Rubber Band – English Lyrics

• By: David Bowie

Lyrics & Translation

[English]

(playful trumpet music)

♪ Rubber band ♪

♪ There's a rubber band that plays tunes out of tune ♪

♪ In the library garden Sunday afternoon ♪

♪ While a little chappy waves a golden wand ♪

♪ Rubber band ♪

♪ In 1910, I was so handsome and so strong ♪

♪ My mustache was stiffly waxed and one foot long ♪

♪ And I loved a girl while you played teatime tunes ♪

♪ Dear rubber band, you're playing my tune out of tune ♪

♪ Oh ♪

(playful horn music)

♪ Rubber band ♪

♪ Won't you play your haunting theme again to me ♪

♪ While I eat my scones and drink my cup of tea ♪

♪ The sun is warm and it's a lonely afternoon ♪

(playful horn music)

♪ Rubber band ♪

♪ How I wish that I could join your rubber band ♪

♪ We could play in lively parks throughout the land ♪

♪ And one Sunday afternoon, I'd find my love ♪

♪ Rubber band, in the 1418 war, I went to sea ♪

♪ Thought my Sunday love was waiting home for me ♪

♪ And now she's married to the leader of your band, oh ♪

(playful marching band music)

I hope you break your baton

(playful marching band music)

Key Grammar Structures

• There's a rubber band that plays tunes out of tune

  ➔ Relative Clause with 'that'

  ➔ The clause "that plays tunes out of tune" modifies the noun "rubber band". 'That' introduces the relative clause, providing additional information about the rubber band. It's a defining relative clause, essential to the meaning.

• In 1910, I was so handsome and so strong

  ➔ Adverbial Phrase of Time & Intensifiers

  ➔ "In 1910" is an adverbial phrase indicating *when* the state of being handsome and strong existed. "So" intensifies both adjectives, emphasizing the degree of handsomeness and strength. The repetition of 'so' is stylistic.

• How I wish that I could join your rubber band

  ➔ Subjunctive Mood (Wish) & Modal Verb (Could)

  ➔ The phrase "How I wish" introduces a wish about an unreal or unlikely situation. The 'that' is optional. "Could" expresses the ability to join, but in a hypothetical sense – it's not currently possible. The subjunctive mood is implied.

• And now she's married to the leader of your band, oh

  ➔ Present Perfect Tense & Genitive Case

  ➔ "She's married" uses the present perfect tense to indicate a state that began in the past and continues to be true now. "Of your band" shows possession – the leader *belongs to* the band. The 'oh' is an interjection expressing emotion.