Reeves now records under his own name and with Stefan Svensson as protecto.
He recently joined The Cure to replace Porl Thompson.
Dead Man Walking
Reeves Gabrels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tears his eyes from the screen
As his past puts him back in Atlantic City
There's not even a demon in Heaven or Hell
Is it all just human disguise?
As I walk down the aisle
Deadens? my brain falling up through the years
Till I swivel back round then I fly fly fly
Losing breath from the water then I'm gone gone gone
And I'm gone gone gone
Now I'm older than movies
Let me dance away
Now I'm wiser than dreams
Let me fly fly fly
While I'm touching tomorrow
And I know who's there
When silhouettes fall
And I'm gone
Like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone through a crack in the past
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man walking
Three old men dancing under the lamplight
Shaking their sex and their bones
And the boys that we were
An alien nation in therapy
Sliding naked and new
Like a bad tempered child
On a rain slicked street
Gone gone gone spinning slack through the end?
Deadens? my brain falling up through the years
Till I swivel back round then I fly fly fly
Losing breath from the water then I'm gone gone gone
And I'm gone
And I'm gone, like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone, through the crack in the past
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man
Like a dead man walking
And I'm gone gone gone
Let me dance dance dance
And I'm gone gone gone
Let me dance dance dance
And I'm gone, like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone, through a crack in the past
And I'm gone, like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone, through a crack in the past
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man
Like a dead man walking
The lyrics of Reeves Gabrelsβs song Dead Man Walking can be divided into three parts. The first part is about a man who is watching something on the screen and suddenly he is overcome by his past, which takes him back to Atlantic City. The second part raises a philosophical question about the human existence and its connection to heaven and hell. The last part of the song describes a scene where three old men are dancing under the lamplight, and the boys they were, who were once an alien nation, sliding naked and new like a bad-tempered child on a rain-slicked street. The song portrays a person who is introspecting, reevaluating his life and the choices that he has made. The song could also be interpreted as a reflection on the existential condition of man and how the past shapes the present.
The opening lines of the song, βHe swivels his head, tears his eyes from the screen as his past puts him back in Atlantic City,β suggests that the singer is watching something that triggers his past memories, and he cannot help but be drawn into the past. The second part of the song raises philosophical questions about the nature of human existence. The lines βthereβs not even a demon in Heaven or Hell, is it all just human disguise?β suggest that the singer is questioning the existence of a higher power and whether our lives are meaningless. In the last part of the song, the scene described is of three old men dancing under a lamplight, and the boys they were, sliding naked and new, like a bad-tempered child on a rain-slicked street. This scene could be interpreted as a reminiscence of the singer's youth or as a metaphor for life.
The song Dead Man Walking can be interpreted in many ways and can have different meanings for different people. It is a reflection on the human condition and the choices we make. It also explores the nature of time and how the past shapes the present. The song is a powerful example of poetic imagery and a deep exploration of the human psyche.
Line by Line Meaning
He swivels his head
He quickly moves his head to look in another direction
Tears his eyes from the screen
He takes his eyes off the screen
As his past puts him back in Atlantic City
His memories take him back to Atlantic City
There's not even a demon in Heaven or Hell
There is no one as bad as humans, even in Heaven or Hell
Is it all just human disguise?
Is everything just a mask that humans wear?
As I walk down the aisle
As I move forward in life
Gone gone gone spinning slack through the end?
Am I losing control and spiraling towards the end?
