Artists
Musicians featured in this piece are:
David Bowie – vocals, acoustic guitar
Mick Ronson – electric guitar, piano, ARP synthesizer
Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
Woody Woodmansey – drums
Written by David Bowie. Produced by Ken Scott & David Bowie, recorded at Trident Studios, London, 4 February 1972, toward the end of the Ziggy Stardust sessions.
“Suffragette City” features a piano riff drawing on Little Richard, along with a lyrical nod to Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange (the word “droogie”) and the sing-along hook that closes the song. David Bowie had originally offered the track to Mott the Hoople, a band he admired, on the condition that they abandon plans to split up — Mott’s Dale Griffin later recalled getting Bowie’s phone number from a demo tape of the song, though the band ultimately turned it down.
David Bowie – Suffragette City Lyrics
(Hey man) Oh, leave me alone, you know
(Hey man) Oh, Henry, get off the phone, I gotta
(Hey man) I gotta straighten my face
This mellow-thighed chick just put my spine out of place
(Hey man) My schooldays insane
(Hey man) My work’s down the drain
(Hey man) Well, she’s a total blam-blam
She said she had to squeeze it but she, and then she
Oh, don’t lean on me, man, ’cause you can’t afford the ticket
Back from Suffragette City
Oh, don’t lean on me, man, ’cause you ain’t got time to check it
You know my Suffragette City
Is outta sight
She’s all right
(Hey, man) Oh, Henry, don’t be unkind, go away
(Hey, man) I can’t take you this time, no way
(Hey, man) Dear droogie, don’t crash here
There’s only room for one and here she comes, here she comes
Oh, don’t lean on me, man, ’cause you can’t afford the ticket
Back from Suffragette City
Oh, don’t lean on me, man, ’cause you ain’t got time to check it
You know my Suffragette City
Is outta sight
She’s all right
Oh, hit me
Oh, don’t lean on me, man, ’cause you can’t afford the ticket
Back from Suffragette City
Oh, don’t lean on me, man, ’cause you ain’t got time to check it
You know my Suffragette City
Don’t lean on me, man, ’cause you can’t afford the ticket
Back from Suffragette City
And don’t lean on me, man, ’cause you ain’t got time to check it
You know my Suffragette City
Is outta sight
Whoa, she’s all right
A Suffragette City
A Suffragette City
I’m back on Suffragette City
I’m back on Suffragette City
Whoa, Suffragette City
Ooh, Suffragette City
Ooh-how, Suffragette City
Ooh-how, Suffragette City
Ooh-how, Suffragette
Oh, wham, bam, thank you, ma’am!
A Suffragette City
A Suffragette City
Quite all right
A Suffragette City
Too fine
A Suffragette City
Ooh, a Suffragette City
Oh, my Suffragette City
Oh, my Suffragette City
Oh, Suffragette
Suffragette!
To listen to other songs from the Teleskop 18 program and the full program, click here.