David Bowie: Aladdin Sane Meaning
Aladdin Sane Lyrics
Sake and strange divine Uh-h-h-uh-h-uh you'll make it
Passionate bright young things, takes him away to war - don't fake it
Sadden glissando strings
Uh-h-h-uh-h-uh - you'll make...
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The full title of the song is 'Aladdin Sane (1913-1938-197?)' which makes it clear that Bowie is worrying about or predicting the start of another world war towards the end of the 1970's. Lines like "Battle cries and champagne just in time for sunrise" refer to the big-ball-before-the-great-battle tradition common in some 19th C wars, and sum up the idea found throughout the song that all the young people are about to die in a world at war; the good times are ending: "Millions weep a fountain,
just in case of sunrise"
Thank god for Mike Garson's brilliant piano interlude brightening the mood for us, even as it expresses with harsh tones and discords the chaos Bowie sees all around leading us to war.
According to Wikipedia: 'the name of the album is a pun on "A Lad Insane". An early variation was "Love Aladdin Vein", which David Bowie dropped partly because of its drug connotations.' -
Magic carpet ride
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A lad Insane.
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