Queen Bitch
The Spiders from Mars Lyrics


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Ai-yah
Oh yeah

I'm up on the eleventh floor and I'm watching the cruisers below
Oh well her heart's in the basement
My weekend's at an all-time low
He's down on the street and he's trying hard to pull sister Flo
'Cause she's hoping to score, so I can't see her letting him go
Walk out of her heart - walk out of her mind

She's so swishy in her satin and tat
And her frock coat and bibbity-bobbity hat
Oh God I could do better than that

She's an old-time ambassador
Of sweet talking night walking games
Oh and she's known in the darkest clubs for pushing ahead of the dames
And if she says she can do it then she can do it
She don't make false claims
Oh she's a queen and such are queens
That your laughter is sucked in their brains
Now she's leading him on, and she'll lay him right down
Yes she's leading him on, and she'll lay him right down
But it could've been me, yes it could've been me
Why didn't I say, why didn't I say?
No no no

She's so swishy in her satin and tat
And her frock coat and bibbity-bobbity hat
Oh God I could do better than that

So I lay down a while and I gaze at my hotel wall
The cot feels so cold, it don't feel like no bed at all
Yeah I lay down a while, and look at my hotel wall
And he's down on the street so I throw both his bags down the hall
And I'm phoning a cab, 'cause my stomach feels small
There's a taste in my mouth, but it's no taste at all
It could've been me, oh yes it could've been me
Why didn't I say, why didn't I say?

She's so swishy in her satin and tat
And her frock coat and bibbity-bobbity hat
Oh God I could do better than that




You betcha
Oh yeah

Overall Meaning

The Spiders from Mars's "Queen Bitch" has a conversational style of lyrics which tell a narrative of a man watching the hustle and bustle of the street below from his eleventh-floor vantage point in a hotel room. He sees a man on the street trying to pick up a woman named Sister Flo. He recognises her as an ambassador of night walking games and a queen of sorts, given her status in the darkest clubs. She's also known for pushing ahead of other women. The singer is both in awe and disgusted by her, partly because she's not interested in him, but mostly because of her manipulative nature.


The misogynistic lyrics of "Queen Bitch" can be read as a commentary about the danger of entangling with women who play games, leading to the heartbreak of the men who get played. The lines "She's an old-time ambassador/Of sweet-talking night walking games" is a reference to the notion of sex being viewed as a game in which women use every means possible to hold all the power. The verse "She's leading him on, and she'll lay him right down" shows again how the woman is in control and how the man is nothing but a willing participant in her game.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm up on the eleventh floor and I'm watching the cruisers below
I'm above the crowd engaging in their usual activities and observing them from a higher perspective


Oh well her heart's in the basement
She has no depth of emotion, she's superficial


My weekend's at an all-time low
My current state of enjoyment and productivity is at an all-time low


He's down on the street and he's trying hard to pull sister Flo
He's trying hard to seduce his female companion standing on the street


'Cause she's hoping to score, so I can't see her letting him go
She wants something from him, so it's unlikely that she'll reject him


Walk out of her heart - walk out of her mind
Forget about her, don't give her the time of day


She's so swishy in her satin and tat
Her dress is flowing and elegant


And her frock coat and bibbity-bobbity hat
She's wearing a flamboyant hat and a frilly coat


Oh God I could do better than that
I could dress better than her


She's an old-time ambassador
She's familiar with the old ways of manipulation and seduction


Of sweet talking night walking games
She's skilled in the art of sweet talking and walking around at night


Oh and she's known in the darkest clubs for pushing ahead of the dames
She's notorious in the darkest clubs for being more assertive than other women


And if she says she can do it then she can do it
She's capable of anything she sets her mind to


She don't make false claims
She's an honest woman


Oh she's a queen and such are queens
She's a queen-like figure, and that's what queens are like


That your laughter is sucked in their brains
You can't help but be mesmerized by her, she's irresistible


Now she's leading him on, and she'll lay him right down
She's toying with him, and she'll eventually have sex with him


But it could've been me, yes it could've been me
I could have been the one to have sex with her


Why didn't I say, why didn't I say?
Why didn't I make a move on her?


