All the Madmen
David Bowie
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Day after day They send my friends away To mansions cold and grey To the far side of town Where the thin men stalk the streets While the sane stay underground Day after day They tell me I can go They tell me I can blow To the far side of town Where it's pointless to be high 'Cause it's such a long way down So I tell them that I can fly, I will scream, I will break my arm I will do me harm Here I stand, foot in hand, talking to my wall I'm not quite right at all, am I? Don't set me free, I'm as heavy as can be Just my librium and me And my E.S.T. makes three 'Cause I'd rather stay here With all the madmen Than perish with the sad men roaming free And I'd rather play here With all the madmen For I'm quite content they're all as sane As me (Where can the horizon lie When a nation hides Its organic minds In a cellar, dark and grim They must be very dim) Day after day They take some brain away Then turn my face around To the far side of town And tell me that it's real Then ask me how I feel Here I stand, foot in hand, talking to my wall I'm not quite right at all Don't set me free, I'm as helpless as can be My libido's split on me Gimme some good 'ole lobotomy 'Cause I'd rather stay here With all the madmen Than perish with the sad men Roaming free And I'd rather play here With all the madmen For I'm quite content They're all as sane as me Zane, zane, zane Ouvre le chien Zane, zane, zane Ouvre le chien Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah) Ouvre le chien Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah) Ouvre le chien Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah) Ouvre le chien Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah) Ouvre le chien Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah) Ouvre le chien Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah) Ouvre le chien Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah) Ouvre le chien Zane, zane, zane (ah ah ah) Ouvre le chien
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Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, TINTORETTO MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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12 facts about this song
Release"All the Madmen" is a song by British artist David Bowie, included in his third studio album "The Man Who Sold the World," which was released in 1970.
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InspirationThe song addresses mental illness and is considered a tribute to Bowie's half-brother Terry, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and was confined to a psychiatric institution for most of his adult life.
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SongwritingBowie is the sole songwriter of "All the Madmen," showcasing his personal commentary on mental health treatment and its societal implications.
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Album InfluenceThe song's themes of insanity and alienation reflect the overall dark, hard rock feel of the album "The Man Who Sold the World."
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Unique PresentationBefore reaching its ending, the song features a lengthy interval of chanting and a spoken-word segment, an unorthodox addition that further emphasizes Bowie's progressive songwriting methods.
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Live PerformancesEven though "All the Madmen" is one of Bowie's most compelling tracks, it was rarely performed live. Its first live performance wasn't until almost 40 years later during the "A Reality Tour" in 2004.
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Personal ConnectionBowie spoke genuinely about the song, as he felt all the social pressures his brother had been through, and he expressed a deep fear of mental illness throughout his life.
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Track Position"All the Madmen" is the last song on the A-side of the vinyl album. It is placed right before the title track, "Man Who Sold the World".
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Lyrical ContentThe song uses irony as Bowie presents 'sanity' as being 'insanity'. Society's perception of what's 'normal' versus 'mad' is questioned.
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Singles and RemixesThe song was remixed by longtime Bowie producer Tony Visconti in 2015 for the album "Five Years (1969-1973)." However, it was never released as a single.
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Sound ChangesOn the studio version of the song, the finale is a sound collage that includes the reverse-run tape of the band laughing and a high synth note that continues until it reaches the auditory threshold.
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Musical InfluenceWhile the song is primarily a hard rock track, it also shows Bowie's early leaning towards more avant-garde, theatrical, and progressive rock elements, which would be more fully realized in his later work.
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