The group recorded two studio albums and a live album before dissolving in 1992, when Bowie returned to his solo career. The group was generally reviled, often receiving scathing critical reviews.
David Bowie’s Never Let Me Down album (already a move into slightly "harder" rock territory) and subsequent "Glass Spider Tour" had been savaged by critics, and the singer was aware of his low stock. Eager to return to making music for himself rather than the mainstream audience he had acquired following the Let's Dance album, Bowie began collaborating with Reeves Gabrels (who pushed the singer to rediscover his experimental side and went on to work closely with Bowie for much of the next decade) and multi-instrumentalist Erdal Kizilcay on new material in 1988. The first fruits of this came with a new version of Bowie’s 1979 song "Look Back in Anger", performed at the "Intruders At The Palace" benefit concert on 1 July 1988. They then began to plan a concept album based on Steven Berkoff's play East as a Bowie solo album, but this idea was scrapped. Bowie and Gabrels began working with producer Tim Palmer on new material. Bowie then recruited brothers Hunt Sales and Tony Sales (the sons of comedian Soupy Sales) as a rhythm section. Bowie had worked with them on Iggy Pop’s Lust for Life album and ran into them at a party in Los Angeles around this time.
The Sales brothers moved the tone of the sessions in Nassau away from art-rock and more towards hard rock, and Bowie looked to one of his favorite bands at the time, Pixies, for inspiration. The Sales brothers heckled Bowie into greater spontaneity, with most songs recorded in one take, and lyrics left unpolished, thus giving the band a ragged, punk rock edge similar to the Pixies.
The group chose the name Tin Machine after one of the songs they had written (Gabrels would later credit the Sales brothers with this choice). The group set up allowed Bowie a certain level of anonymity, much needed after his 1980s overexposure, and he was happy to let the rest of the band (notably Hunt Sales) take the lead in interviews.
The band’s self-titled first album (Tin Machine) produced mixed but generally positive reviews on release in May 1989, picking up favorable comparisons with Bowie’s three more recent solo albums. However, many critics were scornful of Bowie’s latest attempt to reinvent himself as a bearded band-member. Commercially, the album initially sold well, reaching #3 in the UK charts, but sales quickly tailed off. The band undertook a low-key tour in small venues between 14 June and 3 July 1989, before further recording sessions in Sydney, Australia. During these sessions Tin Machine contributed to a surfing compilation album called Beyond the Beach, with a new instrumental song titled "Needles on the Beach.
The group then went on hiatus while Bowie conducted his solo "Sound+Vision Tour." In December 1990, Bowie split from EMI. Both parties stated that the split was amicable, although it is believed EMI refused to release another Tin Machine album in an exasperated attempt to secure another album similar to Let's Dance. In March 1991, the group signed to Victory Music, a new label launched by JVC and distributed worldwide by London Records and Polygram, and recorded more new material. This was combined with tracks from the Sydney sessions to form Tin Machine II album. This time the commercial success was even more fleeting, and Bowie was already tired of being shackled to a group set-up. From 5 October 1991 to 17 February 1992, the group undertook a larger tour, known as the "It's My Life Tour". The band was joined on this tour by guitarist Eric Schermerhorn, who would go on to play with Bowie's friend Iggy Pop.
Tracks from this tour were released on the July 1992 album Tin Machine Live - Oy Vey, Baby. Shortly afterwards, Bowie returned to solo recording with his single “Real Cool World” and the band dissolved.
Bowie promised Tin Machine III or at the very least a boxed-set of unreleased material in the mid-1990s, but his solo career had taken precedence, making him reluctant to dedicate energy to an old project. He continued to work with Gabrels, spanning four albums after Tin Machine: Black Tie White Noise (Gabrels contributed to only one track), Outside, Earthling, and Hours. After the last album, Gabrels felt that Bowie was moving in a softer, gentler direction that he did not want to travel in, so the two parted ways professionally. In some interviews he has also indicated his disappointment in the retrospective projects Bowie was planning at the time (the Toy album, which never surfaced, as well as the Ziggy 2002 project) played a part in his parting with Bowie.
