The Man Who Sold The World

Okay, this song was written in 1970, per David, Live at the Beeb, so there can be no reference to Ziggy who would not exist for another three years. Second, I believe the lyric to be: "I thought you died a long...a long, long time ago..." Third, I am an avid, true Bowie fan, and I have been listening to this ALBUM close to forty years, now, and I love Nirvanna's version. Finally, I love the analyses. Some very well thought-out and convincing analogies. Truly, I believe that this just flowed from David due to his struggle with God and religion, much like "Word On a Wing". There's even a kind of reference to this song: "Though it's safer than a strange land...", perhaps a bit of a stretch. Anyway, Love on ya' Ricky, Tustin, Ca
- Richard, Tustin, CA

I had some comments regarding what some people were saying about this song referring to Jesus Christ. It is true that He bought the world with His blood. However we could also see how He sold it, particularly from the perspective of the Jewish people. He sent His disciples out to give the gospel to the nations, in effect 'selling' the Jewish religion to people they had before been taught to consider unclean. Then, soon after Titus attacks the city, destroys the temple, and the Jews begin their diaspora. "I searched for form and land, for years and years I roamed." Perhaps there is a bit of divine inspiration to this song, beyond the personal meaning that Bowie had intended (probably not theology but maybe).
- Jason, Harrisburg, PA

He meets a famous person, the person is going one way and he is going the other.
They speak briefly about the person's past life.
The person calls him his friend (fan), he tells him that he thought he was not around anymore, but he tells him, that he still is and all this was the plan.
They said goodbyes, and he went his way,searching for his happiness. and it is different than what he expected at the beginning of the journey, and he is in the same place as the person in the beginning of the song.Amazed at the world and fullfilled.
- Piotr, chicago, IL

I'm not sure about the meaning of the song I just wanted to clarify something from a Christian perspective - it was God who sold the world, when he gave Satan dominion over the Earth, and Jesus, God in human form, died as payment for our souls. It's the line "I thought you died a long time ago," and the reply "oh no, not me" That always made me feel Bowie was referring to Jesus. Although some state that Jesus never died as he was resurrected, Christians believe the "fact" that he went through an earth life and suffered the pains of death demonstrates that our souls are more important than anything we go through as 'Earthly beings'. Maybe Bowie learnt this lesson as he passed the man on the stair (one ascending and one descending; hmmm) or perhaps it was an alter-ego letting him know everything was gonna be alright. I don't know just my thoughts!
- Roy, London, United Kingdom

Sorry I should've said that this was in reference to Lloyd, who thought TMTSTW was Lucifer; the world was sold to Lucifer not the other way round. At least that's what Christianity teaches. I would agree that Lucifer has sold the world a lie, but I've never understood that line of the song to be in that context.
- Roy, London, United Kingdom

According to "The Complete David Bowie," Bowie himself stated that he hated encountering "kids that come up afterwards and say, 'It's cool you're doing a Nirvana song.' And I think, 'F*** you, you little tosser!'"
- Chairman Mao, Toronto, ON

david bowie did a good job playing a nirvana song!
- Chris, Ontario, Canada

I like Nirvana and Dabvid Bowie I think there works are the same
- Scott, Hamburg, --

Yeah, I think this song is about Jesus, becuase you know Jesus will never lose control of the world, and Jesus died a long time ago but rose again!
- Christina, Az, AZ

This song is so much about Jesus Christ and the Christian dominated Western world. I love both Bowie and Nirvana!
- libby, greeley, CO

I think this song is about Bowie meeting SYD BARRETT from Pink Floyd. He was profoundly influenced by him. And everyone used to say that Barrett's eyes would "get one lost if one looked too deep inside".
- Francisco, London, United Kingdom

This is not a version of the song. This is THE song. The Nirvana cover was a version of the song. As far as which one was better, I personally say that the original version of any song is immediately better than the cover version. A cover of a song will most likely be the exact same riffs, lyrics, and style (acoustic/electric), unless of course, the artist covering the song has some sense of originality. The Nirvana version sounded great either way, but David Bowie is the original "Man Who Sold The World" and always will be.
- Maxwell, Richmond, VA

2 boys approched David after a concert and told him it was great that he covered a song by nirvana.
- jose, Chandler, AZ

My personal interpretation of this song since I first heard it in 1973 is as follows, and this is what first came to mind as I listened.

