bowie grappling with his own mortality and the legacy he will leave behind.
Line by Line Meaning
Look up here, I'm in heaven
I am now deceased and residing in the afterlife
I've got scars that can't be seen
I have emotional wounds that are not visible to the eye
I've got drama, can't be stolen
My life experiences and struggles cannot be taken away from me
Everybody knows me now
I have reached a level of fame where I am known by many people
Look up here, man, I'm in danger
Despite being in heaven, I am still in a state of peril
I've got nothing left to lose
I have no more possessions or material wealth to hold on to
I'm so high it makes my brain whirl
I am under the influence of drugs, causing my mind to spin
Dropped my cell phone down below
I have lost connection to the outside world and technology
Ain't that just like me?
This is a typical occurrence for me
By the time I got to New York
When I arrived in New York City
I was living like a king
I was living extravagantly and enjoying a luxurious lifestyle
There I'd used up all my money
I spent all of my wealth while living in New York
I was looking for your ass
I was searching for someone important to me
This way or no way
I have made my decision and there is no alternative
You know, I'll be free
I will finally be liberated from my struggles and pain
Just like that bluebird
I will soar and be free, like a bird
Oh, I'll be free
Once again, I reiterate my future freedom
Ain't that just like me?
This is a repeated acknowledgement of my tendencies and past actions
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lukebradley574
Bowie entering the closet: his coffin.
The two Bowie's: the bedridden one to symbolise his body decaying, the active one dancing and writing around the room to symbolise his mind's determination to finish the album, mind over matter.
The girl under his bed trying to claw at him: symbolises the cancer trying to take hold of him, and, eventually, succeeding.
The thought, effort and cleverness put into this music video is mind boggling, how he insinuated his death days before, is and will hopefully go down as one of the most artistically done albums ever made.
RIP Bowie, we'll sure as hell miss you.
@DarrienJohnson2001
I can't believe it's been 8 years since David Bowie passed away.
Rest in peace David Bowie
We'll miss you so much😢💐🕊❤😪🥰
(2016–2024)
8th anniversary of David Bowie's death.
(1947–2016)
Thank you for your music and memories.
@06mrselfdestruct
David Bowie looked straight into the eyes of death, and used it to create his last masterpiece, fucking brilliant
@larkstonguesinaspic4814
IrishZombie81 exactly . He turned his own death into an Art project . What is possibly one of the best albums of all time .
@panzerjagertigerpelefant
When a man who's lived the life of a god in his profession, has gone through so much, from the death of his friends and companions who he sang with, and he nears his end, he knows he must have one last ride with his skills.
@kingken130
just like Freddie Mercury did
@emoAnarchist
thats gotta be the best way i have heard this album described
@carollipton4584
Absolutely. One of the most courageous acts of artistic creation that has ever been.
@wonderland4515
It must be so painful knowing you’re dying and writing a song about it and sing it. He truly went out as a star ❤️
@spongebobslesserknownbroth9769
A blackstar
@vikingfyi
A black star / blackstar is both what you call a dying star (planet), but also it's a cancer lesion...
@lunarvision
One of the most beautiful and moving videos ever.