The Jean Genie Lyrics
Strung out on lasers and slash back plazas
Ate all your razors while pulling the waiters
Talking bout Monroe and walking on Snow White
New York's a go-go and everything tastes right
Poor little Greenie
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
Jean Genie let yourself go
She loves him, she loves him but just for a short while
She'll scratch in the sand, won't let go his hand
He says he's a beautician and sells you nutrition
And keeps all your dead hair for making up underwear
Poor little Greenie
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
Jean Genie let yourself go
He bites on the neon and sleeps in the capsule
Loves to be loved, loves to be loved
The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks
He's outrageous, he screams and he bawls
Jean Genie let yourself go
Bowie came up with the music to this before the lyrics... he wrote it while he was touring america, and says it's a 'mish-mash of imagined americana'. He was hanging out with Cyrinda Foxe at the time, and she's in the video (check it out, she's hot!). She was one of Warhol's favourite girls at the time... kind of an 'it-girl', and apparently loads of fun to be with. I love how he sounds in this, especially when he says: 'poor little greenie...' so hot! ... but i'm pretty sure the line is: 'New York's a go-go and everything tastes nice'
Course it's about Jim! Have you ever seen anyone who looks more reptilian than Pop?
Jean Genie doesn't wear shirts Jean Genie's so sexy it hurts He's outrageous, he's five seven tall Jean Genie walks before he crawls
(Mine humble tribute to the Pop-ster.)
nah its about iggy pop. he and iggy went to berlin and got over their drug addictions together
@Sandysbird I agree it's BASED on Iggy Pop...but has nothing to do with Berlin. This song was written before the Berlin Trilogy.
@Sandysbird I agree it's BASED on Iggy Pop...but has nothing to do with Berlin. This song was written before the Berlin Trilogy.
@Sandysbird he wrote this years before he went to Berlin though you may be right about Iggy
@Sandysbird he wrote this years before he went to Berlin though you may be right about Iggy
@Sandysbird In Bowie's own words, "an Iggy-type character... it wasn't actually Iggy. The Complete David Bowie: pp.110-111
@Sandysbird In Bowie's own words, "an Iggy-type character... it wasn't actually Iggy. The Complete David Bowie: pp.110-111
The title may have been a take on Jean Genet, but the imagery was definitely inspired by proto-punk lunatic genius Iggy Pop.
whoever plays the guitar, it is fantastic.
Mick Ronson. Bowie + Ronson = legendary
Mick Ronson. Bowie + Ronson = legendary
I think part of it can also be a reference to a sort of "American dream" but even more to an aspiration of being part of the "jet set". In the sense that "greenie" can be a substatute for greed and the idea that money is green and talking about monroe and snow white can represent aspirations. But i may be taking it too far lol
@Mystical_night I think "Snow White" is cocain...
@Mystical_night I think "Snow White" is cocain...
the song is about iggy pop - THE END
Never understood how this song was not as popular as say...Rebel Rebel. I mean, this song blows it out of the water!
Not to say that Rebel Rebel is a bad song. Didn't want anyone to misunderstand...
Not to say that Rebel Rebel is a bad song. Didn't want anyone to misunderstand...
Bowie explained once in an interview that "On 'Jean Genie" I wanted to get the same sounds the Stones had on their first album. I didn't get that near to it but it had a feel that I wanted, that Sixties thing." This is definitely one of the most close-knit band performances, with the rhythm section locking tightly together and particularly effective bass.
I’m with the Jean Genet camp on this (the French writer).
He says he a beautician and sell you nutrition (he sells drugs). The Jean Genie lives on his back (homosexual reference). The Jean Genie loves chimney stacks (loves cocaine — smoke goes up chimneys, coal makes smoke as does coke) He’s walking on snow white (cocaine reference again)
my 2 cents.