Bowie linking War - Paedohysteria - and the Police......in 1967 - seriously !!!! on his debut album.......New Labour think they invented these things but Bowie saw them back in the 60s....quite insightful.

LITTLE BOMBADIER LYRIC

War made him a soldier
Little Frankie Mear
Peace left him a loser
The little bombardier

Lines of worry appeared with age
Unskilled hands that knew no trade
Spent his time in the picture house
The little bombardier

Frankie drank his money
The little that he made
Told his woes to no man
Friendless, lonely days

Then one day, in the ABC
Four bright eyes gazed longingly
At the ice-cream in the hand of
The little bombardier

Sunshine entered our Frankie's days
Gone his worries, his hopeless maze
His life was fun and his heart was full of joy

Two young children had changed his aims
He gave them toffees and played their games
He brought them presents with every coin he made

Then two gentlemen called on him
Asked him for his name
Why was he friends with the children
Were they just a game?

Leave them alone or we'll get sore
We've had blokes like you in the station before
The hand of authority said "no more"
To the little bombardier

Packed his bags, his heart in pain
Wiped a tear and caught a train
Not to be seen in the town again
The little bombardier

I love Bowie's early work (much more than his later stuff). The way he sang in his 'Sarf London' accent instead of the normal American (I think he was influenced by Anthony Newley); the songs covered everything people didn't want to talk about from over-population (We are Hungry Men) to lesbianism (She's got Medals) and even (I think), stalking (Love You 'til Tuesday). This song was also very much ahead of its time.

I am a massive Bowie fan - more so now than in the past.

Interesting you mention the Anthony Newley link - I am also a big fan of Antony Newley and managed to see him perform as Scrooge at Bristol Hippodrome : he was amazing. Also last year for my birthday I went to the Highgate Upstairs at the Gatehouse to see the musical based on his life which was just superb and deserved to be in the West End.

I still love the Ziggy period of Bowie the best. Reality his most recent album is fantastic as well I might add.....shame his health stopped him after that because it was the best album he had done for many years.

There is a rumour that he has a new album coming out - but no evidence.