Slow Burn Lyrics
David Bowie
Lyrics
Here shall we live in this terrible town
Where the price for our eyes shall squeeze them tight like a fist
And the walls shall have eyes
And the doors shall have ears
But we'll dance in the dark
And they'll play with our lives
Like a Slow Burn
Leading us on and on and on
Like a Slow Burn
Turning us round and round and round
But who are we
So small in times such as these
Slow Burn
Slow Burn
Oh, these are the days
These are the strangest of all
These are the nights
These are the darkest to fall
But who knows?
Echoes in tenement halls
Who knows?
Though the years snare them all
Like a Slow Burn
Leading us on and on and on
Like a Slow Burn
Twirling us round and round and upside down
There's fear overhead
There's fear overground
Slow Burn
Slow Burn
Like a Slow Burn
Leading us on and on and on
Like a Slow Burn
Turning us round and round and round
And here are we
At the center of it all
Slow Burn
Slow Burn
Slow Burn
Song & Lyrics Facts
David Bowie's song "Slow Burn" was released on April 15, 2002 as part of his album Heathen. It was written by David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels and performed with the band Gail Ann Dorsey (bass), Mike Garson (keyboards), Mark Plati (guitar) and Sterling Campbell (drums).
The lyrics were inspired by a poem by poet W.H. Auden and explore themes of love and loss. They describe a relationship that is slowly coming to an end due to lack of understanding and communication between two people. The song has been praised for its melancholic yet hopeful tone which reflects the theme of the album.