Young American
(David Bowie)
They pulled in just behind the bridge
He lays her down, he frowns
Gee my life’s a funny thing, am I still too young
He kissed her then and there
She took his ring, took his babies
It took him minutes, took her nowhere
Heaven knows, she’d have taken anything, but
All night
She wants the young American
Young American, young American
She wants the young American
All right
She wants the young American
Scanning life through the picture windows
She finds the slinky vagabond
He coughs as he passes her Ford Mustang, but
Heaven forbid, she’ll take anything
But the freak, and his type, all for nothing
He misses a step and cuts his hand, but
Showing nothing, he swoops like a song
She cries, where have all Papa’s heroes gone
All night
She wants the young American
Young American, young American
She wants the young American
All right
She wants the young American
All the way from Washington
Her bread-winner begs off the bathroom floor
We live for just these twenty years
Do we have to die for the fifty more
All night
He wants the young American
Young American, young American
He wants the young American
All right
He wants the young American
Do you remember, your President Nixon
Do you remember, the bills you have to pay
Or even yesterday
Have you been an un-American
Just you and your idol singing falsetto about
Leather, leather everywhere, and
Not a myth left from the ghetto
Well, well, well, would you carry a razor
In case, just in case of depression
Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors
Blushing at all the Afro-Sheeners
Ain’t that close to love
Well, ain’t that poster love
Well, it ain’t that Barbie doll
Her heart’s been broken just like you have
All night
You want the young American
Young American, young American
You want the young American
All right
You want the young American
You ain’t a pimp and you ain’t a hustler
A pimp’s got a Cadi and a lady’s got a Chrysler
Black’s got respect, and white’s got his soul train
Mama’s got cramps, and look at your hands shake
I heard the news today, oh boy
I got a suite and you got defeat
Ain’t there a man you can say no more
And, ain’t there a woman I can sock on the jaw
And, ain’t there a child I can hold without judging
Ain’t there a pen that will write before they die
Ain’t you proud that you’ve still got faces
Ain’t there one damn song that can make me
break down and cry
All night
I want the young American
Young American, young American
I want the young American
All right
I want the young American
Young American
Young American, young American
I want the young American
All right
Young American, young American
I want the young American
All right
Young American, Young American
I want the young American
All right