Prisoner Of Love
Tin Machine Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatever it takes to save your life
I've believed i belonged to you for a long time
And my heart says no, no one but you
Like a rescue on a darkened street
Love walked into town
I was a victim of my own self-persecution
Now don't be fooled by fools who promise you
The world and all that glitters more fool you
I'm such a hungry man that i beg you over and over and over and over
And i might take any highway to be there with you
Even the best men shiver in their beds
I'm loving you above everything i have
I'm a prisoner of love-just stay square
Like a sermon on a blues guitar
Love walked into town
I was drowning so slowly
One step in front of your shadow
I'm a prisoner of love but I'm coming up for air
Now don't be fooled by fools who promise you
The world and all that glitters more fool you
I smell the sickness sown in this city
It drives me to hide you, yeah, even deceive you
I'm so afraid for you that
I'll break any thug that maps out your passage to ruin
Even the best men shiver in their beds
I'm loving you above everything i have
I'm a prisoner of love
I'm a prisoner of love-just stay square
Take care take care
I'm a prisoner of love
Just stay square
Just stay square
Stay out the shooting gallery
Just stay square
I seen the best mans of my generation lay down in cemetery of clematry
Just take care
Just stay square
Just stay square
Don't look back
Beautiful soul
Don't look back
Beautiful soul
The lyrics to Tin Machine's song "Prisoner of Love" is about being willing to do anything to save the one you love. The singer warns his love not to be fooled by those who promise the world and all that glitters. He is a prisoner of love, but he's coming up for air because he cannot let his love consume him completely. The presence of his love is like a rescue on a darkened street; it's a sermon on a blues guitar that has the power to save him. He also warns his love that he will break any thug that maps out her passage to ruin.
The singer in this story is highly protective of his love, to the extent that he's willing to deceive her to save her from the sickness sown in the city. He believes that even the best men shiver in their beds, but his love for her is above everything he has. He acknowledges that he's a prisoner of love, but he asks his love to stay square and take care of herself. Overall, it's a story of love and protection.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't look back
Don't dwell on the past and keep moving forward.
Whatever it takes to save your life
Do whatever necessary to protect yourself and keep yourself alive.
I've believed i belonged to you for a long time
I have been devoted to you for a significant amount of time.
And my heart says no, no one but you
My heart only desires you and no one else.
Like a rescue on a darkened street
Love seemed like a savior in a hopeless situation.
Love walked into town
Love appeared and made a significant impact on my life.
I was a victim of my own self-persecution
I was punishing myself internally due to self-inflicted troubles.
I'm a prisoner of love-but i'm coming up for air
I am trapped in love, but I am trying to resurface.
Now don't be fooled by fools who promise you
Do not be deceived by empty promises made by untrustworthy individuals.
The world and all that glitters more fool you
Believing that everything glittering is valuable makes you a fool.
I'm such a hungry man that I beg you over and over and over and over
I have a strong desire for you and will ask repeatedly.
And I might take any highway to be there with you
I am willing to do anything to be by your side.
Even the best men shiver in their beds
People who seem confident and strong can feel fear too.
I'm loving you above everything i have
My love for you is the strongest feeling I possess.
I'm a prisoner of love-just stay square
I am trapped in love, but I urge you to stay straightforward.
Like a sermon on a blues guitar
This love feels like a message in a sorrowful melody.
I was drowning so slowly
I was gradually becoming overwhelmed and consumed by love.
One step in front of your shadow
I am following you devotedly and trying to stay near you.
I'm a prisoner of love but I'm coming up for air
I am trapped in love but I am trying to resurface.
I smell the sickness sown in this city
I sense the negativity and corruption present in this community.
It drives me to hide you, yeah, even deceive you
I feel compelled to protect and conceal you even if it means lying.
I'm so afraid for you that I'll break any thug that maps out your passage to ruin
I am so concerned for your safety that I will fight anyone who threatens your welfare.
I'm a prisoner of love
I am trapped in love.
Just stay square
Please remain honest and straightforward.
Take care take care
Be careful and stay safe.
Stay out the shooting gallery
Avoid dangerous situations and environments.
I seen the best mans of my generation lay down in cemetery of clematry
I have witnessed the death of many talented people.
Just stay square
Please remain honest and straightforward.
Don't look back
Do not dwell on the past.
Beautiful soul
You have a beautiful spirit.
Don't look back
Do not dwell on the past.
Beautiful soul
You have a beautiful spirit.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID BOWIE, HUNT SALES, REEVES GABRELS, TONY SALES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind