David Bowie

Lyrics

[Intro: David Bowie, Ken Scott, ?]
This is "Andy War-hull"—
[?]
—and it's take one, now we do take one
It's— it's "War-hole," actually
What did I say?
"Hull." It's "hole." As in "holes."
Andy Warh-
Huh? Andy Warho-
Andy War-War-ol, like hol—hol—
"Andy War-hole," take one
Ha
Are you ready?
Yeah, ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha

[Verse 1: David Bowie]
Like to take a cement fix
Be a standing cinema
Dress my friends up just for show
See them as they really are
Put a peephole in my brain
Two New Pence to have a go
I'd like to be a gallery
Put you all inside my show

[Chorus: David Bowie]
Andy Warhol looks a scream
Hang him on my wall
Andy Warhol, Silver Screen
Can't tell them apart at all
[Verse 2: David Bowie]
Andy walking, Andy tired
Andy take a little snooze
Tie him up when he's fast asleep
Send him on a pleasant cruise
When he wakes up on the sea
Be sure to think of me and you
He'll think about paint
And he'll think about glue
What a jolly boring thing to do

[Chorus: David Bowie]
Andy Warhol looks a scream
Hang him on my wall
Andy Warhol, Silver Screen
Can't tell them apart at all
Andy Warhol looks a scream
Hang him on my wall
Andy Warhol, Silver Screen
Can't tell them apart at all

Andy Warhol by David Bowie is a tribute song to the eponymous American artist and pop culture icon. It was first played by Bowie to Warhol himself during a meeting at The Factory in New York, where the singer was filled with excitement at the prospect of meeting his idol. However, the meeting didn't go as planned, since Warhol didn't seem to enjoy the song, although they did eventually get talking, with Bowie's unique shoes being the starting point of their conversation.

The song’s lyrics describe Warhol’s art, personality, and influence on popular culture, as well as the iconic figures that used to frequent The Factory, Warhol’s studio and meeting place for the underground art and music scenes of the time. Bowie himself went on to play Warhol in the biopic Basquiat, which shows his reverence for the artist and his cultural impact on the art world.

About Andy Warhol

David Bowie’s Andy Warhol is a tribute song to the iconic artist that examines both his personality and influence on popular culture. The song contains many references to Warhol’s experimental art and the unusual characters who used The Factory as a meeting place.

The song starts with Bowie singing Warhol’s name over and over, accompanied by a piano before the rest of the band joins in. This repetition serves as a homage to Warhol’s pop-art repetition techniques.

The opening lyrics, “Like to take a cement fix Be a standing cinema”, references Warhol’s film empire, which he created in 1963. Warhol’s films were famous for their experimental and avant-garde nature, with titles such as Sleep and Empire.

Next, Bowie sings, “Dressed as a girl, when he painted his hole”, which references Warhol’s unconventional approach to art and fashion. He was famous for living his life as art, including wearing high heels, dresses, and wigs in public, which challenged conventional notions of gender identity at the time.

Bowie also mentions Edie Sedgwick, a model and actress who was a muse for Warhol and a fixture in The Factory for a time. He sings, “Now he's off to the races, places, places / Hit me!”, referencing the fast-paced and often chaotic life of parties and events that surrounded Warhol and his circle in New York City.

The chorus of the song contains the lyrics, “Andy Warhol looks a scream / Hang him on my wall,” which embody the pop-art aesthetic of Warhol’s art. The song ends with Bowie repeating the name “Andy Warhol” several times, creating an almost haunting effect, which serves as a tribute to Warhol’s enduring cultural legacy.

Andy Warhol by David Bowie is a unique song that describes the life of one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. Bowie’s admiration for Warhol is clear in the lyrics, and the song serves as a fitting tribute to the visionary artist and cultural icon.

• Release Date: December 17, 1971
• Artist: David Bowie