Cover art for Big Brother by David Bowie

Big Brother

David Bowie
Track 21 on Sound + Vision [2003 Version] 

Producer

David Bowie
Apr. 24, 19741 viewer28.2K views

Big Brother Lyrics

[Verse 1]
Don't talk of dust and roses
Or should we powder our noses?
Don't live for last year's capers
Give me steel, give me steel, give me pulsars unreal
He'll build a glass asylum
With just a hint of mayhem
He'll build a better whirlpool
We'll be living from sin
Then we can really begin

[Bridge]
Please saviour, saviour, show us
Hear me, I'm graphically yours

[Chorus]
Someone to claim us, someone to follow
Someone to shame us, some brave Apollo
Someone to fool us, someone like you
We want you Big Brother, Big Brother

[Verse 2]
I know you think you're awful square
But you made everyone and you've been every where
Lord I think you’d overdose if you knew what’s going down
[Chorus]
Someone to claim us, someone to follow
Someone to shame us, some brave Apollo
Someone to fool us, someone like you

Someone to claim us, someone to follow
Someone to shame us, some brave Apollo
Someone to fool, someone like you

Someone to claim us, someone to follow
Someone to shame us, some brave Apollo
Someone to fool, someone like you

[Outro]
We want you Big Brother

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Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

Is this also about George Orwell's 1984, because of the name Big Brother?
Genius Answer

Several of the songs on Diamond Dogs were originally intended for a musical adaptation of 1984 that Bowie was working on. George Orwell’s estate denied permission for the musical to go ahead, so Bowie repurposed some of the tracks for his album.

Although there are thematic similarities between album and novel, the stories in Bowie’s song are very different to the story of the novel.

Who produced “Big Brother” by David Bowie?
When did David Bowie release “Big Brother”?
Who wrote “Big Brother” by David Bowie?
Sound + Vision [2003 Version] (2003)
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Credits
Producer
Writer
Lead Vocals
Background Vocals
Acoustic Guitar
Rhythm Guitar
Saxophone
Mellotron
Bass Guitar
Drums
Sound Effects
Engineer
Recorded At
Olympic Studios, Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, Outer London, England, United Kingdom
Released on
April 24, 1974
Songs That Interpolate Big Brother
Big Brother Live Performances
Tags
RockEnglandIn EnglishUKBritish RockArt RockGlam Rock
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