panic in detroit

david bowie

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. a gun and me alone

i ran to the window. looked for a plane or two

panic in detroit. he'd left me an autograph

let me collect dust."