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Sweet Head  

Bonus track on
Rykodisc/EMI releases (1990 & 1994) & EMI (2002)

Albums: The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and The Spiders From Mars (1972) (Rykodisc 1990 bonus track)

Singles:  None issued

Background

This powerful rocker with risqué lyrics was recorded in November 1971 at London's Trident Studio. Prior to the Rykodisc re-release programme in 1990, this song was completely unknown to David Bowie collectors and even co-producer Ken Scott says that he has no recollection of the recording of this track! It is the only song - outside of those on the Ziggy album itself - to mention Ziggy Stardust by name (i.e. Brother Ziggy). 

Judging by the lyrical content, and like "Velvet Goldmine", it was probably considered too provocative to release at the time as it refers directly to oral sex.

Even in 1990, according to Rykodisc's Jeff Rougvie, Bowie was reluctant for this song to be released and initially barred its release but then two months later changed his mind and said that it could be put out.

 

Sweet Head (Bowie)

I tried to break away from you
From the spics and blacks and the gum you chew
Where the posters are torn by the muggin' gangs
By the faggy park and the burnt out vans
I've got ninety-nine years of laying in the dark and I'm far too young to lie
I've got ninety-nine ways to play my guitar, it's going to pay me before I die

So bob your sweet head
Brother Ziggy gonna play
I'm just about the best you can hear
Gonna rock it in your head
Shazam! and come ball
With my guitar and Mr Fag
We can give you sweet head

I'm tough as glass and clean as night
Well if looks can love we can love all right
I'm your rubber peacock angelic whore
I'm a wrought iron face upon the wall, ye-owh
I had ninety-nine years of murder-come-life and I'm running away from it all
I got a bedroom, every mirror in town they're going to claim me if I fall

So bob your sweet head
Brother Ziggy gonna play
I'm just about the best you can hear
Gonna rock it in your head
Shazam! and come ball
With my guitar and Mr Fag
We can give you sweet head
Sweet head, give you sweet head,

 
While ya down there

See my eyes of blocked emotion, see my tremble, see my fall
Traumatics thick and fast, your faith in me can last
Besides I'm known to lay you, one and all

Look south the way your mother dwells
If she knew what's going down, she'd give you hell
I'm the kind of man she warned me of
Till there was rock, you only had God

You and I have a mutual vow
We both like young, and we both like loud
I got pretty shoes, and I'm kid and proud
I'm street side out with my ear to the crowd

Bob your sweet head
Brother Ziggy going to play
I'm just about the best you can hear
Gonna rock it in your head
Shazam! and come ball
With my guitar and Mr Fag
We can give you sweet head

(Move along Sir)

Choo-choo-choo

 

---This page last modified: 11 Dec 2018---

Ziggy Stardust Scarf (1973)