Talk:Subterraneans

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Alternate interpretations OR?
I was running through, but this section seems like original research to me Nave.notnilc (talk) 07:19, 23 July 2009 (UTC)

Lyrics (?)
If I recall correctly the lyrics for "Subterraneans" as they appeared printed on the 1977 sheet music (available for sale at the time in some record stores) were different from those included with the 1999 liner notes. For example the first line was "share bride failing so," although to my ear "failing star" sounds more accurate and is more poetically evocative per the song's mood. Also, the repeated word "surely" was spelled as such, not as the proper name "Shirley." If anyone reading this happens to still have the original 1977 sheet music a confirmation or correction regarding this memory would be appreciated. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.46.30.126 (talk) 07:30, 31 August 2016 (UTC)


 * I completely agree - these words are definitely not what is sung. Subterraneans is not about Shirley. I hear Sheli-sheli-sheli-um and so do others: https://songmeanings.com/songs/view/3530822107858489247/ I don't remember sheet music being available in '77 however and writing this to manuscript would be quite a challenge. Perhaps it was a lyric sheet? Thelisteninghand (talk) 19:48, 3 April 2021 (UTC)
 * Not exactly sure what the IP was talking about. "Subterraneans" is an instrumental. The wordless vocals Bowie sings at the end I've always interpreted as what you said "Sheli-sheli-sheli-um", but these aren't "lyrics". – zmbro (talk) 23:53, 3 April 2021 (UTC)

Zmbro - and there you have it. What do we do with "Shirley"? The CD - Unreliable source? Thelisteninghand (talk) 00:59, 4 April 2021 (UTC)

The "lyrics" to which the IP refers is in a book of sheet music for Low/Station to Station, published by Warner Brothers Jan 1st 1977: https://www.amazon.com/David-Bowie-Low-Station/dp/B000GXFZRY  It bears David Bowie's name as the author. We have a choice between 'sheli' 'shirley' and 'surely'. Thelisteninghand (talk) 19:53, 7 April 2021 (UTC)