In my opinion there is only one person who can be considered to 'Have Sold The World', and that person is 'Adam'.

In saying that I mean this - by his 'Fall' from grace he "Sold the human race Out' of paradise and into it's current condition.

I don't think it can refer to Bowie's Ziggy persona simply because the song was released in 1970 prior to his creation of that character.

Again this is my 'personal' interpretation; yet I also find those posted here to be quite insightful and well thought out.
- Jack, Lodi, NJ

Why does Phillip say, at the songfacts part, that Bowie arrived at Victoria Station wearing a full SS uniform? I've watched the video and I don't see it. Maybe his shirt and trousers look to Phillip like a SS uniform but you can't say they're a full SS uniform at all. That's a very subjective vision. On the matter of the salute, most people think that it wasn't a nazi salute, that actually he was caught in a mid-wave by the photographer. He was giving a normal salute to someone and it only looks like a nazi heil because of how the photograph is taken at the point where it looks like that. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
- Hector, Santa Fe, Argentina

I have only heard John "Cougar" Mellencamp and Jordis sing this wonderful song. I will say David Bowie did a fantasic job creating it. I have never it done by Nirvana nor D. Bowie but .... since John Mellencamp is my favorite all time singer I love his version and it was recorded I would say in the late 70's when he went by Johnny Cougar. Don't knock it until you hear it by Mellencamp. He really does justice to the song.
Donna, Columbus, OH
- donna, columbus, OH

i never lost control...and he was right , he control us until today, kurt cobain and his great cover of this great song , lyrics full of mesterious meaning but in the same it s about this man who is a special one , man with a special vision of this world , man who know the truth about it , it s why he sold it and he got away from it , to his own world , i really loved this song and i think that kurt is the bets one who sang this title with his feeling , and he did it , he sold our world in 1994 , and we miss him .
- omys, ohio, OH

Based on the Robert A. Heinlein story Requiem and its prequel The Man Who Sold The World, both written in 1950.
- George, Bournemouth, England

To me, this seems to be about someone who drifted off away from society into his own little world somehow and now wants to return to "the real world." By saying that he "never lost control", he's saying that he's made conscious decisions about his life all along. When he decided to return to society, he sold his "world".
- Erik, Bloomfield Hills, MI

I definitely prefer Bowie's version over Nirvana's. Some would say that Nirvana's stripped-down version sounds more "intimate", but I just found it dry and bland compared to Bowie's version. I heard Nirvana's version before hearing Bowie's version, and I found that the mellotron really added to it.
- Erik, Bloomfield Hills, MI

Just my .02. I think both versions are valid. Bowie's can sound a little dated, but I think the main difference is the intmacy achieved with the acoustic Nirvana version. I wasn't aware of Jordis Unga, but I think she's great. BTW, I used to perform the Nirvana version doing coffee gigs, and those lyrics were hard to figure out. It didn't help that the Bowie ones were different...aargh. Awesome, underrated song.
- Eric, Lake Fores, CA

I see this song as the dialogue between the image we create in public and for which we believe is the true ourself (in the song denoted as He) and real, internal ourself created probably in our childhood (in song denoted as I) . That He, usually thinks is the same as I (that is why the lyrics "We never lost control,Youre face to face,With the man who sold the world" in the second verse).That is of course an illusion (that is why the internal, real us says "He said I was his friend, which came as a surprise"). Real us is of course looking for a form to show up in the public image throughout our lives(the whole third verse is just about that). And the difference between Bowie and Curt comes in the fourth verse. In Bowie version is after all We that never lost control (I assume he thinks that one can at least try to be as close to true ourself as one can be, shifting forms, but never being exactly that). On contrary Curt says it is an I that never lost the control, sounding like we can never be in our everyday lives what we really are (we forever betray our true nature). And for me, I am closer to Curts opinion. Sorry if I complicated things, but it is the way I feel this song, which is for me one of the best ever written in the popular music.
- nezir, travnik, Bosnia

