The Next Day by David Bowie Lyrics Meaning – Unraveling the Layers of Bowie’s Enigmatic Swan Song
Lyrics
I’m gonna say goodbye he says yea
Do not cry she begs of him goodbye yea
All that day she thinks of his love yea
They whip him through the streets and alleys there
The gormless and the baying crowd right there
They can’t get enough of that doomsday song
They can’t get enough of it all
Listen
Listen to the whores he tells her
He fashions paper sculptures of them
Then drags them to the river’s bank in the cart
Their soggy paper bodies wash ashore in the dark
And the priest stiff in hate now demanding fun begin
Of his women dressed as men for the pleasure of that priest
Here I am
Not quite dying
My body left to rot in a hollow tree
Its branches throwing shadows
On the gallows for me
And the next day
And the next
And another day
Ignoring the pain of their particular diseases
They chase him through the alleys chase him down the steps
They haul him through the mud and they chant for his death
And drag him to the feet of the purple-headed priest
First they give you everything that you want
Then they take back everything that you have
They live upon their feet and they die upon their knees
They can work with satan while they dress like the saints
They know god exists for the devil told them so
They scream my name aloud down into the well below
Here I am
Not quite dying
My body left to rot in a hollow tree
Its branches throwing shadows
On the gallows for me
And the next day
And the next
And another day
Here I am
Not quite dying
My body left to rot in a hollow tree
Its branches throwing shadows
On the gallows for me
And the next day
And the next
And another day
Here I am
Not quite dying
My body left to rot in a hollow tree
Its branches throwing shadows
On the gallows for me
And the next day
And the next
And another day
David Bowie’s ‘The Next Day’ is a potent brew of cryptic lyricism and existential angst, that tingles the spine of the listener, hazily recalling the trials of a being caught between the throes of life and the inevitability of death. Released posthumously, this track carries the weight of Bowie’s legendary career, encapsulating his flair for the dramatic and his unceasing ability to beguile his audience with multifaceted storytelling.
In this enigmatic musical landscape, Bowie conjures images of a persecuted figure, a martyr-like being that transcends the brutality of his surroundings to speak on larger, more eternal themes. At the core of ‘The Next Day’, there’s a pulsating heart examining the human condition, the spiral of life and religion, all woven with the complexity and depth that Bowie is celebrated for.
A Vivid Tapestry of Suffering and Survival
The visceral imagery Bowie sketches—of being whipped through streets, being dragged to the riverbank, and left to rot—evokes a sense of merciless suffering. It is a graphic portrayal of a figure that, in spite of everything, declares ‘Not quite dying,’ an assertion of resilience in the face of inevitable decay. This resilience becomes a central theme of the song, an anchor of hope within the narrative of despair.
Often, suffering in art is a symbol of the human journey, the crucible through which we all must pass. Through ‘The Next Day,’ Bowie taps into this universal experience, challenging us to look beyond the pain and see the survival that happens – yes, even the next day.
The Hidden Meaning Behind the Melancholic Melody
While the song’s surface may ripple with the throes of a suffering individual, there exists a deeper undercurrent that hints at an allegory for the artist’s own life. The song can be theorized as Bowie’s reflection on his mortality and legacy, the transformation of his body into art that will outlive him, similar to the paper sculptures mentioned in the lyrics.
Moreover, the repetition of ‘The next day’ becomes a powerful mantra, a defiance of death and a proclamation of the artist’s lingering influence. It’s as if Bowie is conversing directly with eternity, cementing his presence in an unending waltz with time.
A Labyrinth of Morality and Religion
Religious overtones are undeniable as Bowie intertwines sardonic images of corrupt priests and perverse religious ceremonies with the layered narrative of his song. The ‘purple-headed priest’ stands as a symbol of misplaced authority and hypocritical so-called holiness that suffocates genuine spirituality.
Bowie’s lyrics cut sharply into the contradictions of religious dogmas and the institutions that propagate them, presenting an individual that, though fallen, exposes the hollowness of their sanctimonious facades.
Memorable Lines that Echo Endlessly
‘They live upon their feet and they die upon their knees’ – this particular line encapsulates the song’s essence, painting a picture of the human plight, standing tall before being brought low in submission or prayer. It reflects a journey from empowerment to vulnerability, from defiance to surrender.
Bowie crafts his lyrics to resonate within the soul, to echo in the consciousness long after the music has stopped. Each line thrums with the energy of Bowie’s keen observations about life, authority, and the human spirit.
An Ode to the Dichotomy of Existence
In ‘The Next Day,’ Bowie offers an ode to life’s dichotomies: the coexistence of strength and frailty, the sacred and the profane, the artist and the art. It’s a meditation on the duality of existence, encapsulated within a melody that haunts and a beat that insists on moving forward.
David Bowie’s hallmark was his ability to straddle the lines between binaries, to possess a multifaceted identity that proved as mutable as the shape of music itself. ‘The Next Day’ adds another layer to this intricate persona, becoming part of the tapestry of Bowie’s artistic journey that sways to the impressive choreography of his illustrious career.