No no no
I regret not making a move on her


So I lay down a while and I gaze at my hotel wall
I lay down on my bed and I stare at the wall of my hotel room


The cot feels so cold, it don't feel like no bed at all
The bed is uncomfortable and not providing any warmth or comfort


And he's down on the street so I throw both his bags down the hall
I throw his belongings down the hallway because he's still outside and hasn't come back yet


And I'm phoning a cab, 'cause my stomach feels small
I'm calling a cab because I feel sick and nauseous


There's a taste in my mouth, but it's no taste at all
I'm experiencing a feeling or sensation, but it's not a pleasant one


It could've been me, oh yes it could've been me
I could have been the one having sex with her


Why didn't I say, why didn't I say?
Why didn't I make a move on her?


You betcha
You can be sure of it


Oh yeah
That's right




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
Written by: David Bowie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Steven Haywood

Lovely rendition of this ever-so-famous-song, describing people's reactions to news of apocalyptic events five years after the stated time! Just amazing!
Thanks for uploading oh-true-Ziggy's-fan!
sttgaegoaktd

MT- TVC15

Thanks for the thanks lad much appreciated

Danny Miles

Wonderful. I was enchanted by this again after seeing it at the 78 show. The final time.

Debra Morphett

Never heard this version before thanks

Eliana Personeni

...e la canta con lo stesso impeto e passione e mi trasmette l'identica emozione della registrazione in studio con gli Spiders from Mars.
Forse ancora di più

Stephen Young

A superb live version wish their was a video to go with it.when i listen to stuff like this it makes me glad that i have followed a great man for 46yrs .miss him so much.thank you mt xx

Stephen Young

@Danny Miles yes i remember the 78 gigs a think he started the british leg of his tour in newcastle city hall for 3 nights a was lucky enough to see him twice first nd last night my mouth and eyes were just open all the time a cldt even hold a camera my bro took the pics for me.my first ever concert i was just frozen to the spot about 30 seats from stage but i saw everything and seeing the bowie fans dressed as ziggy nd thin white duke it blew me away.was lucky to see him at opening of metro arena to.befor gig a was wondering about nr back stage a bouncer stopped me offerd him £50 quid to go further.no no no then bt 8ft infront a guy with his back to us nd hair like bowie nd so dapper a looked nd never give it a thought he walked away the bouncer said you dont no him that well it was bowie i pleaded with him nd offerd more cash he just held me back the outside gig was bloody great a saw bowie walk on stage before most av never shouted so much in my life.saw him at riverside cpl yrs after small gigs 500 were their nd a was 1 person infront of stage it was so cool.went to utrect to see him as well that was out of this world running off train in to arena nd getting very near the front al never forget any of the gigs saw him in leeds to got their 8hrs befor gig started was about 15th in que saw the band getting off bus but no bowie then a girl shouted he was as side sneeking in we ran to see but didt make it to see him .but the gig was fkn well good.av seen him 6 times am so lucky and each gig was just awsome.memories never fade just like the love for him will never fade x

Danny Miles

@Stephen Young Yes true Stephen. Would love to have seen the 74 and 76 shows for sure. One great thing though, we saw the legendary 78 show, his first ever full World Tour.
To be only a few metres away from him doing Ziggy, 5 years, Star and Hang On To Yourself was surreal. It was only 5 years since he decided to end Ziggy, so it was still a close connection. The 10ft neon bar lighting and clothes were sensational and the set list including the Low and Heroes albums was such highly intellectual rock concert material. It is still the greatest show I've ever seen and I've been to many.
My other most loved solo artists are also Lou Reed, Eno and Iggy. But, I feel only Reed can come close to Bowie for sheer amount of brilliant albums and songs. As you said those fellow Brits, Elton, Rod and the rest can't be considered because of the money grabbing songs they write. If only there was more quality live shows for us to see from 74 up to 78. I was part of an experimental group of friends who tried different things to enhance the experience of music parties and live concerts. I realised what I Ioved so much about Bowie's music. It always had superb guitars and it was the most out there of all music. That is what all the albums from 1970 to 1980 had, a run of albums that can never be matched.

Stephen Young

@Danny Miles a think every thing that bowie done in my eyes were fkn brilliant but some that wernt that great but thats expected with every star and boy was he a star.a was lucky to see him 6 times 78 onwards just wish i could of seen him in 74 and 76.the thing i loved about him he was not like the rest of them .stewart.and elton who are just doing stuff to make money nd bore the tits of you nd tour tour tour nd put stuff out what they think is commercial.its tosh them stars wont be rememberd like bowie is and loved and talked about at great lenths for many many years to come.a man well and truly loved and respected by all.i no how much i miss him. And his family will always miss him and be proud of him knowing how many people he touched the hearts of

Mark John-Williams

wow!Never heard this live version of one of my favourite Bowie songs

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