A Better Future (Song Lyric Sunday)
A Better Future is a track from Bowie’s 2002 Album, Heathen. Bowie denied that any of the album’s songs were written after September 2001, though he admitted that the songs deal with the general feeling of anxiety that he’d had in America for a number of years. He also said in a 2003 interview: “It was written as a deeply questioning album. Of course, it had one foot astride that awful event in September. So that was quite a traumatic album to finish. This one hints at that, but it’s not really trying to resolve any trauma. [September 11] did affect me and my family very much.”
Many of Bowie’s songs encourage interpretation, you can find a few of them on Song Meanings. Or here is a short video that Bowie, himself, said about the meaning behind A Better Future..
Bowie, who was 55 at the time of the record’s release, said, “I’m pretty much a realist. There’s a certain age you get to when you’re not really going to be shown [on TV] anymore. The young have to kill the old. … That’s how life works. … It’s how culture works.” For this reason there were no music videos released for any of the songs from this album. This, video however, is on YouTube, and has some great reviews as to its interpretation.
Please don’t tear this world asunder
Please take back this fear we’re under
I demand a better future
Or I might just stop wanting you
I might just stop wanting you
Please make sure we get tomorrow
All this pain, all this sorrow
I demand a better future
Or I might just stop needing you
I might just stop needing you
Give my children sunny smiles
Give them warm and cloudless skies
I demand a better future
Or I might just stop loving you
Loving you, loving you
When you talk
We talk too
When you walk
We walk too
From factory to field
How many tears must fall
Down here below
Nothing is moving
I might just stop wanting you
I might just stop needing you
I might just stop loving you
I demand a better future
I demand a better future
I demand a better future
For I might just stop loving you
Loving you, loving you
I demand a better future
I demand a better future
I demand a better future
Or I might just stop loving you
Loving you, loving you
I demand a better future
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: David Bowie
A Better Future lyrics © Nipple Music
Post inspired by Jim’s Song Lyric Sunday – This week’s theme is songs that feature the lyrics of either Past, Present, or Future. Click through for the rules if you too would like to join in …


Thanks for sharing this lovely Bowie song Laura. We could all use a better future.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I feel like I am echoing last week’s post but nothing seems to change much – does it? There is always some crisis to fear … 😳
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bowie…. You can’t beat him my hero 💜💜💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a lovely Bowie song Laura. I know you’re a huge fan ☺️💕
LikeLiked by 1 person