It's a pity that Bowie's alleged Nazi salute is stated as a fact, when Bowie himself has denied such thing a hundred times.
As for the song, which is a great one, being a hardcore Bowie fan I've resignedly seen that most people know the song because of Nirvana (unfortunately in my country, Bowie is quite less known than Nirvana). It is a good rendition but no way better than the original, the rich instrumentation and Bowie's incredible voice make the song one of his best songs. However Nirvana's version is a more commercial one (Bowie has always been a bit unconventional, thanks god) and that is what helped its popularisation.
- UpdatedDemon, Mexico City, Mexico

It's very thrilling song. I think the chorus has similar bass line/chord progression (VII/II-IV-mVI-VII-IV-mVII-majVII/majIV) than Cher's "I got you babe", don't know which came first. But they both have kind effect ending with melodic minor scale.
- perttu, Jyväskylä, Finland

nirvana's cover isnt better for one reason. Kurt is actually desperately trying to sound like bowie the whole time but failing. thus kurt screwed up with this song. and i am more of a fan of nirvana than bowie so dont accuse me of being biased
- Obzcure, Auckland, New Zealand

actually no savio,torronto,canada. sorry to say but kurt cobain really is dead , don't believe me go to www.findadeath.com and search kurt cobain it shows graphic images so parental advisory is advised to those 15 and under
- Andrew, adelaide, Australia

I find it amazing that a person can write a song with such meaning.kudos to david bowie.but kurt cobain did do a wonderful job covering it.
- AJ, Melbourne, Australia

Actually I think the song is about religion and how it relates to independent thinking and how that is controlled by religion. In the first verse "the man" means any religious icon, whether it be Christ, Mohammed, Budda, etc ect... They are all men who "sold" the world on their ideas. Then at the last verse Bowie states that there are "millions" of religious icons, meaning everyone, but how we see someone as a religious icon all depends on control of that thought. This song is brilliant, and why this song is constantly attributed to Kurt Cobain is beyond me. Kurt Cobain never got even close to writing this good.
- Ed Hallick, new york, NY

I belive THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD is the story of the meeting of modern man and Christ.
- louis melville, london, England

ok I've been listening to this song and I just can't stop wondering if it's possible about the novel Atlas Shrugged. The two are amazingly similar.... any thoughts????
- Andrea, Senecaville, OH

Joey D is retarded how can you say nirvana did a better version than bowie, nirvana isint anything compared to david bowie
- dylan, abilene, TX

Nirvana's verson is way better. Both the Acoustic and Electric versions.
- Joey D, Detroit, MI

david bowie wrote this song because he wanted water !!
- Jamie, New York, NY

yeah, kurt did a good job covering it..i listened to it on my friend's myspace...but you're right, david's is the best...and has a better voice.
but usually the original artist or the version i hear first sounds better to me
- joey, Nowhere Land, CA

For some reason, every time I hear this song, I'm reminded of "A Stranger in a Strange Land." I just can't get the connection out of my mind. If you've read the book, you might see the connection.



Also, Kurdt, I like your thinking on the lyrics, and I'm going to have to listen with it in mind next time, though personally I'm not sure if Judas would be stuck with the Damned since he had to play his part - someone had to or else the story of betrayal would not be there. (limbo maybe, who knows?)
- Jackie, Virginia Beach, VA

Bowie's is the best, simply 'cause it's the original one, the first, and even Nirvana did a good job covering the song, it'll never be as good as Bowie's song. And also 'cause Bowie's has a better voice than Kurt Cobain.
- LadyStardust, Mexico, Mexico

The Psychoed

By :Hughes Mearns (1875-1965)

The other day, upon a stair,
I met a man who wasn't there.
He wasn't there again today;
To his Glory let us pray.

Yesterday, upon the stair,
I met a man who wasn't there.
He's not been there a day or three,
I think he's from the EAC!

