Bowie’s “1984” is a direct homage to the George Orwell novel 1984, a dystopian novel about a government that controls culture to the point that it destroys its citizens' ability to think independently. Go check it out at your local library, or read it annotated on Genius.

The song was one of several songs on Diamond Dogs that was conceived as part of a musical based upon Orwell’s book, which sadly never got off the ground. It was later covered on Tina Turner’s “Private Dancer” album.