Bring Me The Disco King

Album: Reality (2003)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This jazzy song, the closer of Bowie's Reality album, was around since at least 1993. It had been recorded but not used in his 1993 album Black Tie White Noise and 1997's Earthling. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Charlie - Stittstown, Canada

Comments: 5

  • Roman Wilde from BcDance dance dance through the fire definitely makes me think of Shiva, who dances through all lives and deaths eternally, and the disco king I feel feel is Bowies ego, the ego that Shiva tramples in the image where he dances in the fire. "Soon there will be nothing left of me, nothing left to release." Seems an homage to the purification of ego represented by Shiva. Just some perhaps off base insights.
  • Steve from Berkeley, CaI'd say Sven has a good handle on what this song is about, at least in his first idea.
  • E-clown from Perpignan, FranceThere is a small video official about "bring me the disco king", you can see Bowie walking in a kind of forest with white trees but trees are upside down.
    I think this song is about death. Forest is a symbol of life ordinary. I think bowie stopped references about drug in his recent songs. In reality album you can find stories about ordinary people mixed with bowie feelings. 11th of september had to stay in his mind like a big fear to die, his age, his parents dead...heathen album showed already a lot of death elements.
  • Sven from Tuebingen, Germanyi think it is just about the end of the disco era and about the end of the youth in general. i think it reflects bowie's own experiences with drugs, one-night-stands and waking up in strange city with a bad hang-over. the line "spending time in the 70's" may refers to his own wild-times of glam and parties. memories are flying "like bats out of hell", the life isnt "worth the crumbled paper it was written on". it is like a look to past with regrets. Now he has "cold nights full of chrome and glass" and without "good time girls". the world of the disco and the glamour was ,in his eyes, a world of lies. he feels betrayed when he asks at the beginning for the promises, which werent fullfilled. and he doesnt know about he dico king as keenan says. but that is just brain-storming. i believe it is a highly metaphorical song, which plays with the images they come to mind hearing the descriptions of the places and situations, e.g. dancing on fire, chrome and glass, rivers of perfume, stepping in the dark, bats out of hell. my second idea and interpetation is, that this song is about a hard working 9-5 guy who wishes to break out of his life. he is bored and regrets not to have been part of the party community. he was only "killing time in the 70's" and not partying. he is jealous and wants the head of the disco king, who represents the party community. but in fact, i have no idea what this song is about.
  • Ruben from Utrecht, NetherlandsThe song is featured on the soundtrack of 'Underworld'. Maynard James Keenan of Tool has a guest appearance on it, singing only the words 'bring me the disco king, bring me the head of the disco king'. But what on earth is the song about? Anyone?
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Chris Fehn of Slipknot

Chris Fehn of SlipknotSongwriter Interviews

A drummer for one of the most successful metal bands of the last decade, Chris talks about what it's like writing and performing with Slipknot. Metal-neck is a factor.

70s Music Quiz 1

70s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

The '70s gave us Muppets, disco and Van Halen, all which show up in this groovy quiz.

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About Transgenderism

Trans Soul Rebels: Songs About TransgenderismSong Writing

A history of songs dealing with transgender issues, featuring Pink Floyd, David Bowie, Morrissey and Green Day.

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary Machine

The Untold Story Of Fiona Apple's Extraordinary MachineSong Writing

Fiona's highly-anticipated third album almost didn't make it. Here's how it finally came together after two years and a leak.

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Jon Oliva of Trans-Siberian OrchestraSongwriter Interviews

Writing great prog metal isn't easy, especially when it's for 60 musicians.

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."