I asked another if he saw
the little man, he answered "Naw."
I've proved it true, I'm satisfied --
he can't be seen! I haven't lied!
- Andrew, Haverhill, MA

Yes, Nirvana cover is better.
- Flo, Toulouse, France

after searching long and hard, i found a clip of bowie performing this live on saturday night live. this is my favorite version of the song
- Josh, Las Vegas, NV

gotta disagree vik, Nirvana's version is so much better. No disrespect to Bowie, he is a superior musician but i just love Cobain's performance. You can feel the roar emotion in his voice and the song sounds so good in acoustic. Bowie uses an echo effect for his vocals during the song and there is an annoying sound thru the chorus. Still good but you can't beat Nirvana's version, that skank jordis doesn't come close. Also, Nirvana unplugged in NY... a brilliant album.
- Jono, Auckland, New Zealand

This is probably my top favorite Bowie album, it shows Bowie's darkside without being satanic.
- Jeremy, Warren , RI

Peter fron Montreal - it's all very well saying that "Ziggy Stardust catches a glimpse of his former self," but Man Who Sold The World was released in 1970, 2 years before the Ziggy Stardust album was released
- Ruth, Cheshire

Please try to understand that Bowie's is the original song and it it grater, I don't mean to say that Nirvana's is not good, I think is great too! I dare myself to speculate about the meaning o the song; definetely the first thing that came into my mind was God, and when I listen it I think about that image in The Last Temptation of Christ, despite these realatios, I think that the man that sold the world was God; he sold it to us, but we have to pay the price of not having eternal earthly life.
- vickie, mexico city, Mexico

There is no 'David Bowie' version. It's a David Bowie song!. All subsequent covers are versions of Bowie's song. Nirvana's sounds ok, but it's not nearly as rich as the original.
- Greg Hal, Tulsa, OK

I heard Jordis' version of this when someone told me a Bowie song was covered on Rockstar INXS. Though Jordis did an excellent job, anyone saying her version comes anywhere close to Bowie's or even Nirvana's is a fool. The Ultravox version is worth checking out as well, it certainly has a moody feel to it.
- Richard, Lafayette, LA

I first heard this song by Jordis and just loved it. Bowie and Nirvana's version are good also.
- Sara, Murphysboro, IL

The Man who sold the world could actually be Judas Iscariot , Cane , the Devil or a wandering lost soul.

We passed upon the stair, we spoke of was and when - Judas & Jesus meet sometime in the future and discussed about the past and what happened. (They were friends once. remember?)
Although I wasn't there, he said I was his friend - although Judas was not up there in heaven(upstairs) he was surprised that Jesus still considers him as His friend.
Which came as some surprise I spoke into his eyes:"I thought you died alone, a long long time ago" - Judas thought Jesus died alone in the past.
Oh no, not me I never lost control You're face to face With the man who sold the world - not sure who spoke this.
I laughed and shook his hand, and made my way back home - Judas goes back home to sheol/hell/limbo?. (not exactly sure why he laughed. maybe sarcastic or just let out a devilish laugh.)
I searched for form and land, for years and years I roamed - Judas was probably cursed to wander aimlessly in another dimension or in limbo looking
for form and land (similar to cane's curse if u read the Bible).
I gazed a gazely stare at all the millions here We must have died along, a long long time ago - Judas looks at millions of tormented souls in hell or limbo
and told them they are already dead along with him ( they must have thought theyre alive all along )
Who knows? not me We never lost control You're face to face With the man who sold the world - Judas talking to the multitude and admitted he's the man who sold the world.

Listen closely at bowie's version at the end of the song theres a kind of eerie back vocals. spooky. but it rocks.
you can download it using winmx. but its hard to find. goodluck.
- Kurdt, Q.C., Other

Jordis sang The man who sold the world like it was her own. I would most definately buy her music
- Tressia, Sydney, United States

When you google it you get: October 21 - Jingo and Jingoism, by Jingo!
First, the word jingo came from the Basque word Jainko, meaning God, so the
expression "by Jingo!" is the same as "by God!" Brewer's states that this term ...
www.goatview.com/october21.htm - 7k - Cached - Similar pages
- Terrie, San Francisco, CA

