Artists
Musicians featured in this piece are:
David Bowie – vocals, guitar
Alan Parker – guitar
Mike Garson – piano
Herbie Flowers – bass guitar
Tony Newman – drums, percussion
Written by David Bowie. Produced by David Bowie, recorded December 1973–January 1974 at Olympic Studios, London.
“Rebel Rebel” was originally written for a planned Ziggy Stardust musical that never came to fruition, and is widely regarded as David Bowie‘s farewell to the glam rock movement he had helped build. Guitarist Alan Parker helped Bowie work out the song’s signature riff, which Bowie himself has said was owed in part to time Keith Richards spent around him during the sessions. It was Bowie’s first hit since 1969 not to feature guitarist Mick Ronson, since Bowie played guitar on almost all of Diamond Dogs himself. A different, shorter US single mix, credited simply to “Bowie” and featuring congas from Geoff MacCormack, briefly replaced the UK version before being withdrawn; it’s cited as Bowie’s most-covered song.
David Bowie – Rebel Rebel Lyrics
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
You’ve got your mother in a whirl
She’s not sure if you’re a boy or a girl
Hey, babe, your hair’s alright
Hey, babe, let’s go out tonight
You like me and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they’re playing hard
You want more and you want it fast
They put you down, they say I’m wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on
Rebel Rebel, you’ve torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so
Don’t ya?
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
You’ve got your mother in a whirl
‘Cause she’s not sure if you’re a boy or a girl
Hey, babe, your hair’s alright
Hey, babe, let’s stay out tonight
You like me and I like it all
We like dancing and we look divine
You love bands when they’re playing hard
You want more and you want it fast
They put you down, they say I’m wrong
You tacky thing, you put them on
Rebel Rebel, you’ve torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so
Don’t ya?
Ooh!
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
Doo doo doo-doo doo doo-doo doo
Rebel Rebel, you’ve torn your dress
Rebel Rebel, your face is a mess
Rebel Rebel, how could they know?
Hot tramp, I love you so (don’t ya?)
You’ve torn your dress, your face is a mess
You can’t get enough, but enough ain’t the test
You’ve got your transmission and your live wire
You got your cue line and a handful of ludes
You wanna be there when they count up the dudes
And I love your dress
You’re a juvenile success
Because your face is a mess
So how could they know?
I said, how could they know?
So what you wanna know?
Calamity’s child, chi-chi, chi-chi
Where’d you wanna go?
What can I do for you? Looks like I’ve been there too
‘Cause you’ve torn your dress
And your face is a mess
Ooh, your face is a mess
Ooh, ooh, so how could they know?
Ah, ah, how could they know?
Ah, ah
To listen to other songs from the Teleskop 18 program and the full program, click here.