The Saxophone Player’s wife has posted prompts throughout October which has helped me change my sporadic posting regime. Today’s prompt is ‘what we learnt in 2020’ – Thanks Caroline! To complete the challenge I have chosen Changes by (as most Song lyric Sundayist will know is by my all time fav artist) David Bowie.

My first Bowie LP purchase was ChangesOne – the eclectic compilation intrigued me – I got hooked. The song marked the first instance of Bowie playing the saxophone on one of his recordings. It’s a mesmerising rift, as the saxophone, plays the final notes, fading into the distance.

In the 60’s Bowie had experimented with numerous musical styles, all of which failed to earn him stardom. The lyrics of “Changes” reflect this, with the first verse focus on the compulsive nature of artistic reinvention and distancing oneself from the rock mainstream.

The second verse concerns clashes between children and their parents, urging them to allow their children to be themselves as teenagers. This is reflected in the line “Time may change me, but I can’t trace time”. Bowie had previously spoken about this issue in an interview with The Times in 1968: “We feel our parents’ generation has lost control, given up, they’re scared of the future. I feel it’s basically their fault that things are so bad.” 

And so forty + years on … “Everything has changed but nothing has changed” – Mark Hamill.

Source: Wikipedia

Changes

I still don’t know what I was looking for

And my time was running wild

A million dead-end streets

Every time I thought I’d got it made

It seemed the taste was not so sweet

So I turned myself to face me

But I’ve never caught a glimpse

Of how the others must see the faker

I’m much too fast to take that test

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

(Turn and face the stranger)

Ch-ch-Changes

Don’t want to be a richer one

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

(Turn and face the stranger)

Ch-ch-Changes

Just gonna have to be a different one

Time may change me

But I can’t trace time

I watch the ripples change their size

But never leave the stream

Of warm impermanence

So the days float through my eyes

But still the days seem the same

And these children that you spit on

As they try to change their worlds

Their immune to your consultations

They’re quite aware of what they’re going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

(Turn and face the stranger)

Ch-ch-Changes

Don’t tell them to grow up and out of it

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

(Turn and face the stranger)

Ch-ch-Changes

Where’s your shame

You’ve left us up to our necks in it

Time may change me

But you can’t trace time

Strange fascination, fascinating me

Changes are taking the pace I’m going through

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

(Turn and face the stranger)

Ch-ch-Changes

Oh, look out you rock ‘n rollers

Ch-ch-ch-ch-Changes

(Turn and face the stranger)

Ch-ch-Changes

Pretty soon you’re gonna get a little older

Time may change me

But I can’t trace time

I said that time may change me

But I can’t trace time

Source: LyricFind

Songwriters: David Bowie

Changes lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management

Post inspired by Jim’s Song Lyric Sunday – , This week’s prompts are: Songs that feature wind instruments which includes Brass instruments (horns, trumpets, trombones, euphoniums, and tubas) and Woodwind instruments (recorders, flutes, oboes, clarinets, saxophones, and bassoons) suggested by Maggie From Cave Wall. Click through for the rules if you too would like to join in …

PS – Tis the final day of #Blogtober so linking with Caroline, The Saxophone Player’s Wife’s  troupe, for extra encouragement!

Published by TheHiddenEdge

I love words - they communicate so much or so little depending on how you use them. Come and explore my thoughts with me in this, my learning journal. View all posts by TheHiddenEdge