Songfacts®:

• This track is in part a tribute to American conceptual artist Chris Burden (April 11, 1946 - May 10, 2015), who once famously nailed himself to a Volkswagen Beetle. Bowie wrote the lyrics in Berlin's Hansa Studio by the Wall while recording his Heroes album.
  
  Joe the lion
  Went to the bar
  A couple of drinks on the house and he said
  'Tell you who you are if you nail me to my car'
  
  Burden's famous Trans-Fixed piece took place on April 23, 1974 at Speedway Avenue in Venice, California. For his work, the artist lay face up on a Volkswagen and had nails hammered into both of his hands.
  
  Joe the lion
  Made of iron
  
  Burden lay on the Volkswagen, in the cruciform position. Bowie likens him here to a cross of iron.
• Bowie borrowed the bass line from another of his songs, the Hunky Dory track "Changes."