Song of the Day #5,224: ‘Blackout’ – David Bowie

‘Blackout’ is the last song on the first side of David Bowie’s 1977 album Heroes, the second album in his Berlin trilogy and the only one recorded entirely in Berlin.

Those Berlin albums (the others are 1977’s Low and 1979’s Lodger) are well regarded by critics and serious Bowie fans, but I found them a bit of a slog. The records blend electronica songs and ambient soundscapes — two things for which I don’t have a lot of patience.

[Verse 1]
Oh you, you walk on past
Your lips cut a smile on your face
(Your scalding face)
To the cage, to the cage
She was a beauty in a cage
It’s too, too high a price
To drink rotting wine from your hands
(Your fearful hands)

[Verse 2]
Get me to the doctor’s, I’ve been told
Someone’s back in town, the chips are down
I just cut and blackout
I’m under Japanese influence and my honour’s at stake
The weather’s grim, ice on the cages
Me, I’m Robin Hood, and I puff on my cigarette
Panthers are steaming, stalking, screaming

[Verse 3]
If you don’t stay tonight
I will take that plane tonight
I’ve nothing to lose, nothing to gain
I’ll kiss you in the rain, kiss you in the rain
(Kiss you in the rain) Kiss you in the rain (Kiss you in the rain)
In the rain (In the rain)

[Bridge]
Get me to the doctor

[Outro]
Get me off the streets
(Get some protection)
Get me on my feet
(Get some direction)
Hot air gets me into a blackout
Oh, get me off the streets
Get some protection
Oh get me on my feet (wo-ooh!)
While the streets block off
Getting some skin exposure to the blackout
(Get some protection)
Get me on my feet
(Get some direction, wo-ooh!)
Oh get me on my feet
Get me off the streets
(Get some protection)

One thought on “Song of the Day #5,224: ‘Blackout’ – David Bowie

  1. Dana Gallup says:

    If the rest of the Berlin albums sound like this, I’ll pass.

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