Modern Love

David Bowie's 'Modern Love' is a song that captures the complexities and contradictions of love in the contemporary world. The lyrics reflect a sense of disillusionment with the concept of love as it is often portrayed in modern society. Bowie's words suggest a struggle to reconcile the idealized version of love with the more mundane reality of everyday relationships.

The opening lines, 'I know when to go out / And when to stay in / Get things done,' set the tone for a narrative about someone who is self-aware and pragmatic. The mention of catching a paper boy but noting that 'things don't really change' implies a routine, perhaps even a monotony, that contrasts with the dynamic nature of modern life. The recurring lines 'But I try, I try' indicate a continuous effort to engage with or understand this modern love, despite the challenges it presents.

The chorus of the song is particularly telling, with Bowie singing about modern love walking beside him and then walking on by, suggesting a fleeting or elusive quality. The references to getting to church on time and the mixed feelings it evokes—'terrifies me,' 'makes me party,' 'puts my trust in god and man'—could be interpreted as a commentary on the societal pressures and expectations surrounding love and commitment. The repeated assertion that 'God and man don't believe in modern love' serves as a powerful statement on the skepticism and perhaps cynicism that can accompany romantic experiences in the modern age. Bowie's 'Modern Love' is a thought-provoking exploration of the tension between traditional romantic ideals and the evolving nature of relationships in a rapidly changing world.