I never heard Bowie's or Nirvana's version of this song. I never heard it before I heard Jordis Unga sing it on RockStar INXS, which caused me to search for the lyrics. I found a Bowie versiion that just happened to be the free song that day. I also found that on www.inxs.com, you can choose which week's performances you'd like to see again. I believe Jordis' version is Week 4. I also downloaded this as an mp3 file in iTunes on my Mac, for my own personal pleasure. I fell in love with this girl's voice. Especially in this song, it's even better if you listen really, really closely.
- Terrie, San Francisco, CA

Parker from Portland is right. George Michael is the greatest male singer ever. Hands down. As for Dave saying to Jordis, "the greatest performance ever?" I, in no way can agree with that. George Michael could do that song. and it would be untouchable.
So Parker, give me your email address and we can argue about it.
Posey
- parker, Portland, OR

I love this song, I think Bowie and Nirvana's versions both rocked! I heard Jordis cover it on Rockstar INXS, you could feel the soul in her performance but I was totally gutted that (in her encore performance at least) she got the lyrics wrong, which actually changed the meaning of the song. For instance "I" instead of "we" instead of "all the millions here" she sang "we walked a million hills"? My vent for the day, thanks for reading.
- katherine, Auckland, New Zealand

I love Jordis version.

Katherine, the lyrics for Bowie and Nirvana version are not the same... I search for the lyrics & chord and found many alternatives.

1- "At all the millions here" (Bowie)
2- "We walked a million hills" (Nirvana)
3- "We walked a million years"
4- "With multimillionaires"

Also
1- "We must have died along" (Bowie)
2- "I must have died alone" (Nirvana)
3- "I must have died along"

And for the "I" vs "We":

Bowie =
"Oh no, not me
I never lost control
...
Who knows?
Not me
We never lost control
...
Who knows?
Not me
We never lost control
..."

Nirvana =
"Oh no, not me
We never lost control
...
Who knows?
Not me
I never lost control
...
Who knows?
Not me
We never lost control"

Although I can confirm the lyrics from Bowie Saturday Night Live video and Nirvana MTV Unplugged in New York video... I must say that I don't understand the song enough to give a verdict... :)

But, I love Jordis version! :)

- Yo, Mtl, Canada
- Yo, Mtl, Canada

I found this site while looking for a Jordis version of the song because she was awesome.

It's an interesting read about the song because I always thought it was a dead person that didn't know they were dead (and their friend was too), searching for their friend until they realized they were both dead. Weird how we all read into things our own way.
- Monica, CS, CO

Like most people I have been drawn to this song and found myself listening to it over and over again. I can not for the life of me get the song out of my head. Everyone's interpretations are very good. To me the man who sold the world can not (as much as I like the idea)be Jesus because he did not sell the world he bought it with his life. So I think the man who sold the world is God our Creator the only one with the authority to sell the world.
- cbn, Fort worth, TX

look u guys are all wrong. its not about jesues its about moses. he was a prince who was about to be a king but instead he freed his poeple. HE is the man who sold the world.also after he got the ten commandments god told him to die alone.
- nick, sacramento, CA

Why do people think that every single song is about drugs? Come on,David Bowie was and still is a very bright man. He would never write a song about drugs.
- becca, hamilton, Canada

hard to pin down an exact meaning for a song like this. i think all of your interpretations are valuable, but it seems to me TMWSTW is a remarkably abstract song. i imagine bowie attaches a variety of meanings to it -- as evidenced by the sincerity with which he sings the parts of both 'characters' in the song: the wanderer and the man who sold the world.
- Mike, Pittsburgh, PA

First off... The Nivana version sucks compared to the Jordis Unga version. She nailed it. Like Dave Navarro said, "that might be the greatest performance I have ever heard." I agree. Jordis might be the best singer I have ever heard. Before I listened to her, I thought George Michael, who certainly is hands down, the greatest male singer of all time. George Michael is flat out the greatest. If anyone wants to argue with me, I'm here. George Michael is the greatest singer we will ever hear.
- parker, Portland, OR

The first hit version in the UK was a cover by Lulu! Bowie can be heard on backing vocals, so I presume he produced it as well.
- Mark, Hereford, England

O.K. I am still not sure what the song is all about but, I do like reading the diffrent versions. I will say this, though David did the song first and great, Nirvana's was also good but, I could listen to Jordis's version over and over again..She had such feeling and emotion that it gave me chills.. I loved it..
- Chrys, Spring, TX

This song really struck my interest when first heard on Rockstar INXS. I had to download it & do a little research. After listening to it over & over again..............prior to reading the above comments & knowing none of its history. This is what I felt:

Passing on the stairs I thought was a person going to heaven meeting Jesus. Jesus being "The Man who Sold the World"...also being a man who died alone & long ago. Speaking of "was & when" meaning that persons life.

