China Girl

It’s a little known fact that David Bowie is one of the deepest and most prescient political commentators of the age. Just one example is, China Girl, his indictment of China's one-child policy released way back in 1983. I hope Mr Bowie will forgive any mistakes in my fumbling interpretation of his poetic classic.

China Girl, David Bowie

Oh oh oh ohoo little China girl

You die for the power fantasies of old men.

Oh oh oh ohoo little China girl

Has rarity value with around 118 boys born for every 100 girls.
I could escape this feeling, with my China Girl

By ignoring the horror behind the words "one-child policy".

                                        Feng Jianmei, 23, Couldn’t afford the $6320 fine

I feel a wreck without my, little China Girl

China’s suicide rate for women is the highest in the world.
I hear her heart beating, loud as thunder

But not for much longer…
Saw the stars crashing

This no doubt refers to the future fate of the five stars of the PRC flag.

I'm a mess without my little China Girl

And then some: 30m men with no prospect of a life partner.
Wake up in the morning. Where's my, little China Girl?

They tied you down and injected your baby with poison, remember?
I hear our hearts beating, loud as thunder

The looming demographic catastrophe is finally concentrating minds.
I saw the stars crashing down.

And the Chinese economy with them as they rapidly age.

I'm feelin' tragic like I'm Marlon Brando

When I look at my China Girl

But not if you are a western feminist with more pressing concerns.
I could pretend that nothing really meant too much.

If there is a heart of darkness where my moral sense should be.

When I look at my China Girl

Lying dead in a plastic bucket.

                                                   Forcibly aborted late term baby

I stumble into town just like a sacred cow

China’s economy will stumble long before its average age hits 53.4 in 2050.
Visions of swastikas in my head

336m abortions, many forced.

Plans for everyone

Like the 222m sterilizations, many compulsory.
It's in the white of my eyes

The one-child policy is widely admired by many environmentalists.

My little China Girl

You shouldn't mess with me

Communist party officials have made around 2 trillion yuan from fines.

I'll ruin everything you are

The fines amount to several years income for transgressors of the policy.
I'll give you television.

To keep all the only children occupied.

I'll give you eyes of blue.

Just like the Nazis, their ideological predecessors.

I'll give you a man who wants to rule the world.

Only the latest such dream to end in disaster.

And when I get excited

Wielding such power is a rush. Obama envies Chinese leaders this.
My little China Girl says

“Oh baby just you shut your mouth”

And die, there’s a good girl.
She says,  “shh”

It won’t hurt…much.

She says,  “shh”

Good night, China
She says

She says

                                   
Oh oh oh ohoo little china girl
Oh oh oh ohoo little china girl
Oh oh oh ohoo little china girl

Oh oh oh ohoo little china girl

Oh oh oh ohoo little china girl