The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
He swivels his head
Tears his eyes from the screen
As his past puts him back in Atlantic City
There's not even a demon in Heaven or Hell
Is it all just human disguise
As I walk down the aisle
And I'm gone, gone, gone (gone, gone, gone spinning slack through reality)
Now I'm older than movies (dance my way, falling up through the years)
Let me dance away (until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
Now I'm wiser than dreams (losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
Let me fly, fly, fly (spin slack through reality)
While I'm touching tomorrow (dance my way, falling up through the years)
(Until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
And I know who's there (losing breath underwater when I'm gone, gone, gone)
When silhouettes fall (spinning slack through reality)
And I'm gone
Like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone through the crack in the past
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man walking
Three old men dancing under her lamp lights
Shaking their sex in the bones
And the boys that we were
An alien nation in therapy
Sliding naked, anew
Like a bad tempered child
On the rain slicked streets
And I'm gone, gone, gone (gone, gone, gone spinning slack through reality)
Now I'm older than movies (dance my way, falling up through the years)
Let me dance away (until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
Now I'm wiser than dreams (losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
Let me fly, fly, fly (spin slack through reality)
While I'm touching tomorrow (dance my way, falling up through the years)
(Until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
And I know who's there (losing breath underwater when I'm gone, gone, gone)
When silhouettes fall (spinning slack through reality)
And I'm gone
(Gone, gone, gone spinning slack through reality)
(Dance my way, falling up through the years)
(Until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
(Losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
(Spinning slack through reality)
(Dance my way, falling up through the years)
(Until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
(Losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
(Spinning slack through reality)
And I'm gone
Like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone through the crack in the past
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man
Like a dead man walking
And I'm gone, gone, gone
(Gone, gone, gone spinning slack through reality)
(Dance my way, falling up through the years)
Let me dance, dance, dance (until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
(Losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
And I'm gone, gone, gone (Spinning slack through reality)
(Dance my way, falling up through the years)
(Until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
Let me dance, dance, dance (losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
(Spinning slack through reality)
And I'm gone
Like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone through the crack in the past
And I'm gone
Like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone through the crack in the past
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man
Tears his eyes from the screen
As his past puts him back in Atlantic City
There's not even a demon in Heaven or Hell
Is it all just human disguise
As I walk down the aisle
And I'm gone, gone, gone (gone, gone, gone spinning slack through reality)
Now I'm older than movies (dance my way, falling up through the years)
Let me dance away (until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
Now I'm wiser than dreams (losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
Let me fly, fly, fly (spin slack through reality)
While I'm touching tomorrow (dance my way, falling up through the years)
(Until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
And I know who's there (losing breath underwater when I'm gone, gone, gone)
When silhouettes fall (spinning slack through reality)
And I'm gone
Like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone through the crack in the past
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man walking
Three old men dancing under her lamp lights
Shaking their sex in the bones
And the boys that we were
An alien nation in therapy
Sliding naked, anew
Like a bad tempered child
On the rain slicked streets
And I'm gone, gone, gone (gone, gone, gone spinning slack through reality)
Now I'm older than movies (dance my way, falling up through the years)
Let me dance away (until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
Now I'm wiser than dreams (losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
Let me fly, fly, fly (spin slack through reality)
While I'm touching tomorrow (dance my way, falling up through the years)
(Until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
And I know who's there (losing breath underwater when I'm gone, gone, gone)
When silhouettes fall (spinning slack through reality)
And I'm gone
(Gone, gone, gone spinning slack through reality)
(Dance my way, falling up through the years)
(Until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
(Losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
(Spinning slack through reality)
(Dance my way, falling up through the years)
(Until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
(Losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
(Spinning slack through reality)
And I'm gone
Like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone through the crack in the past
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man
Like a dead man walking
And I'm gone, gone, gone
(Gone, gone, gone spinning slack through reality)
(Dance my way, falling up through the years)
Let me dance, dance, dance (until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
(Losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
And I'm gone, gone, gone (Spinning slack through reality)
(Dance my way, falling up through the years)
(Until I swivel back round then I fly, fly, fly)
Let me dance, dance, dance (losing breath underwater well I'm gone, gone, gone)
(Spinning slack through reality)
And I'm gone
Like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone through the crack in the past
And I'm gone
Like I'm dancing on angels
And I'm gone through the crack in the past
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man walking
Like a dead man
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Well, this is from the disastrous techno Album Bowie did back in the late 90's called Earthling. However, the acoustic version found on the Conan O'Brien live album is quite possibly Bowies most beautiful work yet. I suggest you check it out, its much better than this version.
@Foundation4life Couldn't disagree more. I think Earthlings is one of Bowie's best albums. It's so layered and abstract, beautiful melodies and scenery. I don't know, the whole album makes me go on a weird and beautiful trip... Everyone else seems to share your opinion though :(
@Foundation4life I know this is 13 years late but you are so wrong. Earthling was a great album and Bowie knew how to stay relevant in music by changing with it. It was not a techno album by any means, it was an industrial album. I love David Bowie because his style changed with my taste in music.