Running Gun Blues

Annotation

Iconic and influential musician, associated with Pop Rock, Glam Rock, Art Rock, Psychedelic Pop, and New Wave, born David Jones on 8 January 1947 in Brixton, London, UK. He died on 10 January 2016 in Manhattan, New York, USA. Bowie's use of the term "gook" is the give away: "I broke the gooks, I cracked their heads". A derogatory term for Asians used by US soldiers, it became widely applied during the Vietnam conflict. The song "Running Gun Blues" (Mercury Records #6338 041) is about a soldier who has returned to the home front with a murderous streak and thus it is a comment on the negative effects of the war. The line "I'll plug a few civilians" may be a reference to the My Lai massacre or general indiscriminate killing during the Vietnam War. It leans towards the anti-war perspective.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

Annotation — European Songs

Iconic and influential musician, associated with Pop Rock, Glam Rock, Art Rock, Psychedelic Pop, and New Wave, born David Jones on 8 January 1947 in Brixton, London, UK. He died on 10 January 2016 in Manhattan, New York, USA. Bowie's use of the term "gook" is the give away: "I broke the gooks, I cracked their heads". A derogatory term for Asians used by US soldiers, it became widely applied during the Vietnam conflict. The song "Running Gun Blues" (Mercury Records #6338 041) is about a soldier who has returned to the home front with a murderous streak and thus it is a comment on the negative effects of the war but largely concerned with the plights of the soldier.

Annotation by Justin A. Brummer

About the artist

Born David Jones on 8 January 1947 in Brixton, London, UK. He died on 10 January 2016 in Manhattan, New York, USA

Themes

My Lai · Anti-Calley

In collections

European Songs · My Lai & Lt. William Calley Songs · Peace, Protest, & Anti-War Songs