Always Crashing in the Same Car

David Bowie

About Always Crashing in the Same Car

"Always Crashing in the Same Car" is a song by David Bowie from his album Low from 1977. The song's lyrics express the frustration of making the same mistake over and over. The narrator of the song recounts driving at high speed in circles around a hotel garage, cautiously checking for danger, yet still inevitably crashing, while a girl named Jasmine looks on. The song refers to a real-life incident in Bowie's life that occurred at the height of his cocaine addiction. Driving his Mercedes, Bowie had spotted a drug dealer on the streets who he believed had ripped him off. In retaliation, Bowie repeatedly rammed his own car into the dealer's car, after which he returned to his hotel and ended up driving around in circles in the hotel's underground garage. It's also reported that "Jasmine" refers to Iggy Pop, who was supposedly with Bowie in the car at that time. There are two verses to the piece, although three were planned. In the studio, Bowie sang a third verse in a quasi-Bob Dylan style, intended to be funny. However, given Bob Dylan's infamous motorcycling accident years earlier and the song's subject matter, the band considered such a move to be crass, and Bowie asked for Tony Visconti to delete the verse from the recording. Biographer Hugo Wilcken considered the song, similar to "Be My Wife", as being influenced by lyrics within the Syd Barrett album The Madcap Laughs, as well as the James Joyce poem "Golden Hair" which Barrett put to music. He also noted that at the time of Low's recording, Brian Eno was in possession of the Farfisa organ Barrett had used on the Pink Floyd track "Matilda Mother", and that a Farfisa was used on Low, though was unsure whether the two were one and the same. The song features the use of synthesizers and treatments to bring Bowie's largely calm vocals over the sound of the band. A long guitar solo completes the song. 


Year:
2000
4:07
142 
#9

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Every chance, every chance that I take
I take it on the road
Those kilometers and the red lights
I was always looking left and right
Oh, but I'm always crashing in the same car

Jasmine, I saw you peeping
As I pushed my foot down to the floor
I was going round and round the hotel garage
Must have been touching close to 94
Oh, but I'm always crashing in the same car

Yeah yeah yeah yeah

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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

Written by: David Bowie

Lyrics © TINTORETTO MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Album
"Always Crashing in the Same Car" is part of the "Low" album, which David Bowie released in 1977. "Low" is the first of the Berlin trilogy albums, inspired by and created in the city of Berlin.
Lyrics Inspiration
Bowie purportedly wrote "Always Crashing in the Same Car" after he crashed his Mercedes into a wall in a bout of frustration, hence the title and lyrics of the song.
Music Style
The song echoes the electronic, introspective style that's pivotal in the album "Low". It is characterized by atmospheric synthesizer landscapes, created by Brian Eno.
Chart Performance
Although it wasn't released as a single, "Always Crashing in the Same Car" is considered one of the highlights of the album by critics and fans.
Influential Album
The entire "Low" album, including "Always Crashing in the Same Car," played a significant role in ushering in the post-punk and new wave styles of the late '70s and '80s.
Radio Play
Despite not being a single, the song was played regularly on Bowie's 1978 World Tour and has been covered by several other artists.
Collaborations
The song features guitar work by Ricky Gardiner and was co-produced by Tony Visconti, a long-time collaborator of Bowie.
Cultural Impact
"Always Crashing in the Same Car" ceaselessly appears in lists of Bowie's best songs and is a fan favourite.
Cover Versions
Several artists, including James Murphy and Jehnny Beth, have covered "Always Crashing in the Same Car."
Live Performances
Bowie notably performed "Always Crashing in the Same Car" at the Glastonbury Festival in 2000, one of the key highlights of his set.

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