I took the part as "although I wasn't there" as even though this person may not have praised HIM, HE was your friend. Whether you were a Christian or not, the song made me think Jesus accepts people inspite of what they may have believed.

This person not believing where they were "they laughed and shook his hand and made my way back home." "I searched for form & land for years and years I roamed"...............this to mean the person did not know where they were. Nothing being familiar.

"I gazed a gazley stare at all the millions here"...........the person looking into the eyes of all the millions there. "We must have died a long, long time ago".

Who knows? Not me.........................
- Donnah, Dallas, TX

I honestly think this song is about drugs, drugs abuse and what it does to your life. He walked along a stairs to meet up with his former self, although his former self is no longer around. And he's surprised how much he liked his former self but he is gone (dead a long time ago) And no I didn't lose control would be a kind of denial that they never did to much or wasn't an addict etc. The second verse could be about all the fun druggie trips he took. He laughed at the idea of hallucinating seeing himself, then he gazed a gazely stair would be him being stone..... then realizing that his old self died a long time ago but his old self and currents self didn't lose control they were only using recreationally or whatever you want to call it. And the man who sold the world could be code for drugs and the euphoric feels it gives you. Maybe I'm way off my rocker but that's how I see it.
- Becky, canada, Canada

Interesting interpritations here.
To me, the song is about a guy living the typical 9 to 5 life and meeting up with an old man/bum that hung around in the neighborhood and eventualy disapeared. He suddenly reappears and after exchanging sentiments he realised that the old man was content, while he was not. His "Searching" was for that same contentment. He then realizes that he was dead to the world becuase of his material pusuits. IE; Dying alone. The idea of "The Man who Sold the World" is one that gave up all things material and found bliss.
- Phillip, santa barbara, CA

I'm more than a little sick of people saying, in various ways, that the Nirvana version is better. That's like saying someone's version of "Starry Starry Night" is better than Van Gogh's. Nirvana's cover was fantastic, a great tribute to David, and important, since it recognizes the past. But "It's David's song". By definition, noone can do it better. Besides, David's version os from a different time, and extraordinarily beautiful.

Think before you speak, post, or whatever.
- Steven, Seattle, WA

I believe this is about one person and appears to be about a suicide.

One line reads, "Oh no, not me, I never lost control." At the end, it reads, "Oh no, not me, WE never lost control. You're face to face With the Man who Sold the World." In other words, the man who sold the world is himself.

I'll guess that "we passed along the stair" is about the stairway to heaven or hell. This appears to be about a man remembering himself in the past (the man he passes is himself) and believing that he did not kill himself, was heading up to heaven. He is so convinced that he did not die from suicide, he splits himself into two people and is "surprised" that the man on the stair was his "friend." However, he does know that the man on the stair, a man that he is surprised to find out was his friend, DIED a long, long time ago. How would he know that if he doesn't know the man? In other words, "Hey, I thought you died but hey, I'm not you; I'm not that man."

He laughs at the phrase, "You're face to face with the Man who sold the world," and continues on to heaven. Notice how it reads, "I searched for form and land." There is nothing around him except air and he's walking in nothingness. Ultimately, after many years he finds all the people who have committed suicide (in hell, I guess) and realizes that there are millions who died alone, just like him.

