Alabama Song
David Bowie
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Oh, show me the way to the next whiskey bar Oh, don't ask why, no, don't ask why For we must find the next whiskey bar Or if we don't find the next whiskey bar I tell you we must die, I tell you we must die I tell you, I tell you, I tell you we must die Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say goodbye We've lost our good old mama And must have whiskey or you know why Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say goodbye We've lost our good old mama And must have whiskey or you know why Oh, show us the way to the next little dollar Oh, don't ask why, oh, don't ask why For we must find the next little dollar Or if we don't find the next little dollar I tell you we must die, I tell you we must die I tell you, I tell you, I tell you we must die Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say goodbye We've lost our good old mama And must have dollar or you know why Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say goodbye We've lost our good old mama And must have dollar or you know why Oh, show us the way to the next little girl Oh, don't ask why, no, don't ask why For we must find the next little girl Or if we don't find the next little girl I tell you we must die, I tell you we must die I tell you, I tell you, I tell you we must die Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say goodbye We've lost our good old mama And must have little girl or you know why Oh, moon of Alabama, it's time to say "Auf Wiedersehen" We've lost our good old mama And must have little girl or you know why You know why, you know why
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
30 fans
Written by: Kurt Weill, Bertolt Brecht
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
3 facts about this song
David Bowie VersionDavid Bowie covered "Alabama Song" in English. He released the song on February 15, 1980 as a single.
- Bowie first performed it in 1978 in a production of Bertolt Brecht's play, "Baal."
- The original cover was a non-album track and, it was Bowie's first single after becoming one of the most iconic figures in music history.
- Bowie’s band included Carlos Alomar and George Murray, both members of his earlier bands.
|
Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht Original Version"Alabama Song" was originally composed by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht for their 1927 play "Mahagonny Songspiel" which later became the opera "Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny."
- The song first appeared in "Songspiel" and was later included in Kurt Weill’s opera in 1930.
- The song was originally written and performed in German. The English translation used by The Doors and David Bowie was done by Weill's wife, Lotte Lenya.
- It's notable for its use of the mixolydian scale, unusual in both Weill's work and in popular music.
|
The Doors VersionThe Doors covered the song on their third studio album, "Waiting for the Sun", in 1968.
- Unlike most other songs by the Doors, this one features Robby Krieger on slide guitar.
- The Doors usually played "Alabama Song" live with a medley of "Back Door Man" and "Five to One".
- The song was used by the group as a way to expand their repertoire and move away from the expected psychedelic rock sound of the late '60s.
- The band’s version of "Alabama Song" reached No. 20 on the 1968 Pop Singles Chart.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"Alabama Song Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 18 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/36293377/David+Bowie/Alabama+Song>.
Powered by CITE.ME
Discuss the Alabama Song Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In