Bowie, David - Conversation Piece Lyrics






I took this walk to ease my mind
To find out what's gnawing at me
Wouldn't think to look at me
That I've spent a lot of time in education
It all seems so long ago
I'm a thinker, not a talker
I've no one to talk to anyway

I can't see the road
For the rain in my eyes

I live above the grocers' store
Owned by an Austrian
He often calls me down to eat
And he jokes about his broken English
Tries to be a friend to me
But for all my years of reading conversation
I stand without a word to say

I can't see the bridge
For the rain in my eyes

And the world is full of life
Full of folk who don't know me
And they walk in twos or threes or more
While the lamp that shines above the grocers' store
Investigates my face so rudely
And my essays lying scattered on the floor
Fulfill their needs just by being there

And my hands shake, my head hurts
My voice sticks inside my throat
I'm invisible and dumb
And no one will recall me

And I can't see the water
For the tears in my eyes





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Bowie, David Conversation Piece Comments
  1. M.... R....

    One of his best. I will play it when I end my life by my own choice, just like the protagonist of this song.

  2. s.... p....

    Only 4 thumbs down, but there shouldn't be any at all!

  3. L.... S....

    Masterpiece

  4. R.... F....

    Mágica

  5. A.... B....

    You can feel the 30 years of life lived between the two recordings of this beautiful song.

  6. c.... ....

    I love you!

  7. O.... Z....

    Lyrics? Can't hear what he's saying, too low.

    O.... Z....

    I took this walk to ease my mind
    To find out what's gnawing at me
    And wouldn't think to look at me
    That I've spent a lot of time in education
    All seems so long ago

    I'm a thinker, not a talker
    I've no-one to talk to, anyway
    I can't see the road
    For the rain in my eyes

    I live above the grocers store
    Owned by an Austrian
    He often calls me down to eat
    And he jokes about his broken English
    Tries to be a friend to me

    But for all my years of reading conversation
    I stand without a word to say
    I can't see the bridge
    For the rain in my eyes

    And the world is full of life
    Full of folk who don't know me
    And they walk in twos or threes or more
    While the light that shines above the grocer's store
    Investigates my face so rudely

    And my essays lying scattered on the floor
    Fulfill their needs just by being there
    And my hands shake, my head hurts
    My voice sticks inside my throat
    I'm invisible and dumb and no one will recall me
    And I can't see the water through the tears in my eyes

    O.... Z....

    @Matsumoto Oto Thank you:)

  8. s.... p....

    What a song, it brings me in a smooth and relaxing mood!

  9. R.... B....

    It was a shame that Bowie thought it was too gimmicky, or a sell-out, to pad out a latest album with cover versions of old tracks. Because this track and 'Shadow Man' would have been better than the 3 cover versions that he did for 'Heathen'. Same again a year later with 'Reality' because his cover of 'Rebel Rebel' would have made a stronger 10 track album. Especially if it had the John Frusciante version of 'Bring me the disco king.'

  10. M.... P....

    David Bowie is God's gift to earth.

    M.... P....

    True that Miguel and very sad God took back him ..........

    M.... P....

    To heaven, as well!

  11. N.... C....

    So beautiful new love

  12. C.... K....

    I'm invisible and dumb and no one will recall me.

    C.... K....

    That seemed to be one of his biggest fears in life

  13. G.... I....

    Just can’t stop coming back... it’s such an achingly beautiful memory of the man.

  14. a.... d....

    Quando penso che siamo cresciuti con la musica di questi grandi artisti ... che fortuna !!

  15. L.... S....

    My hands shake,my head hurts and my voice sticks inside my throat I'm invisible and dumb and i can't see the bridge through the tears in my eye's. ........ a day in the life of someone who's always doubting always second guessing any decision in life themselves included. ...isn't that all of us deep inside.

  16. w.... ....

