David Bowie

Lyrics

[Spoken Intro]
This ain't rock 'n' roll, this is genocide!

[Verse 1]
As they pulled you out of the oxygen tent
You asked for the latest party
With your silicone hump and your ten inch stump
Dressed like a priest you was
Tod Browning's Freak you was
Crawling down the alley on your hands and knee
I'm sure you're not protected, for it's plain to see
The Diamond Dogs are poachers and they hide behind trees
Hunt you to the ground they will, mannequins with kill appeal

[Chorus]
(Will they come?) I'll keep a friend serene
(Will they come?) Oh baby, come on to me
(Will they come?) Well, she's come, been and gone
Come out of the garden, baby
You'll catch your death in the fog
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs

[Verse 2]
The Halloween Jack is a real cool cat
And he lives on top of Manhattan Chase
The elevator's broke, so he slides down a rope
Onto the street below, oh Tarzan, go man go
Meet his little hussy with his ghost town approach
Her face is sans feature, but she wears a Dali brooch
Sweetly reminiscent, something mother used to bake
Wrecked up and paralysed, Diamond Dogs are stabilised
[Chorus]
(Will they come?) I'll keep a friend serene
(Will they come?) Oh baby, come on to me
(Will they come?) Well, she's come, been and gone
Come out of the garden, baby
You'll catch your death in the fog
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs

[Bridge]
(Oo-oo-ooh) call them the Diamond Dogs
(Oo-oo-ooh) call them the Diamond Dogs
Oh, hoo!
Awoooooo!
Woof! Woof!

[Verse 3]
In the year of the scavenger, the season of the bitch
Sashay on the boardwalk, scurry to the ditch
Just another future song, lonely little kitsch
(There's gonna be sorrow) try and wake up tomorrow

[Chorus]
(Will they come?) I'll keep a friend serene
(Will they come?) Oh baby, come on to me
(Will they come?) Well, she's come, been and gone
Come out of the garden, baby
You'll catch your death in the fog
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs
[Outro]
Oo-oo-ooh, call them the Diamond Dogs
Oo-oo-ooh, call them the Diamond Dogs
Bow-wow, woof woof, bow-wow, wow
Call them the Diamond Dogs
Dogs!
Call them the Diamond Dogs, call them, they call them
Call them the Diamond Dogs, call them, call them, ooh hoo!
Call them the Diamond Dogs
Keep cool, Diamond Dogs rule, OK
Hey! Hey! Hey! Hey!
(Beware of the Diamond Dogs)
(Beware of the Diamond Dogs)
(Beware of the Diamond Dogs)
(Beware of the Diamond Dogs)

David Bowie was an iconic artist known for his eclectic and innovative music. He released his tenth studio album, Diamond Dogs, in 1974, which is considered one of his finest works. The album paints a picture of a dystopian world in the not-too-distant future, and the title track, “Diamond Dogs,” is one of the standout pieces on the album.

About Diamond Dogs

The song starts with a futuristic, ominous, and almost industrial-sounding guitar riff that sets the tone for the rest of the track. Bowie’s unique and haunting voice then comes in, with lyrics that continue the dark and disturbing themes that were introduced in the previous track, “Future Legend.” The lyrics paint a picture of a world that has been destroyed by an apocalypse and is now ruled by feral gangs, who are known as Diamond Dogs. The song shows that Bowie was very much ahead of his time in terms of the dystopian future concept that is now prevalent in pop culture.

Bowie uses the cut-up technique in this track, which involves randomly cutting up and rearranging text to create a new meaning. This technique was first popularized by author William S. Burroughs in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Bowie uses this technique effectively, giving the song a fragmented, spontaneous feel that adds to the atmosphere of chaos and anarchy.

The song’s chorus, “We’ll buy some drugs and watch a band / Then jump in the river holding hands,” is sung with a sense of resignation and nihilism that reflects the bleakness of the world the song portrays. Despite its apocalyptic lyrics, the track manages to be catchy, with a driving beat and memorable melody. It’s a testament to Bowie’s ability to create music that is both dark and catchy at the same time.

“Diamond Dogs” is a song that has had a significant impact on pop culture. The cabaret in Baz Luhrmann’s popular 2001 film, Moulin Rouge!, is known as the Diamond Dogs, named after Bowie's song. It’s also the name of a gang in the Metal Gear Solid V video game, and the song was originally planned as the game's opening theme before ultimately being replaced by Midge Ure’s cover of “The Man Who Sold The World.”

Overall, “Diamond Dogs” is a masterful piece of music that showcases Bowie’s ability to create a dark, dystopian atmosphere while still being catchy and memorable. Its themes of chaos and nihilism continue to be relevant today, and the song remains a classic in Bowie’s extensive catalog.

• Release Date: October 24, 1974
• Artist: David Bowie