PDF         

Pallas Athena

Listen online

David Bowie

About Pallas Athena

"Pallas Athena" is a song written by David Bowie in 1993 for the album Black Tie White Noise. The name is taken from the Greek goddess, Athena, who is famously depicted in Athenian statues under the form of Pallas Athena. Hence, the name of the song is a suggestion of religion and icons and sets the mood for a dark piece concerning the power that religion has over man. The lyrics are rather sparse, but the phrase beginning the piece, "God is on top of it, that's all," delivered as though from an African-American preacher, is ominous and intimidating, accompanied with the sound of strings delivering a sorrowful melody. The piece develops into a techno dance piece, using string sounds to hold the ominous mood while overlaid atop bass and drums. David Bowie's saxophone playing is amplified into a scream-like sound, which solos, along with Lester Bowie on trumpet. A lyric, "We are, we are, we are, we are praying," is repeated through the close of the song in a somber, monk-like fashion. Ultimately, the song restates Bowie's interest in how man relates with God. 


Year:
1993
4:40
182 
#6

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com 

God is on top of it all
That's all
We are we are we are

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


David Bowie

David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 - 10 January 2016), known by his stage name David Bowie ( /ˈboʊ.i/ BOH-ee), was an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s. He is known for his distinctive voice as well as the intellectual depth and considerable eclecticism of his work. more »

30 fans

Genre »
Style »

Sheet Music      PDF     

Written by: DAVID BOWIE

Lyrics © TINTORETTO MUSIC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

10 facts about this song

Songwriter
"Pallas Athena" is a song written by the legendary English musician, David Bowie. Known for his unique music style, Bowie blended elements of rock, electronic, and dance in this track.
Album details
It is a track from Bowie's nineteenth studio album, "Black Tie White Noise", which was released in 1993. The album reintroduced Bowie to the commercial market after a decade-long hiatus and included a greater emphasis on soul, jazz, and electronic music.
Title inspiration
The song is named after a Greek goddess. Pallas Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, arts, and warfare, underlining Bowie's wide-ranging artistic inspirations.
Genre
The song encompasses diverse genres ranging from electronic to techno funk, showcasing Bowie's versatility. It's an innovative mix of energetic dance beats, saxophone, and Bowie's soulful, deep vocals.
Live performances
"Pallas Athena" was performed not in Bowie's typical rock concerts, but instead as a part of his sets during rave parties. The song became particularly popular in dance clubs and was commonly played by DJs.
Mix versions
The song was also released in various different versions including radio edits and remixes aimed at dance floors. One version was created under Bowie’s own dance alias, Tao Jones Index.
Commercial success
Despite its unique sound and departure from Bowie’s more traditional work, "Pallas Athena" had commercial success, peaking at number one on the US Dance Club Songs chart.
Lyrics
Unlike most of Bowie's songs, "Pallas Athena" is largely instrumental with minimal lyrics. The words "Pallas Athena, goddess of wisdom" are repeated throughout the song, often highly distorted.
Video
The official video for the song utilized mostly black-and-white imagery and featured a vibrant mix of dancers, blending elements of ancient mythology with modern dance culture.
Collective performances
During live performances, Bowie was often accompanied by a full band including a saxophonist and back-up vocalists, highlighting the collective effort involved in producing the song's unique sound.

Discuss the Pallas Athena Lyrics with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "Pallas Athena Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 20 Apr. 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/1922912/David+Bowie/Pallas+Athena>.

    Powered by CITE.ME Cite.Me

    Missing lyrics by David Bowie?

    Know any other songs by David Bowie? Don't keep it to yourself!

    Watch the song video

    Pallas Athena

    36,946
    738     57

    more tracks from the album

    Black Tie White Noise

    Browse Lyrics.com

    #ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

    Our awesome collection of

    Promoted Songs

    »

    Quiz

    Are you a music master?

    »
    "So come on, come on, do the ________ with me"
    A Locomotion
    B Self-Promotion
    C Misdevotion
    D Countermotion

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant explanation for any lyrics that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant explanation for any acronym or abbreviation that hits you anywhere on the web!

    David Bowie tracks

    On Radio Right Now

    Loading...

    Powered by OnRad.io

    Think you know music? Test your MusicIQ here!