Deadens? my brain falling up through the years
My brain is becoming numb as time passes
Till I swivel back round then I fly fly fly
Until I make a sudden change and soar forward
Losing breath from the water then I'm gone gone gone
Taking a deep breath and diving into the unknown
And I'm gone gone gone
I am leaving everything behind
Now I'm older than movies
I have seen and experienced more than any movie can portray
Let me dance away
Let me enjoy life and forget my troubles
Now I'm wiser than dreams
I have gained knowledge that even dreams cannot imagine
Let me fly fly fly
Let me pursue my dreams and achieve my goals
While I'm touching tomorrow
While I am working towards my future
And I know who's there
I know who can support me and be counted on
When silhouettes fall
When times get tough
Three old men dancing under the lamplight
Three elderly men enjoying life
Shaking their sex and their bones
Moving their hips and dancing enthusiastically
And the boys that we were
Remembering their younger days
An alien nation in therapy
A group of people who feel like they don't belong seeking help
Sliding naked and new
Becoming vulnerable and starting fresh
Like a bad tempered child
Acting out impulsively
On a rain slicked street
On a slippery road with uncertain footing
And I'm gone, like I'm dancing on angels
Leaving this world joyfully
Through the crack in the past
Moving on from the past
Like a dead man walking
Going through life feeling numb and detached from everything
Lyrics Β© O/B/O APRA AMCOS, Peermusic Publishing, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: IAN VINCENT JONES, JAIME LEE OLSEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
John Peniell
IN MEMORY OF THE SLAIN HERO AND HIS RESURRECTION
You roared like a Lion in Manhattan, you spent all your money and lived like a king...you fought the battles of the Lord and came to destitution. You cried out in the gates of the city like a leper Messiah, and none gave heed to your call except the outcasts and dregs of society. You gathered them together as a shepherd gathers his sheep...they came to life at your words, your art and your reckless abandon of all convention. You piped a wondrous tune and the light of light entered into them.
You fell into the shadow of death and " looked for his ass". You flew from Station to Station like a demon in your mad quest for redemption--- you redeemed others, yet you didn't redeem yourself. How have the mighty fallen! Your days passed like a shadow,yet you fought the evil eye of Sauron...you fought the wild beasts in the forests of Mordor....the hordes of Gog and Magog descended upon you. They surrounded you like maddened bees, yet you cut them off in the name of the Lord. But Gog had the upper hand and slew you...he desecrated your body, he infested your temple with the wasting disease! Yet you held on to the last and made an everlasting memory of your strife, the cries of your art told the tale of your war, it told the gospel of your death, it published the news of your ascension...here you are, dwelling in heaven, no scars to be seen...here you are, one magical movement from Keter to Malkuth! Here you are, you fly like an angel from Station to Station! Fly on you crazy diamonds, and arise from the dust...the time of your warfare is past...
He walks among us like a god among men...and who can tell his tale? He was not regarded by the high and mighty, he was cast off as a freak of nature....yet he gathered the outcasts of Israel...his memory endures forever!
He will be given the spoils of war, he will be raised and exalted more than he ever was during the days of his mortality...he is the hope of all of those who have fallen in battle! Shine on, shine on you mad Man, you Hero, you Lazarus, you Blackstar!
Andrei & Knuckles
One of my favorite songs ever, I barely have the words to explain the brilliance of it. It's beautiful, it makes you think, and it makes you dance like a freak. Cathartic.
David Weaver
I am really enjoying these "retrospectives" from Reeves Gabrels, as they give lots of personal insights into the workings of my favourite singer/songwriter of all time. The very much missed, David Bowie π
soundandvision 77
Yes these are great stories from Reeves. I love Earthling, it was my first Bowie album. What I find so interesting about it is that underneath all the drums, noise and textures - most of the songs on Earthling have very simple riffs and melodies that evoke earlier Bowie songs. But they are transformed into something much bigger and challenging on Earthling. Great stuff.
Thibaut Dauphy
It was my first Bowie Album Too. It was a shock for the 16teen boy I was π
Hail Mary Recordings
Reeves is one of my favorite guitarists. What a breath of fresh-air when Tin Machine came along at the peak of butt-rock on MTV.
Laura Gonzalez
El vΓdeo de Dead Man Walking es una obra de arte!! Me fascinan todos los personajes que creΓ³ Floria Sigismondi. Quisiera que ella compartiera mΓ‘s acerca de ellos. SΓ© que uno de los personajes, el que tiene el peinado alto se llama Violet Iris.
Alexandre Dion
An overlooked gem a regular on my jogging playlist. Never fails to make me feel alive π€
JB
Brilliant. Love this song, especially the acoustic version they did live a few times.
DKNO59
Such a cool story about Bowie and Page. Love Dead Man Walking. β€
Sailor Mercury
Dead an Walking has such an additive beat.