Oh! You Pretty Things
David Bowie
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Wake up you sleepy head Put on some clothes, shake up your bed Put another log on the fire for me I've made some breakfast and coffee Look out my window and what do I see A crack in the sky and a hand reaching down to me All the nightmares came today And it looks as though they're here to stay What are we coming to No room for me, no fun for you I think about a world to come Where the books were found by the Golden ones Written in pain, written in awe By a puzzled man who questioned What we were here for All the strangers came today And it looks as though they're here to stay Oh you Pretty Things Don't you know you're driving your Mamas and Papas insane Oh you Pretty Things Don't you know you're driving your Mamas and Papas insane Let me make it plain You gotta make way for the Homo Superior Look out at your children See their faces in golden rays Don't kid yourself they belong to you They're the start of a coming race The earth is a bitch We've finished our news Homo Sapiens have outgrown their use All the strangers came today And it looks as though they're here to stay Oh you Pretty Things Don't you know you're driving your Mamas and Papas insane Oh you Pretty Things Don't you know you're driving your Mamas and Papas insane Let me make it plain You gotta make way for the Homo Superior
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, TINTORETTO MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Song Composition"Oh! You Pretty Things" was composed by British musician, David Bowie. It was first released on his 1971 album "Hunky Dory."
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Lyrics ConceptThe song's lyrics reportedly reflect Bowie's interest in nihilistic and existentialist philosophy, proposing that humanity needs to evolve.
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Herman's Hermits VersionThe British band Herman's Hermits also released a version of "Oh! You Pretty Things" in 1971. Their version emerged two months before Bowie's did.
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Chart PerformanceHerman's Hermits' version of the song reached number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
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Song InspirationSome suggest that Bowie's song is inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s idea of the Übermensch (Superman).
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TV PerformanceDavid Bowie gave a notable performance of "Oh! You Pretty Things" on the UK television program "The Old Grey Whistle Test" in 1972.
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Song Use"Oh! You Pretty Things" has been featured in numerous television shows and films, including "Life on Mars" and "American Horror Story."
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Peter Noone's CoverAnother notable cover of "Oh! You Pretty Things" was sung by Peter Noone, the former lead singer of Herman’s Hermits. His cover also charted in the UK, reaching number 12.
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Collaborative CoverIn 2016, Danish artist MØ and British musician Paul Weller recorded a version of the song for a charity album, with all proceeds going to the War Child organization.
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Bowie's Piano SkillsDebuting Bowie's skill at the piano, the song gives an early indication of the part this instrument was to play in his future career. Bowie's piano playing became a vital part of his concerts in the 1970s.
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Citation
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