David Bowie

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
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, what do I see?
A crack in the sky and a hand reaching down to me

[Refrain]
All the nightmares came today
And it looks as though they're here to stay

[Verse 2]
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

[Refrain]
All the strangers came today
And it looks as though they're here to stay

[Chorus]
Oh, you Pretty Things (Oh, you Pretty Things)
Don't you know you're driving your Mamas and Papas insane?
Oh, you Pretty Things (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
[Verse 3]
Look out at your children
See their faces in golden rays
Don't kid yourself, they belong to you
They're the start of the coming race
The Earth is a bitch, we've finished our news
Homo Sapiens have outgrown their use

[Refrain]
All the strangers came today
And it looks as though they're here to stay

[Chorus]
Oh, you Pretty Things (Oh, you Pretty Things)
Don't you know you're driving your Mamas and Papas insane?
Oh, you Pretty Things (Oh, you Pretty Things)
Don't you know you're driving your Mamas and Papas insane?
Let me make it plain
Gotta make way for the Homo Superior

If you're a fan of David Bowie, you must have heard his song "Oh! You Pretty Things". Released as a demo, this song was first recorded by Peter Noone and was his first solo single. It features Bowie on the piano and it hit #12 in the UK charts, making it Bowie’s second charting single as a writer after "Space Oddity".

About Oh! You Pretty Things

Oh! You Pretty Things is a song that reflects the culture of the new generation and its actions and goals that shape the world. Bowie expressed an observation regarding how their beliefs serve to drive their parents crazy, a concept still relevant in the era of his death. The young, he believed, were the creators of progress and future driving technology and innovation in society.

The song displays a general critique of the older generation’s reactions to the changes brought upon by the current times. It applauds the young and their pursuit of progress, with Papa and Mama disapprovingly looking on and struggling to adjust to the eye-opening revelations the song highlights. In Bowie's opinion, the existing establishment is incapable of catching up with the changing times, and his song suggests that they make way for Homo Superior, believing that Homo Sapiens have outgrown their usefulness in society.

Oh! You Pretty Things does not come across as a protest song on the surface, but Bowie's sly sense of humour is evident in his word choice. He uses humour to make his point in a nuanced and clever way. The wordplay in the lyrics is commendable, which elevates the idealised message behind the song. Bowie suggests, rather than dictate, that the older generation accepts the new changes brought upon by the young ones.

Bowie's tone is more complex in this song. Even in his support of progress and new ideas, he isn't always gentle, and the song's poetry has been interpreted in diverse ways due to its obtuse references. Bowie sides with the younger generation, and the sympathetic tones, for the most part, seep into the non-didactic words and the tuneful lyrics.

The song itself is not literal and requires some digging to understand the layers of references. Nevertheless, the song's message is clear, and Bowie's intention gets through once it's understood.

With Oh! You Pretty Things, Bowie masterfully creates a picture of a younger generation creating a better world, driven by their superior ways, free from the constraints of the current ruling powers. The song highlights the ongoing debates on changing society to suit new age thinking versus traditional mindset. Bowie's argument is with this song indicating his preference towards forward-thinking.

Oh! You Pretty Things is a timeless classic that fits Bowie's image of a great lyricist, combining thought-provoking themes with poetic lyrics and lively music.

Bowie references two other major acts of the 1960s, The Pretty Things and The Mamas and Papas, through clever wordplay. His reference to "The Pretty Things," another British rock band, is done in a gentle tone that is not immediately apparent. The same can be said for the nod towards 60s American music group "The Mamas and the Papas".

Notably, in another song "Kooks," Bowie states that "Oh! You Pretty Things" isn't about the new generation and the older generation's reaction to change but instead references something much more personal. It is interpreted that the song was about his son, who was unborn then, and his hopes and wishes for him.

The Bottom Line

Oh! You Pretty Things is a song that delivers a powerful message of progress and change. It critiques the older generation for their inability to adjust to the changing times and applauds the younger society that creates a future driven by technology and innovation.

Bowie's straightforward lyrics carry multiple meanings, with his elegant wordplay the focal point of the song. It remains a timeless classic, one that keeps Bowie's legacy as a lyricist of well-thought themes and poetic language alive to this day, several years after his death.

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