    I truly love this song

  17. E.... ....

    Best Version :)

  18. F.... S....

    "And my essays lying scattered on the floor
    Fulfill their needs just by being there"

    --my epitaph

  19. C.... C....

    Masterpiece.

  20. J.... B....

    Loaded with the weight of passing years. Especially sad now he's gone.

    J.... B....

    John Brown So very well said friend.Very eloquently said.God I miss him so much

  21. b.... ....

    The original isn't such a dirge. In fact, John Lodge from the Moodies plays bass on it. It's also on the B-side of "Prettiest Star"1969 I think.

  22. F.... G....

    Love...

  23. G.... W....

    Love it. It's nice to hear this song sung in a lower register. Wish the drums weren't so intrusive.

    G.... W....

    yep ... too much production ... such a shame ... and slow it down a touch FFS

  24. A.... W....

    Evokes very sad images; haunting and beautiful at the same time. A soulful version of one of my favorite Bowie songs.

  25. M.... V....

    That voice... even if it would not be speaking words it says it all.

  26. B.... ....

    This is the ONLY version and it's one of its Bowie's best.

  27. G.... I....

    My favourite version of just possibly my favourite Bowie song.

    G.... I....

    Like all Bowie songs, my favorite.

    G.... I....

    Not my favorite, but top 20!

    G.... I....

    @sidney pasquarelli not even in my top 100 imo very forgetable

  28. N.... ....

    So beautiful, the voice, the way it shows the isolation, and the music... but there are strong hints it could be someone who is about to commit suicide 😓

    N.... ....

    I did read somewhere that it's about somebody with Aspergers syndrome/autism.

    N.... ....

    More than hints. That reading is pretty clear to me. Rain, bridge, water.

  29. N.... ....

    I find this very calming (and a bit sad at the same time)

  30. L.... S....

    WOW!that's was bowie (brilliant ) still can't believe he's gone ,guess he was human after all?Bye spaceman and thx u for being different.

  31. F.... G....

    Je vais crever... tellement j'adore...

  32. L.... V....

    Excellent of course but still prefer the 1969 original version to be found on the Hunky Dory Album.

    L.... V....

    Original is a b side actually.

    L.... V....

    I think both versions are very good! That's just my honest opinion! Have a good one,!

  33. S.... S....

    Brilliant track 2002 version my favourite.. On a bonus disc with Heathen when first issued..I think it's about spirits (amongst other things)

  34. M.... T....

    me encanta.. no me canso de escucharla.... mi carga de pilas ..mi energia ,,,

  35. L.... ....

    I can't find the lyrics.

    L.... ....

    I took this walk to ease my mind
    To find out what's gnawing at me
    And wouldn't think to look at me
    That I've spent a lot of time in education
    All seems so long ago

    I'm a thinker, not a talker
    I've no-one to talk to, anyway
    I can't see the road
    For the rain in my eyes

    I live above the grocers store
    Owned by an Austrian
    He often calls me down to eat
    And he jokes about his broken English
    Tries to be a friend to me

    But for all my years of reading conversation
    I stand without a word to say
    I can't see the bridge
    For the rain in my eyes

    And the world is full of life
    Full of folk who don't know me
    And they walk in twos or threes or more
    While the light that shines above the grocer's store
    Investigates my face so rudely

    And my essays lying scattered on the floor
    Fulfill their needs just by being there
    And my hands shake, my head hurts
    My voice sticks inside my throat
    I'm invisible and dumb and no one will recall me
    And I can't see the water through the tears in my eyes

    L.... ....

    Thank you very much.

  36. P.... H....

    what is the best version? I love the two!!!

    P.... H....

    Personally the 1969 version. Can't be beaten.

    P.... H....

    I love 2002 version more <3; but both are great.

    P.... H....

    I'm glad he took the time to revisit this , the 33 years between the two versions lend a different perspective to both recordings. The Hansa studio gated mike techniques give it a world weary overtone that the original doesn't have.

  37. M.... V....

    Amazing times 17338897459