Lyric Interpretation of "Changes" by David Bowie

When you listen to music, you most likely interpret it in your own way. In this spirit, my husband and I decided to express two different interpretations of the song Changes, by David Bowie. Consider as you read if you agree or if you have yet another idea of what this song means. The link to my husband’s take on this personal challenge follows.

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A song of personal change

Everyone experiences changes in life. Teens cannot go through puberty without noticing changes in themselves and those around them, even if their body clocks are a bit different.

I believe that David Bowie wrote Changes to reflect the personal changes going on in his life, and to perhaps help guide other young men and woman facing changes. When Bowie wrote the song, his wife was expecting their first son, Duncan.

So I turned myself to face me

But I’ve never caught a glimpse

How the others must see the faker

I’m much too fast to take that test

Bowie is quoted as saying, “I’ve always collected personalities.”

David Bowie seemed to find performing as characters easier or perhaps more entertaining than being himself.

The first significant personality he “collected” was Major Tom from Space Oddity in 1969. Then came Ziggy Stardust, his stage persona in 1972 and ‘73.

Aladdin Sane came in 1973, which was a word play on “a lad insane.”

Halloween Jack appeared in his Diamond Dogs record in 1974.

Many consider Ziggy, Aladdin Insane, and Halloween Jack to be part of a rock opera trilogy. Ziggy, from another planet, tells of the impending doom of our world. Aladdin references the war-ravaged planet, and Diamond Dog shows the dystopian result.

Thin White Duke came about in 1975 and ‘76.

When Bowie was in the United States for his Diamond Dogs tour, he embraced the soul, funk, and dance music in Philadelphia. During this time, he wrote Young Americans and co-wrote his first number one American hit with John Lennon, Fame.

Why am I referencing some personas that hadn’t taken place until after Changes was written? Because I think perhaps David Bowie had these changes and characters in his head before they came to fruition, even if he hadn’t named them. He may not have had specifics in mind, but I think there’s a fair chance that he knew that he was going to switch personalities multiple times by the time Ziggy Stardust came along.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Turn and face the strange

Ch-ch-changes

Don’t want to be a richer man

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Turn and face the strange

Ch-ch-changes

There’s gonna have to be a different man

Time may change me

But can’t trace time

Consider the changes in your life. How many homes have you lived in? How many towns or cities? How many occupations have you had? How many serious relationships have you had? If your answers are few on all counts, I have sympathy for you. Changes are stressful, but they are character building.

I watch the ripples change their size

But never leave the stream

Of warm impermanence

And 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

Are immune to your consultations

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

Most artists put a bit of themselves into their work. David Bowie was no exception. He put himself in his lyrics and his music, and most definitely in his many personas. Most people don’t realize that he personally played the closing saxophone part in Changes. There's a change for you.

Whatever changes you have been through and whatever changes you are facing, this anthem will likely speak to personal changes happening for anyone in any generation.

Here is my husband, Ted Lacksonen’s take on these song lyrics: