interesting lyrics comparison annotated

David Bowie - Quicksand (1971)

I'm closer to the Golden Dawn
Immersed in Crowley's uniform
Of imagery
I'm living in a silent film
Portraying
Himmler's sacred realm
Of dream reality
I'm frightened by the total goal
Drawing to the ragged hole
And I ain't got the power anymore
No I ain't got the power anymore

I'm the twisted name
on Garbo's eyes
Living proof of
Churchill's lies
I'm destiny
I'm torn between the light and dark
Where others see their targets
Divine symmetry
Should I kiss the viper's fang
Or herald loud
the death of Man
I'm sinking in the quicksand
of my thought
And I ain't got the power anymore

[CHORUS]
Don't believe in yourself
Don't deceive with belief
Knowledge comes
with death's release

I'm not a prophet
or a stone age man
Just a mortal
with the potential of a superman
I'm living on
I'm tethered to the logic
of Homo Sapien
Can't take my eyes
from the great salvation
Of bullshit faith
If I don't explain what you ought to know
You can tell me all about it
On, the next Bardo
I'm sinking in the quicksand
of my thought
And I ain't got the power anymore

[CHORUS]



Dinosaur Jr - Quicksand (1991)

(the guitar intro is from the Bowie song, "Andy Warhol" from the same album as Quicksand - Hunky Dory)

I'm closer to the golden dawn
I can't believe the wagon's gone
It's history
I'm living in a callous realm
Where others seem to dig it
Just too much reality
I'm frightened by the total goal
I'm drawing to the ragged hole
And I ain't got the wagon anymore
No, I ain't got the wagon anymore
I'm the twisted name on Uma's eyes
I'm living proof of Cindy's lies
Of destiny
I'm drawing between the light and dark
Where others see their targets
I can't see anything
Should I leave the engine on
To listen to that Mountain song
Sinking in the quicksand of my thoughts
And I ain't got the wagon anymore
Don't believe in yourself
Don't deceive with belief
The knowledge comes with death's release
Oh, oh, oh, oh...

Not too stable
Hanging by a string
Can't face the thoughts
No wheels will bring
I gotta go
It's bad enough being at home
Without a way to leave the damage
Is gonna show
If I don't explain
What you oughta know
You can tell me all about it
At the next Ball show
I'm sinking in the quicksand of my thoughts
And I ain't got the power anymore
Don't believe in yourself
Don't deceive with belief
The knowledge comes with death's release