The Optimistic View of Parenting in David Bowie’s “Kooks” and How Neil Young Inspired It

On May 30, 1971, David Bowie and his wife welcomed their son, Duncan. And Bowie did what any musician would—he wrote a song about it.

Just three days later, Bowie performed “Kooks” during a BBC session. The track was ultimately included on the album Hunky Dory, released later that year.

“I’d been listening to a Neil Young album, and they phoned through and said that my wife had a baby on Sunday morning, and I wrote this one about the baby,” Bowie told the BBC audience.

That album was most likely After The Gold Rush. That record includes a track called “I Believe In You,” similar to some of the song’s lyrics. Musically, “Kooks” has the most in common with Young’s “Till The Morning Comes.”

While “Kooks” isn’t one of Bowie’s most famous songs, it’s a joyous celebration of individuality and becoming a parent.

“‘Kooks’ is the love of Duncan that he never really showed when Duncan was growing up,” co-producer Ken Scott told Uncut magazine. “It says it all. It’s how he felt at the moment of birth.”

An Optimistic View of Parenthood

“Kooks” celebrates Bowie’s own individuality, something he’s still remembered for today. And it also welcomes his son into the fold. An early demo featured some different lyrics, but the overall message remained the same. In Bowie’s own words, “If you’re going to stay with us, then you are going to grow up bananas.”

In the chorus, David Bowie sings to his son directly, inviting his son to join him and his wife. He promises he won’t regret it because they’ll be there alongside him to support him.

Will you stay in our lovers’ story?
If you stay you won’t be sorry
‘Cause we believe in you
Soon you’ll grow, so take a chance
With a couple of kooks hung up on romancing.

In the first verse, Bowie tells his son about all the things they’ve bought to keep him happy and healthy, including a book on how to respond should he ever be bullied, something Bowie sees as inevitable.

We bought a lot of things to keep you warm and dry
And a funny old crib on which the paint won’t dry
I bought you a pair of shoes
A trumpet you can blow and a book of rules
On what to say to people when they pick on you
‘Cause if you stay with us you’re going to be pretty kooky too.

The second verse looks further ahead in Duncan’s childhood, when he’s in school. David Bowie sings as a dad who prioritizes his son’s happiness. He tells him he can disregard his homework in favor of enjoying a trip with his parents. Bowie also references his own experiences and advises his son not to get into fights, possibly referencing the incident which permanently damaged Bowie’s vision.

And if you ever have to go to school
Remember how they messed up this old fool
Don’t pick fights with the bullies or the cads
‘Cause I’m not much cop at punching other people’s dads
And if the homework brings you down
Then we’ll throw it on the fire and take the car downtown.

While “Kooks” was specifically written for Duncan, it serves as an anthem for anyone else who’s a little bit different.

Photo by Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images