But even to the end, when he realizes that the man on the stair was himself, he tries to convince himself that WE never lost control, even though he gave up everything.
- Thom, Boston, MA

Great song, although I think i prefer Nirvana's version to Bowie
- Drew, Great Falls, MT

I love reading the different interpretations. I think this song is about an internal struggle. Did he sell his soul, did he not?
- Marcie, Austin, TX

This is a GREAT song. Nirvana did a pretty good version of it. Although I prefer David's version.
- becca, hamilton, Canada

I saw the mtv unplugged version with nirvana and it was great...this version is okay...
- mia, wellston, MI

It's about a man who sold the world, in a manner of speaking, for his true personality and spiritual freedom. by no longer being caught up in petty jealousies, pursuit of lusts, and the other misc ways of this materialistic world, he gains a peace that surpasses understanding.
- brian, tulsa, OK

I remember the original album art which featured weird cartoons on the front and back. The front featured a private eye type guy saying "THE MAN WHO $OLD THE WORLD." On the back are three people saying "OH BY JINGO." What does that supposed to mean?
- Barry, New York, NC

Great song, great cover by Nirvana...
- Danno, Sussex, England

Personally, I always figured this was about Bowie spontaneously remembering himself in the past, finding out just how much he's changed."We never lost control" means that although he's sold the world, he always had felt he was in control. After he changed he looked to come back home, to come back to his former self...only to find it as a surprise.

That's my take, anyway. The Nirvana was good and it got me into Bowie, but it still isn't quite as good as the Bowie version.
- Jon, Whittier, CA

In my opinion, this song is about a man who doesn't want to be famous or popular anymore and he's sick and tired of the people who admire and adore him and he wants to go away and start a new life. So he runs away, and sets up a scene as though he committed suicide and years and years later...one of his best friends finds him and is completely surprised because his friend thougt that "he died a long long time ago". And then he says, "Oh no, not me, I never lost control." He sold the entire world to a complete lie...a setup of a suicide/murder. That's why i think that it's possible that kurt cobain is still alive hiding somewhere.
- Savio, Toronto, Canada

I like both versions, but IMHO, Nirvana's cover of this is the best!
- Jena, Bonner Springs, KS

the song in my opinion is bowie in a dream meeting the lucifer,he then makes some sort of deal with him and heads away;maybe for eternal youth?the song is timeless because of this hidden message,i think bowies fear of madness brought him frighting dreams which interpeted into lyrics which are deep in the subconsious,maybe thats why we all identify with them
- lloyd, cork, Ireland

this is a great song, it sounds like it has something to do with somebody going crazy dont ya think
- Dexter, Cape Broyle, Canada

This entire album is Bowie does metal...and he proves he could do it as well as anyone. The introduction of Mick Ronson and the booming bass of bassit/producer Tony Visconti make this a must have album for all fans of hard rock.
- Ron, Springfield, NJ

that guitar riff is one of the simplest but coolest riffs I've ever heard. and i have to disagree vince. nirvana's version of this was excellent, and even bowie himself said after he heard it he tried to contact kurt and collaborate with him.
- Matt, Millbrae, CA

I agree with Janelle (are you the Janelle I think you are? Fancy meeting you on Bowie web-site! Gruess dich!)
- anita, NYC, NY

One of my favourite DB LPs but prefer the Lulu version from '74 were DB played sax & is more soulful
- Paul, Teddington

When Bowie did his Sound and Vision tour in 1990, he swore he would never play any of his old material, including this one, again. After hearing Nirvana's version and learning of Cobain's death, the Thin White Duke dusted it off and performed it live in 1995.
- Kenny, Toronto, Canada

Nirvana absolutely butchered this song.. the original is much, much better..
- Vince, Florence, KY

Nirvana was famous for doing under-rated things.He didn't want to be famous which is why he was trying to leave the music industry when the "suicide" incident happened.
- brittny, Butler, IN

This album was a flop, as Bowie had been written off as a one-hit wonder after 'Space Oddity' the year before. However, the next year's album 'Hunky Dory' (1971) was a smash hit, with hits like 'Changes' and 'Life on Mars'.
- steph, Ottawa, Canada

One of my most favorites songs
- saj, tehran, Iran

janelle you're right, the nirvana cover absolutely ruled, tho i've never heard the bowie version.
- Brady, Fort Stockton, TX

the cover that nirvana did on unplugged was great! i really think is the most under-rated david bowie song!
- janelle, new york city, NY

Midge Ure of Ultravox recorded his own version in 1985. It was included as an aditional track on the "If I Was" EP.
- Gary, Nashville, TN