Apocalyptische klassieker du jour: Future Legend/Diamond Dogs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FO5K2X-FYKI

Oorspronkelijk stond Bowie een theaterproductie gebaseerd op Orwell’s 1984 voor ogen. Helaas onthielden Orwell’s erfgenamen hem hun toestemming, waarna enkele voor die productie bedoelde songs op de tweede kant van Diamond Dogs terecht kwamen. Op kant één schetst Bowie een dystopische, post-apocalyptische samenleving. Na al die jaren krijg ik nog steeds koude rillingen bij “This ain’t rock’n’roll. This is genocide!”. 

And in the death,
As the last few corpses lay rotting on the slimy
Thoroughfare,
The shutters lifted in inches in Temperance Building,
High on Poacher’s Hill.
And red, mutant, eyes gaze down on Hunger City.
No more big wheels.

Fleas the size of rats sucked on rats the size of cats,
And ten thousand peoploids split into small tribes,
Coveting the highest of the sterile skyscrapers,
Like packs of dogs assaulting the glass fronts of Love-Me Avenue.
Ripping and rewrapping mink and shiny silver fox, now leg-warmers.
Family badge of sapphire and cracked emerald.
Any day now,
The year of the Diamond Dogs.

This ain’t rock’n’roll. This is genocide! 

As they pulled you out of the oxygen tent 
You asked for the latest party 
With your silicone hump and your ten inch stump 
Dressed like a priest you was 
Todd Browning’s freak you was 

Crawling down the alley on your hands and knee 
I’m sure you’re not protected, for it’s plain to see 
The diamond dogs are poachers and they hide behind trees 
Hunt you to the ground they will, mannequins with kill appeal 

(Will they come?) 
I’ll keep a friend serene 
(Will they come?) 
Oh baby, come unto me 
(Will they come?) 
Well, she’s come, been and gone. 
Come out of the garden, baby 
You’ll catch your death in the fog 
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs 
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs 

The Halloween Jack is a real cool cat 
And he lives on top of Manhattan Chase 
The elevator’s broke, so he slides down a rope 
Onto the street below, oh Tarzie, go man go 

Meet his little hussy with his ghost town approach 
Her face is sans feature, but she wears a Dali brooch 
Sweetly reminiscent, something mother used to bake 
Wrecked up and paralyzed, Diamond Dogs are stabilized 

(Will they come?) 
I’ll keep a friend serene 
(Will they come?) 
Oh baby, come unto me 
(Will they come?) 
Well, she’s come, been and gone. 
Come out of the garden, baby 
You’ll catch your death in the fog 
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs 
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs 
Oo-oo-ooh, call them the Diamond Dogs 
Oo-oo-ooh, call them the Diamond Dogs

In the year of the scavenger, the season of the bitch 
Sashay on the boardwalk, scurry to the ditch 
Just another future song, lonely little kitsch 
(There’s gonna be sorrow) try and wake up tomorrow 

(Will they come?) 
I’ll keep a friend serene 
(Will they come?) 
Oh baby, come unto me 
(Will they come?) 
Well, she’s come, been and gone. 
Come out of the garden, baby 
You’ll catch your death in the fog 
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs 
Young girl, they call them the Diamond Dogs 
Oo-oo-ooh, call them the Diamond Dogs 
Oo-oo-ooh, call them the Diamond Dogs 

Bow-wow, woof woof, bow-wow, wow 
Call them the Diamond Dogs
Dogs 
Call them the Diamond Dogs, call them, call them 
Call them the Diamond Dogs, call them, call them, ooo 
Call them the Diamond Dogs 

Keep cool 
Diamond Dogs rule, OK 
Hey-hey-hey-hey 
Beware of the Diamond Dogs 
Beware of the Diamond Dogs