The Width of a Circle
David Bowie
Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!
In the corner of the morning in the past I would sit and blame the master first and last All the roads were straight and narrow And the prayers were small and yellow And the rumour spread that I was aging fast Then I ran across a monster who was sleeping By a tree And I looked and frowned and the monster was me Well, I said hello and I said hello And I asked, why not, and I replied, I don't know So we asked a simple black bird, who was happy as can be And he laughed insane and quipped Kahlil Gibran And I cried for all the others till the day was nearly through For I realized that God's a young man too Ho Oh I said so long and I waved bye-bye And I smashed my soul and traded my mind Got laid by a young bordello Who was vaguely half asleep For which my reputation swept back home in drag And the moral of this magic spell Negotiates my hide When God did take my logic for a ride (Riding along) Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh He swallowed his pride and puckered his lips And showed me the leather belt round his hips My knees were shaking my cheeks aflame He said you'll never go down to the Gods again (Turn around, go back) He struck the ground a cavern appeared And I smelt the burning pit of fear We crashed a thousand yards below I said do it again, do it again (Turn around, go back) His nebulous body swayed above His tongue swollen with devil's love The snake and I, a venom high I said do it again, do it again (Turn around, go back) Breathe, breathe, breathe deeply And I was seething, breathing deeply Spitting sentry, horned and tailed Waiting for you, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: DAVID BOWIE
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, TINTORETTO MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Composition"The Width of a Circle" is the opening track of David Bowie's 1970 album "The Man Who Sold the World". It's a progressive rock piece that lasts about 8 minutes.
|
Lyrics ContentThe song is typically Bowie in terms of its lyrics presenting cryptic ideas that freely cross reference mythologies, religion, psychosexual imagery, and existential questioning.
|
Music InspirationMick Ronson, who joined Bowie's band during the recording of this album, stated that the song was inspired by a dream that Bowie had.
|
Live Performances"The Width of a Circle" became a staple of Bowie's live performances in 1970 and 1971, and a rendition of the song was included in the 1974 live album "David Live".
|
Cultural ImpactDavid Buckley, a music critic, referred to this song as "Bowie's first true masterpiece". It is also rated highly by fans and cited as one of the standout tracks on the album.
|
ContributorsNotable musicians who played in this song include Mick Ronson on guitar and Tony Visconti on bass, both of whom went on to work extensively with Bowie.
|
LegacyIn May 2021, a live recording of the song from an Aylesbury concert in 1971 was released as "The Width of a Circle", a two-CD set, accompanying the album's 50th-anniversary celebrations.
|
ReceptionDespite its length and heavy rock sound that was not typically radio-friendly, "The Width of a Circle" received critical acclaim for its powerful lyrics and complex musical arrangement.
|
Song InterpretationThere are many interpretations of what the song could be about, including a sexual awakening, a spiritual journey, or a descent into madness.
|
Musical StyleThe song is noted for its change of pace midway through, transitioning from a heavy rock sound to a gentler, more acoustic section, showcasing Bowie's musical diversity.
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"The Width of a Circle Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 14 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/6190315/David+Bowie/The+Width+of+a+Circle>.
Discuss the The Width of a Circle Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In