All the Madmen

David Bowie

About All the Madmen

"All the Madmen" is a song written by David Bowie in 1970 for the album The Man Who Sold the World, released later that year in the U. S. and in April 1971 in the U. K. It was one of the many tracks on the album about insanity, it has been described as depicting "a world so bereft of reason that the last sane men are the ones in the asylums".


Year:
1970
5:40
33 

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Day after day
They send my friends away
To mansions cold and grey
To the far side of town
Where the thin men stalk the streets
While the sane stay underground

Day after day
They tell me I can go
They tell me I can blow
To the far side of town
Where it's pointless to be high
'Cause it's such a long way down

So I tell them that
I can fly, I will scream, I will break my arm
I will do me harm
Here I stand, foot in hand, talking to my wall
I'm not quite right at all, am I?

Don't set me free, I'm as heavy as can be
Just my librium and me
And my E.S.T. makes three

'Cause I'd rather stay here
With all the madmen
Than perish with the sad men roaming free
And I'd rather play here
With all the madmen
For I'm quite content they're all as sane
As me

(Where can the horizon lie
When a nation hides
Its organic minds
In a cellar, dark and grim
They must be very dim)

Day after day
They take some brain away
Then turn my face around
To the far side of town
And tell me that it's real
Then ask me how I feel

Here I stand, foot in hand, talking to my wall
I'm not quite right at all

Don't set me free, I'm as helpless as can be
My libido's split on me
Gimme some good 'ole lobotomy

'Cause I'd rather stay here
With all the madmen
Than perish with the sad men
Roaming free
And I'd rather play here
With all the madmen
For I'm quite content
They're all as sane as me

Zane, zane, zane
Ouvre le chien
Zane, zane, zane
Ouvre le chien
Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah)
Ouvre le chien
Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah)
Ouvre le chien
Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah)
Ouvre le chien
Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah)
Ouvre le chien
Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah)
Ouvre le chien
Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah)
Ouvre le chien
Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah)
Ouvre le chien
Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah)
Ouvre le chien

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David Bowie

David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 - 10 January 2016), known by his stage name David Bowie ( /ˈboʊ.i/ BOH-ee), was an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s. He is known for his distinctive voice as well as the intellectual depth and considerable eclecticism of his work. more »

30 fans

Written by: David Bowie

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, TINTORETTO MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


12 facts about this song

Release
"All the Madmen" is a song by British artist David Bowie, included in his third studio album "The Man Who Sold the World," which was released in 1970.
Inspiration
The song addresses mental illness and is considered a tribute to Bowie's half-brother Terry, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was confined to a psychiatric institution for most of his adult life.
Songwriting
Bowie is the sole songwriter of "All the Madmen," showcasing his personal commentary on mental health treatment and its societal implications.
Album Influence
The song's themes of insanity and alienation reflect the overall dark, hard rock feel of the album "The Man Who Sold the World."
Unique Presentation
Before reaching its ending, the song features a lengthy interval of chanting and a spoken-word segment, an unorthodox addition that further emphasizes Bowie's progressive songwriting methods.
Live Performances
Even though "All the Madmen" is one of Bowie's most compelling tracks, it was rarely performed live. Its first live performance wasn't until almost 40 years later during the "A Reality Tour" in 2004.
Personal Connection
Bowie spoke genuinely about the song, as he felt all the social pressures his brother had been through, and he expressed a deep fear of mental illness throughout his life.
Track Position
"All the Madmen" is the last song on the A-side of the vinyl album. It is placed right before the title track, "Man Who Sold the World".
Lyrical Content
The song uses irony as Bowie presents 'sanity' as being 'insanity'. Society's perception of what's 'normal' versus 'mad' is questioned.
Singles and Remixes
The song was remixed by longtime Bowie producer Tony Visconti in 2015 for the album "Five Years (1969-1973)." However, it was never released as a single.
Sound Changes
On the studio version of the song, the finale is a sound collage that includes the reverse-run tape of the band laughing and a high synth note that continues until it reaches the auditory threshold.
Musical Influence
While the song is primarily a hard rock track, it also shows Bowie's early leaning towards more avant-garde, theatrical, and progressive rock elements, which would be more fully realized in his later work.

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