David Bowie

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About Five Years

"Five Years" is a song written by David Bowie, recorded on 15 November 1971, and released as the opening track on the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars in 1972. The song tells of an Earth doomed to destruction in five years and the aftermath of this knowledge. Bowie is rumoured to have chosen the length of time, five years, as a result of a dream in which his deceased father told him he must never fly again and would die in five years. The "market square" referred to in the opening line is Aylesbury market square in Buckinghamshire, England. Bowie debuted both Hunky Dory and The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars albums at Friars Club in the town, and is reputed to have formed the Spiders there, following the "Hunky Dory" gig. AllMusic describe the track as "easily one of the greatest album-opening songs ever".more »

Year:: 1972
: 4:43
: 784Views
Playlists:: #2

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Pushing through the market square,So many mothers sighingNews had just come over,We had five years left to cry inNews guy wept and told us,Earth was really dyingCried so much his face was wet,Then I knew he was not lyingI heard telephones, opera house, favorite melodiesI saw boys, toys, electric irons and T.V.'sMy brain hurt like a warehouse, it had no room to spareI had to cram so many things to store everything in thereAnd all the fat-skinny people, and all the tall-short peopleAnd all the nobody people, and all the somebody peopleI never thought I'd need so many peopleA girl my age went off her head,Hit some tiny childrenIf the black hadn't a-pulled her off,I think she would have killed themA soldier with a broken arm,Fixed his stare to the wheels of a CadillacA cop knelt and kissed the feet of a priest,And a queer threw up at the sight of thatI think I saw you in an ice-cream parlor,Drinking milk shakes cold and longSmiling and waving and looking so fine,Don't think you knew you were in this songAnd it was cold and it rained so I felt like an actorAnd I thought of Ma and I wanted to get back thereYour face, your race, the way that you talkI kiss you, you're beautiful, I want you to walkWe've got five years, stuck on my eyesFive years, what a surpriseWe've got five years, my brain hurts a lotFive years, that's all we've gotWe've got five years, what a surpriseFive years, stuck on my eyesWe've got five years, my brain hurts a lotFive years, that's all we've gotWe've got five years, stuck on my eyesFive years, what a surpriseWe've got five years, my brain hurts a lotFive years, that's all we've gotWe've got five years, what a surpriseFive years, stuck on my eyesWe've got five years, my brain hurts a lotFive years, that's all we've gotFive yearsFive yearsFive yearsFive years

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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 »

31 fans

Genre »

Rock

Style »

Classic Rock, Glam

Sheet Music PDF Playlist

Written by: David Bowie

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, TINTORETTO MUSIC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

12 facts about this song

Album Origin

"Five Years" is the opening track on David Bowie's 1972 album "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars."

Song Theme

The song follows a narrative of Earth being told it has only five years left to survive, drawing listeners into the apocalyptic vision that is a characteristic theme of the entire album.

Song Length

The track lasts for 4 minutes and 42 seconds making it one of the longer songs on the album.

Recording

Bowie reportedly made the drummer, Woody Woodmansey, re-record his drum part multiple times until he was playing on the verge of tears, aiming to capture a certain emotional intensity in the song.

Live Performances

"Five Years" often kicked off performances of the full album in Bowie's Ziggy Stardust Tours, and has been covered by various artists live, showing its wide impact and popularity.

Songwriting

Bowie wrote this song after having a dream of the world ending, which he later used as inspiration for his Ziggy Stardust character.

Music video

There isn't an official music video for "Five Years," but there are live performance videos, one popular one is Bowie's performance of the song in 1972 on the BBC program, "Top of the Pops."

Covers

"Five Years" has been covered by various artists including The Postmodern Jukebox, The Flaming Lips, and The Polyphonic Spree. Highlighting the song's enduring appeal and influence on other musicians.

Chart Performance

Despite being a fan-favorite, "Five Years" was never released as a single and therefore didn't chart. However, the album is often listed as one of the greatest of all time.

Lyrics

The song's lyrics are full of societal critiques and personal confessions from Bowie, speaking to his lyrical prowess and ability to lay raw emotion into his songs.

Instruments

The song features a complex arrangement of instruments, including piano, strings, and percussion, put together by producer Ken Scott and David Bowie. The gradual buildup of instrumental layers adds to the song's dramatic tension.

Relevance

Despite the song's age, "Five Years" has remained culturally relevant, being referenced in TV shows such as "Doctor Who," films like "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," and is often played by radio channels.

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