“Win,” the second track on Young Americans, epitomizes Bowie’s transition from glam rocker to soul crooner. After disbanding the Spiders from Mars in 1973, Bowie gradually moved to a more Philadelphia-inspired soul sound with 1974’s Diamond Dogs.
By the time he released 1974’s David Live and Young...
[Intro]
(Hey, it ain't over)
[Verse 1]
Me, I hope that I'm crazy
I feel you driving and you're only the wheel
Slow down, let someone love you
Ooh, I've never touched you since I started to feel
If there's nothing to hide me
Then you've never seen me hanging naked and wired
[Pre-Chorus]
Somebody lied, I say it's hip
To be alive
[Chorus]
Now your smile is spreading thin
Seems you're trying not to lose
Since I'm not supposed to grin
All you've got to do is win
(Ooh, that's all you've got to do)
(Ooh, it ain't over)
[Verse 2]
Me, I'm fresh on your pages
Secret thinker sometimes listening aloud
Life lies dumb on its heroes
Wear your wound with honor, make someone proud
[Pre-Chorus]
Someone like you should not be allowed
To start any fires
[Chorus]
Now your smile is spreading thin
Seems you're trying not to lose
Since I'm not supposed to grin
All you've got to do is win
(Ooh, that's all you've got to do)
(Ooh) It ain't over
[Chorus]
Now your smile is spreading thin
Seems you're trying not to lose
Since I'm not supposed to grin
All you've got to do is win
(Ooh, that's all you've got to do)
(Ooh) All you got to do is win (it ain't over, no)
[Outro]
And your smile is spreading thin (Ooh, seek and believe in you)
It seems you're trying not to lose (Ooh, it ain't over, no, no)
Since I'm not supposed to grin (Ooh, that's all you got to do)
All you've got to do is win (Ooh, it ain't over, no)
(Ooh, seek and believe in you)
All you've got to do is win (Ooh, it ain't over, no, no)
Woo-hoo! (Ooh) All you've got (that's all you've got to do)
Is all you've got (Ooh, it ain't over)
It ain't over
Win was written by David Bowie.
Win was produced by Harry Maslin & Tony Visconti.
David Bowie released Win on Fri Mar 07 1975.
Bowie described the song in a 1975 interview:
‘Win’ was a ‘get up off your backside’ sort of song really – a mild, precautionary sort of morality song. It was written about an impression left on me by people who don’t work very hard, or do anything much, or think very hard – like don’t blame me ‘ca...