The Laughing Gnome
David Bowie
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I was walking down the high street When I heard footsteps behind me And there was a little old man (hello) In scarlet and grey, shuffling away (laughter) Well he trotted back to my house And he sat beside the telly (oaah..) With his tiny hands on his tummy Chuckling away, laughing all day (laughter) Oh, I ought to report you to the gnome office (gnome office) Yes (hahahahaha) Ha ha ha, hee hee hee "I'm a laughing gnome and you don't catch me" Ha ha ha, hee hee hee "I'm a laughing gnome and you can't catch me" Said the laughing gnome Well I gave him roasted toadstools and a glass of dandelion wine (burp, pardon) Then I put him on a train to eastbourne Carried his bag and gave him a fag (haven't you got a light boy? ) "here, where do you come from? " (gnome-man's land, hahihihi) "oh, really? " In the morning when I woke up He was sitting on the edge of my bed With his brother whose name was fred He'd bought him along to sing me a song Right, let's hear it Here, what's that clicking noise? (that's fred, he's a "metrognome", haha) Ha ha ha, hee hee hee "I'm a laughing gnome and you don't catch me" Ha ha ha, hee hee hee "I'm a laughing gnome and you can't catch me" (own up, I'm a gnome, ain't I right, haha) "haven't you got an 'ome to go to? " (no, we're gnomads) "didn't they teach you to get your hair cut at school? you look like a rolling gnome." (no, not at the london school of ecognomics) Now they're staying up the chimney And we're living on caviar and honey (hooray!) Cause they're earning me lots of money Writing comedy prose for radio shows It's the-er (what? ) It's the gnome service of course Ha ha ha, hee hee hee "I'm a laughing gnome and you don't catch me" Ha ha ha, oh, dear me (ha ha ha, hee hee hee "I'm a laughing gnome and you can't catch me" Ha ha ha, hee hee hee "I'm a laughing gnome and you can't catch me") (one more time, yeah)
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14 facts about this song
Genre Classification"The Laughing Gnome" is a unique song by David Bowie that's often classified under novelty rock, blending elements of folk, pop, and comedy.
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Release DateThe song was initially released as a single on 14th April 1967.
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Unusual ElementInterestingly, one of the distinguishing features of "The Laughing Gnome" is the use of sped-up voices, achieving a notable high-pitched "gnome voice."
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Commercial SuccessDuring its initial release, "The Laughing Gnome" was not commercially successful in the UK. However, it became a hit when reissued in 1973, peaking at number six on the UK Singles Chart.
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Bowie's Initial ConceptDavid Bowie conceived "The Laughing Gnome" as a children's song. The tune features a narrative where Bowie meets and converses with a gnome.
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InspirationThe song was reportedly inspired by Anthony Newley and his comedy-oriented style.
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Record LabelProduced by Decca Records, "The Laughing Gnome" was one of Bowie's early works before his breakout success with albums like "Space Oddity."
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Infamous ReputationDue to its novelty style, "The Laughing Gnome" has earned a somewhat infamy in Bowie's discography. Bowie himself is said to have remained largely embarrassed about the song throughout his career.
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Re-recordingThe song was re-recorded for the album "Love You till Tuesday," a compilation album of Bowie's work with Decca, which was released in 1984.
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Music VideoInterestingly, "The Laughing Gnome" never got an official music video despite its later popularity.
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Original Vinyl CopiesOriginal vinyl copies of "The Laughing Gnome" from 1967 are considered a rarity and are often sought by collectors. As of 2020, a decent condition example could fetch over $500 in an auction.
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B-sideThe song "The Gospel According to Tony Day" was the B-side of "The Laughing Gnome" single, another song also characterized by Bowie's early musical style.
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References in Later WorksDespite Bowie's embarrassment, the song was referenced in later works, including the track "Aladdin Sane." Here the line, "I was the laughing gnome and you were not," can be heard.
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Use in AdvertisingDespite its controversy, "The Laughing Gnome" has been used in advertising campaigns in the UK, such as for one leading telephone and internet provider.
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Citation
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"The Laughing Gnome Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/381533/David+Bowie/The+Laughing+Gnome>.
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