Warszawa (song)

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Warszawa is a largely instrumental track by David Bowie and Brian Eno from Bowie's 1977 album Low. It was released on 14 January 1977 and recorded between September and November 1976 at Château d'Hérouville in France. The ambient electronic piece runs 6 minutes and 23 seconds and was written by Bowie and Eno, produced by Bowie and Tony Visconti.

The song was inspired by Bowie's visit to Warsaw, aiming to evoke a very bleak, emotional atmosphere. Bowie left the studio briefly to deal with legal issues in Paris and asked Eno to create a slow, deeply emotive piece. The middle melody is based on Helokanie, a recording by the Polish choir Śląsk, but the lyrics Bowie sings are made up. Bowie bought the Śląsk recording during a stopover in Warsaw.

Warszawa has four sections. It opens with drones on piano and synthesizers, builds to a main melody at about 1:17 in F# major played on a Chamberlin with string-like sounds, and then softens as Bowie's vocal enters around 3:47 in E major. The final section reprises the opening material. The piece was used as a live opener on Bowie's Isolar II and Heathen tours, with a restrained stage entrance where Bowie mostly played the Chamberlin.

Live versions featured Bowie on Chamberlin, Simon House on electric violin, Roger Powell on synthesizers, Sean Mayes on piano and ARP Solina, George Murray on bass, Dennis Davis on percussion, with Adrian Belew waiting to cue "Heroes."