1985 is also the year that David Bowie's brother committed suicide.
This was after a decade and a half of Terry being institutionalized for schizophrenia (his brother, Terry threw himself under a train). Terry was put in a mental hospital around 1970, and many think this situation relates strongly to the lyrics in Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World album, way back when. There's a song on that album called "All the Madmen." And, the lyrics of "Width of a Circle" combine Bowie's experience of witnessing Terry's first schizophrenic break (where he apparently thought the sidewalk was splitting in two) with David's own experience of losing his own virginity with a man.
The lyrical theme of insanity that runs through all of Bowie's lyrics relates not only to Terry, but a huge, scary history in Bowie's (maternal) line with a disposition towards schizophrenia. Many think that Bowie's complex adoption of multiple personae has do to with an active desire to stave of insanity.
Some biographers say that he never wanted to have children because he was afraid of passing this on... but, now he has Duncan and a daughter (and a step-daughter) with Iman -clearly good things. But, I think this family history probably worries him profoundly.
(This is two parts because the guitar solo is so long in the middle, LOL)
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agMCN8DlX9g[/youtube]
[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SP1KKW6VxUs&feature=related[/youtube]
"Width of a Circle"
In the corner of the morning in the past
I would sit and blame the master first and last
All the roads were straight and narrow
And the prayers were small and yellow
And the rumour spread that I was aging fast
Then I ran across a monster who was sleeping by a tree.
And I looked and frowned and the monster was me
Well, I said hello and I said hello
And I asked "Why not?" and I replied "I don't know"
So we asked a simple black bird, who was happy as can be
And he laughed insane and quipped "KAHLIL GIBRAN"
So I cried for all the others till the day was nearly through
For I realized that God's a young man too
So I said "So long" and I waved "Bye-bye"
And I smashed my soul and traded my mind
Got laid by a young bordello
I was vaguely half asleep
For which my reputation swept back home in drag
And the moral of this magic spell
Negotiates my hide
When God did take my logic for a ride
(Riding along)
He swallowed his pride and puckered his lips
And showed me the leather belt round his hips
My knees were shaking my cheeks aflame
He said "You'll never go down to the Gods again"
(Turn around,go back!)
He struck the ground, a cavern appeared
And I smelt the burning pit of fear
We crashed a thousand yards below
I said "Do it again, do it again"
(Turn around,go back!)
His nebulous body swayed above
His tongue swollen with devil's love
The snake and I, a venom high
I said "Do it again, do it again"
(Turn around, go back!)
Breathe, breathe, breathe deeply
And I was seething, breathing deeply
Spitting sentry, horned and tailed
Waiting for you."
