Los Cenzontles: David Bowie’s “Young Americans” (video, lyrics)

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Bay Area collective Los Cenzontles’ (The Mockingbirds) interpretation of David Bowie’s Young Americans highlights the genius and poignancy of the lyrics.

PREVIOUSLY ON LOS CENZONTLES:

Los lyrics:

They pulled in just behind the bridge
He lays her down, he frowns
“Gee my life’s a funny thing, am I
still too young?”
He kissed her then and there
She took his ring, took his babies
It took him minutes, took her nowhere
Heaven knows, she’d have taken anything, but

[CHORUS (She)] All night
She wants the young American
Young American, young American, she wants the young American
All right
She wants the young American

Scanning life through the picture
window
She finds the slinky vagabond
He coughs as he passes her Ford
Mustang, but
Heaven forbid, she’ll take anything
But the freak, and his type, all for
nothing
He misses a step and cuts his hand, but
Showing nothing, he swoops like a song
She cries “Where have all Papa’s heroes gone?”

[CHORUS (She)] All the way from Washington
Her bread-winner begs off the bathroom floor
We live for just these twenty years
Do we have to die for the fifty more?”

[CHORUS (HE)] All night
He wants the young American
Young American, young American,
he wants the young American
All right
He wants the young American

Do you remember, your President Nixon?
Do you remember, the bills you have to pay?
Or even yesterday?
Have been the un-American?
Just you and your idol sing falsetto
’bout Leather, leather everywhere, and
Not a myth left from the ghetto
Well, well, well, would you carry a razor
In case, just in case of depression?
Sit on your hands on a bus of survivors
Blushing at all the afro-Sheeners
Ain’t that close to love?
Well, ain’t that poster love?
Well, it ain’t that Barbie doll
Her hearts have been broken just like you

[CHORUS (YOU)] All night
You want the young American
Young American, young American, you want the young American
All right
You want the young American

You ain’t a pimp and you ain’t a hustler
A pimp’s got a Cadi and a lady got a Chrysler
Black’s got respect, and white’s got his soul train
Mama’s got cramps, and look at your hands ache
(I heard the news today, oh boy)
I got a suite and you got defeat
Ain’t there a man who can say no more?
And, ain’t there a woman I can
sock on the jaw?
And, ain’t there a child I can hold without judging?
Ain’t there a pen that will write before they die?
Ain’t you proud that you’ve still got faces?
Ain’t there one damn song that can make me
break down and cry?

[CHORUS (I) (repeat 3 times ad lib)] All night
I want the young American
Young American, young American, I want the young American
All right
I want the young American

AND CHECK OUT OUR FAVORITE EXAMPLE OF NEO-MARIACHI DAVID BOWIE:

Bowie lyrics via AZLyrics.com.