David Bowie never shied away from the theatrical, and this track is no exception. Here, he spins a modern tale of love, betrayal, and violence with a nod to John Ford's 17th-century play—minus the ruffled collars. The lyrics serve up a cocktail of gender role reversals and street-smart skirmishes, suggesting that sometimes relationships are as chaotic as warfare. With "Man, she punched me like a dude," Bowie blurs traditional lines faster than a smudged kohl eyeliner in a mosh pit. Is it about moral decay or just bad luck in love? Either way, Bowie makes clear that even heartbreak can have a backbeat you can dance to.
