David Bowie - Panic In Detroit

by Dick Mac

This is one of my all-time favorite rock songs. It is from David Bowie's 1973 Aladdin Sane album.

Panic in Detroit

He looked a lot like Che Guevara,
Drove a diesel van
Kept his gun in quiet seclusion,
Such a humble man
The only survivor
Of the National People's Gang
Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph
He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone

Panic in Detroit

He laughed at accidental sirens that broke the evening gloom
The police had warned of repercussions
They followed none too soon
A trickle of strangers were all that were left alive

Panic in Detroit, I asked for an autograph
He wanted to stay home, I wish someone would phone

Panic in Detroit

Putting on some clothes I made my way to school
And I found my teacher crouching in his overalls
I screamed and ran to smash my favorite slot machine
And jumped the silent cars that slept at traffic lights

Having scored a trillion dollars,
Made a run back home
Found him slumped across the table.
The gun and me alone
I ran to the window. Looked for a plane or two

Panic in Detroit.
He left me an autograph
"Let me collect dust."
I wish someone would phone

Panic in Detroit