Uncle Arthur
Uncle Arthur

David Bowie - Uncle Arthur Lyrics

Rock
Mar 23, 1998
328
Uncle Arthur Music Video

Uncle Arthur Lyrics

Strikes the bell for 5 o'clock, Uncle Arthur closes shop
Screws the tops on all the bottles, turns the lights out, locks it up
Climbs across his bike and he's away
Cycles past the gasworks, past the river, down the high street
Back to mother, it's another empty day

Uncle Arthur likes his mommy
Uncle Arthur still reads comics
Uncle Arthur follows Batman

Round and round the rumours fly, how he ran away from Mum
On his 32nd birthday, told her that he'd found a chum
Mother cried and raved and yelled and fussed
Arthur left her no illusion, brought the girl round, save confusion
Sally was the real thing, not just lust

Uncle Arthur vanished quickly
Uncle Arthur and his new bride
Uncle Arthur follows Sally

Round and round goes Arthur's head, hasn't eaten well for days
Little Sally may be lovely, but cooking leaves her in a maze
Uncle Arthur packed his bags and fled
Back to mother, all's forgiven, serving in the family shop
He gets his pocket money, he's well fed

Uncle Arthur past the gasworks
Uncle Arthur past the river
Uncle Arthur down the high street
Uncle Arthur follows mother

Writer(s): DAVID BOWIE
Copyright(s): Lyrics © T.R.O. INC.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Who produced 'Uncle Arthur'?

    'Uncle Arthur' was produced by Mike Vernon as part of David Bowie's debut studio album, which was recorded between November 1966 and March 1967 in London.

  2. What musical style is present in 'Uncle Arthur'?

    'Uncle Arthur' features a baroque pop and music hall style, which was influenced by Anthony Newley and British rock bands of that era. It primarily uses orchestral brass and woodwind instruments rather than traditional pop instruments.

  3. What themes are explored in the lyrics of 'Uncle Arthur'?

    The song 'Uncle Arthur' explores themes of childhood innocence and simplistic adult life. It follows the story of a man living a sheltered life with his mother, until he briefly escapes to marry, only to return when domestic life becomes too challenging.

  4. How does the instrumentation support the narrative of 'Uncle Arthur'?

    The use of woodwind instruments, such as the bassoon and oboe, parallels the whimsical and somewhat quaint narrative of 'Uncle Arthur' by evoking the music hall tradition. This musical choice complements the song’s storytelling style.

  5. What role does 'Uncle Arthur' play in David Bowie's debut album?

    'Uncle Arthur' serves as one of the lighter tracks on David Bowie's debut album, demonstrating the artist's early experimentation with storytelling through character-driven lyrics, setting the stage for future thematic exploration in his career.

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