Cat People (Putting Out Fire) by David Bowie Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Enigmatic Passion in Bowie’s Anthem
Lyrics
I can stare for a thousand years
Colder than the moon
It’s been so long
Feel my love enraged
It’s just the fear of loosing you
Don’t you know my name
You’ve been so long
And I’ve been putting out fire
With gasoline
See these eyes so red
Red like jungle burning bright
Those who feel me near
Pull the blinds and change their minds
It’s been so long
Still this pulsing night
A plague I call a heartbeat
Just be still with me
You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been thru
You’ve been so long
Well it’s been so long
And I’ve been putting out the fire with gasoline
Putting out the fire
With gasoline
See these tears so blue
An ageless heart that can never mend
These tears can never dry
A judgement made can never bend
See these eyes so green
I can stare for a thousand years
Just be still with me
You wouldn’t believe what I’ve been thru
You’ve been so long
Well it’s been so long
And I’ve been putting out fire with gasoline
Putting out fire with gasoline
See these tears so blue
An ageless heart that can never mend
These tears can never dry
A judgement made that can never bend
See these eyes so green
I can stare for a thousand years
Just be still with me
You wouldnt believe what I’ve been thru
It’s been so long
Well its been so long
And I’ve been putting out the fire with gasoline
Putting out fire
With Gasoline
Been so long
Been so long
Well its been so long
Been so long
I’ve been putting out fire
Been so long
And its been so long
Been putting out fire
Well it’s Been so long so long so long
Yes it’s been so long so long so long
I’ve been putting out fire
Been so long so long so long
And putting out fire
Been so long so long so long
Yeah yeah putting out fire
Been so long so long so long
Been putting out fire
Been so long so long so long
Yeah putting out fire
Been so long so long so long
Putting out fire
Been so long so long so long
It’s been so long
Been so long so long so long
It’s been so long
Been so long so long so long
It’s been so long
Been so long so long so long
I’ve been putting out fire
Been so long so long so long
In the arena of rock and artistry, David Bowie’s ‘Cat People (Putting Out Fire)’ stands as a sonic tapestry woven with threads of raw emotion and enigmatic storytelling. Released in 1982 as the theme song for the film ‘Cat People,’ Bowie’s collaboration with producer Giorgio Moroder became a staple of his illustrious career. The song is a maelstrom of haunting vocals, fierce instrumentation, and lyrics that paint a vivid picture of intense longing, inner turmoil, and the paradoxical effort of smothering flames with fuel.
The genius of Bowie is often found in the complexity and layers of his work. ‘Cat People’ is no exception, and it invites listeners to dive deep into its fiery depths. From the metaphoric title to the stark imagery invoked by Bowie’s distinctive voice, the song is an enigma wrapped in a melody, challenging audiences to decipher its true meaning while simultaneously surrendering to its raw emotional power.
An Alluring Gaze into the Feline Soul
Consider the opening lines, ‘See these eyes so green / I can stare for a thousand years.’ The vivid description is no mere aesthetic detail; it captures the essence of something timeless, primal, and intensely focused. Bowie’s reference to the feline — a creature both admired for its mysterious beauty and feared for its predatory nature — is the perfect metaphor for the song’s exploration of dangerous allure and the enigmatic human experience that borders on obsession.
The contrast of ‘Colder than the moon’ and ‘Feel my love enraged’ transports the listener into the dichotomy of passion: it can be both a distant, unmoving force and an infernal blaze. The feline, with its popular lore of having nine lives, represents the song’s theme of transformation and survival, mirroring the existential journey Bowie often embarks upon in his music.
The Dance of Fire and Desire
The recurring declaration, ‘And I’ve been putting out fire with gasoline,’ is a masterstroke of emotive contradiction. As the carefully chosen words reverberate through Bowie’s delivery, they evoke the helplessness and chaos of attempting to quell one’s own burning desires in ways that only exacerbate them. This line could be a harbinger of romantic doom, or perhaps the anthem of the inner battle one fights when consumed by passion.
These words serve as both a literal and figurative cry, encapsulating the frustration of actions taken in vain, a stark reflection on the futility of combating emotional infernos with methods that only fan the flames higher. It is a sentiment of self-sabotage that resonates deeply with anyone who has ever been at odds with their own heart.
The Cinematic Synchronicity with Silver Screen
The marriage of ‘Cat People’ to the film it was created for is more than a simple soundtrack addition; it becomes the emotional undercurrent of the narrative. Bowie’s transformative vocal charisma gives life to the film’s theme of animalistic identity and the struggles with the duality of one’s nature, thus ensuring that the song would endure beyond the movie as a standalone opus.
The synergy that Bowie’s ‘Cat People’ has with the movie is instructive in understanding its layered nuance. The song not only serves the story being told on celluloid but also enhances the complex emotional spectrum the film invokes, cementing its place as a cultural touchstone.
The Cry of Never-Healing Wounds
The poignant imagery of ‘See these tears so blue / An ageless heart that can never mend’ underpins the eternal resonance of hurt. Bowie taps into a universal vein of pain and perseverance. These lyrics suggest an ongoing battle with sorrow, hinting at feelings that persist through time, unable to be soothed or resolved.
This perpetual state of suffering captures the listener’s empathy, as Bowie explores the landscape of an impassioned soul. His evocation of ‘tears that can never dry’ and ‘a judgement made that can never bend’ strikes at the heart of remorse and resilience, carving out a mournful space within the throbbing beat of the music.
An Arcane Echo in Bowie’s Labyrinth
The enigmatic nature of Bowie’s music often feels like an intricate puzzle, leading listeners through a labyrinth of sound and sentiment. In ‘Cat People,’ the hidden meaning is as elusive as the creatures it references. The layered metaphors and dark romanticism serve as a reflection of our own internal wilderness and the complexities that lie within.
As with much of Bowie’s oeuvre, fans may find themselves returning to ‘Cat People’ time and again, each listen unearthing new facets and deeper understandings. It invites us to ponder the animal instincts that drive us, and the human conditions that bind us, reminding us that even in our most fervent passions, we all have the capacity to be both predator and prey.
