Beauty in a Cage

‘Blackout’ is a David Bowie song written and recorded in 1977 for the Heroes album.  Bowie said that the song did refer to power cuts, and the New York City blackout of 1977 seems to have left an impression on him.  Bowie sings long, meandering lines about a beauty in a cage, a need to see a doctor and this song seems to get stranger line by line, as he shouts out random lyrics and continues to mutter.  This song may be about Bowie going to a club that had cage dancers which he thought were too expensive for his taste.  Maybe Bowie did some cocaine in the club, and he blacked out and when he woke up, he wanted to see a doctor.  He pleads with this girl to stay with him, because he wants to kiss her in the rain.  I’m not really sure about much of the rest of this song, but it might be about drugs, or a relationship, or a blackout and I won’t even try to guess.

Oh you, you walk on past
Your lips cut a smile on your face
(Your scalding face) to the cage, to the cage
She was a beauty in a cage

Too, too high a price
To drink rotting wine from your hands
(Your fearful hands) get me to a doctor’s, I’ve been told
Someone’s back in town the chips are down
I just cut and blackout
I’m under Japanese influence and my honor’s at stake

The weather’s grim, ice on the cages
Me, I’m Robin Hood and I puff on my cigarette
Panthers are steaming, stalking, screaming

If you don’t stay tonight
I will take that plane tonight
I’ve nothing to lose, nothing to gain
I’ll kiss you in the rain
Kiss you in the rain (kiss you in the rain)
Kiss you in the rain (kiss you in the rain)
In the rain (in the rain)
Get me to the doctor

Get me off the streets
(Get some protection)
Get me on my feet
(Get some direction)
Hot air gets me into a blackout
Oh, get me off the streets
Get some protection
Oh, get me on my feet

while the streets block off
Getting some skin exposure to the blackout (get some protection)
Get me on my feet (get some direction, woo-hoo)
Oh, get me on my feet
Get me off the streets (get some protection)
Get a second, get a (woo-hoo)
Yeah, get a second breath and pass, second go, blackout

Written for FOWC with Fandango – Cage.