The themes and music make it clear Bowie is playing with that sort of thing. And unlike Elvis on those songs he doesn't want to play house or be a Teddy Bear. He doesn't believe in that kind of Modern Love. People also misread the "catch the paperboy" lyric. read more
BUT THINGS DONT REALLY CHANGE - modern love, making a reference to reading the paper and there really is no news to read about. thinking modern love is lame and uninteresting. read more
Many of Bowie’s lyrics were cut together and are meaningless, or have an alternative meaning added. Having said that I suspect Modern Love is actually fairly self explanatory. The narrator is saying he doesn't want to progress with the modern world, shown by the need the paper boy brings or engage (I don't want to go out. I want to stay in). read more
This is Bowie's best tune, IMHO. "Let's Dance" is a great album, and this tune is great to sing along with. The lyrics seem disjointed, but it really works--it's like a super-compressed life/love story. read more