by briandmyers

Yeah, so - every once in a while I'll realise that I don't really know some song I've heard a million times, so I google the lyrics out of curiosity. Sometimes there's nothing interesting there, but sometimes, it's gold.

Knowing the lyrics also makes it easier to sing along in the car.

Anyway, today, for me, that song was "Young American" by Bowie - lyrics pasted below. I could have sworn it was "afro-sheeners", not "afro-sheilas".

What are your "looked-up lyrics" ?

  They pulled in just behind the bridge
  He lays her down, he frowns
  "Gee my life's a funny thing, am I still too young?"
  He kissed her then and there
  She took his ring, took his babies
  It took him minutes, took her nowhere
  Heaven knows, she'd have taken anything, but

  All night
  She wants the young American
  Young American, young American, she wants the young American
  All right
  She wants the young American

  Scanning life through the picture window
  She finds the slinky vagabond
  He coughs as he passes her Ford Mustang, but
  Heaven forbid, she'll take anything
  But the freak, and his type, all for nothing
  Misses a step and cuts his hand, but
  Showing nothing, he swoops like a song
  She cries "Where have all Papa's heroes gone?"

  All night
  She wants a young American
  Young American, young American, she wants the young American
  All right
  She wants the young American

  All the way from Washington
  Her bread-winner begs off the bathroom floor
  "We live for just these twenty years
  Do we have to die for the fifty more?"

  All night
  He wants the young American
  Young American, young American, he wants the young American
  All right
  He wants the young American

  Do you remember, your President Nixon?
  Do you remember, the bills you have to pay
  For even yesterday?

  Have you have been an un-American?
  Just you and your idol singing falsetto 'bout
  Leather, leather everywhere, and
  Not a myth left from the ghetto
  Well, well, well, would you carry a razor
  In case, just in case of depression?
  Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors
  Blushing at all the afro-Sheilas
  Ain't that close to love?
  Well, ain't that poster love?
  Well, it ain't that Barbie doll
  Her heart's been broken just like you have

  All night
  All night was a young American
  Young American, young American, you want the young American
  All right
  All right you want the young American

  You ain't a pimp and you ain't a hustler
  A pimp's got a Cadi and a lady got a Chrysler
  Black's got respect, and white's got his Soul Train
  Mama's got cramps, and look at your hands ache
  (I heard the news today, oh boy)
  I got a suite and you got defeat
  Ain't there a man you can say no more? 
  And, ain't there a woman I can sock on the jaw?
  And, ain't there a child I can hold without judging?
  Ain't there a pen that will write before they die?
  Ain't you proud that you've still got faces?
  Ain't there one damn song that can make me
  Break down and cry?

  All night
  I want the young American
  Young American, young American, I want the young American
  All right
  I want the young American, young American whoa whoa

  Young American, young American
  I want what you want
  I want what you want
  You want more
  I want you
  You want I 
  I want you
  I want what you want
  But you want what you want
  You want I 
  I want you
  And all I want is a young American
  Young American