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Blackstar
David Bowie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

In the villa of Ormen, in the villa of Ormen
Stands a solitary candle, ah ah, ah ah
In the centre of it all, in the centre of it all
Your eyes

On the day of execution, on the day of execution
Only women kneel and smile, ah ah, ah ah
At the center of it all, at the center of it all
Your eyes
Your eyes

Ah ah ah
Ah ah ah

In the villa of Ormen, in the villa of Ormen
Stands a solitary candle, ah-ah, ah-ah
At the center of it all, at the center of it all
Your eyes

Your eyes

Ah ah ah

Something happened on the day he died
Spirit rose a metre then stepped aside
Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried
(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar)

How many times does an angel fall?
How many people lie instead of talking tall?
He trod on sacred ground, he cried loud into the crowd
(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar, I'm not a gangster)

I can't answer why (I'm a blackstar)
Just go with me (I'm not a filmstar)
I'ma take you home (I'm a blackstar)
Take your passport and shoes (I'm not a popstar)
And your sedatives, boo (I'm a blackstar)
You're a flash in the pan (I'm not a marvel star)
I'm the great I Am (I'm a blackstar)

I'm a blackstar, way up, oh honey, I've got game
I see right, so wide, so open-hearted it's pain
I want eagles in my daydreams, diamonds in my eyes
(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar)

Something happened on the day he died
Spirit rose a metre then stepped aside
Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried
(I'm a blackstar, I'm a star star, I'm a blackstar)

I can't answer why (I'm not a gangster)
But I can tell you how (I'm not a flam star)
We were born upside-down (I'm a star star)
Born the wrong way 'round (I'm not a white star)
(I'm a blackstar)
('m not a gangster)
(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar)

(I'm not a pornstar, I'm not a wandering star)

(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar)

In the villa of Ormen stands a solitary candle
Ah ah, ah ah
At the centre of it all, your eyes

On the day of execution, only women kneel and smile
Ah ah, ah ah
At the centre of it all, your eyes
Your eyes

Ah ah ah

Overall Meaning

The opening lyrics of David Bowie's "Blackstar" present a mysterious and haunting scene. The villa of Ormen, a solitary candle, and the center of it all - all symbols of something arcane and mystical. The repeated phrase "Your eyes" suggests some sort of hypnotic or visionary experience. This suggests that the song is talking about a journey into another reality or a trip through the unknown. The song's mention of execution and smiling, kneeling women adds to the sense of mystery and eeriness. These elements combine to communicate a sense of otherworldliness which the song represents.


The mysterious and cryptic scenes presented in the opening give way, in the later parts of the song, to vocals which are more straightforward. In the section where David Bowie sings "Something happened on the day he died, Spirit rose a meter and then stepped aside. Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried" he is clearly referring to himself as a blackstar. This represents a transformation, a kind of death and rebirth. This is typical of alchemical transformations, from the black sun, whose light is danger to a glittering silver star. In this way, the song becomes a metaphor for Bowie's own career, marked by constant reinvention.


Line by Line Meaning

In the villa of Ormen, in the villa of Ormen
In a place of great importance, a single candle stands alone


Stands a solitary candle, ah ah, ah ah
A single flame exists in this powerful place


In the centre of it all, in the centre of it all
The candle is at the very heart of this significant location


Your eyes
It is through your eyes that this location is seen and interpreted


On the day of execution, on the day of execution
During a time of death and endings


Only women kneel and smile, ah ah, ah ah
As death approaches, only women show strength and positivity, despite their sorrow


At the center of it all, at the center of it all
The candle remains at the heart of everything


Your eyes
Even in death, it is through your eyes that this all is witnessed


Something happened on the day he died
There was a significant event on the day of his passing


Spirit rose a metre then stepped aside
His spirit was lifted before making way for someone else


Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried
Someone else took on his mantle and showed courage in doing so


(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar)
Potentially referencing the idea of being a significant, shining figure even in death


How many times does an angel fall?
Even angels, typically seen as perfect beings, can experience moments of failure or imperfection


How many people lie instead of talking tall?
Instead of speaking with honesty and vulnerability, people often choose to hide behind falsehoods


He trod on sacred ground, he cried loud into the crowd
He dared to speak out in a place of great importance and expressed himself strongly


(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar, I'm not a gangster)
Restating the idea of being a significant, shining figure even in death, while also rejecting an association with a particular type of person


I can't answer why (I'm a blackstar)
He cannot explain why he is such a significant figure, but he is confident in this statement


Just go with me (I'm not a filmstar)
Follow him despite not being a typical celebrity figure


I'ma take you home (I'm a blackstar)
He can guide others and bring them to a significant place


Take your passport and shoes (I'm not a popstar)
He can provide direction while also stating his difference from a typical musician


And your sedatives, boo (I'm a blackstar)
He can even provide comfort and care for others


You're a flash in the pan (I'm not a marvel star)
He is not a brief, passing moment like a typical Hollywood star


I'm the great I Am (I'm a blackstar)
He sees himself with great spiritual significance and power


I'm a blackstar, way up, oh honey, I've got game
He is a significant and powerful figure


I see right, so wide, so open-hearted it's pain
He sees the world very clearly and understands it so deeply that it hurts him


I want eagles in my daydreams, diamonds in my eyes
He desires grandeur and beauty in his hopes and dreams


Something happened on the day he died
There was a significant event on the day of his passing


Spirit rose a metre then stepped aside
His spirit was lifted before making way for someone else


Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried
Someone else took on his mantle and showed courage in doing so


(I'm a blackstar, I'm a star star, I'm a blackstar)
Restating the idea of being a significant, shining figure even in death


I can't answer why (I'm not a gangster)
He cannot explain why he is such a significant figure, but he is confident in this statement


But I can tell you how (I'm not a flam star)
He can explain his significance or how he came to be this way, despite not being a typical celebrity


We were born upside-down (I'm a star star)
He was born differently or uniquely compared to others, lending to his significant status


Born the wrong way 'round (I'm not a white star)
He is not like other types of stars or celebrities, but was born distinct


(I'm a blackstar)
He reiterates his significance as a powerful and distinct figure


('m not a gangster)
He reaffirms his distance from a particular kind of person or celebrity


(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar)
Restating the idea of being a significant, shining figure even in death


('m not a pornstar, I'm not a wandering star)
He is neither of these things, yet still a powerful figure


(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar)
He identifies himself as a significant, powerful figure


In the villa of Ormen stands a solitary candle
In this significant place stands a single flame


Ah ah, ah ah
Approximately representing the candle's flicker


At the centre of it all, your eyes
The eyes still represent the best way to interpret and understand this place


On the day of execution, only women kneel and smile
In the face of great sorrow, only women show strength and positivity


Ah ah, ah ah
Approximately representing the women's sing-song voices


At the centre of it all, your eyes
Even during such a significant moment, it is through the eyes that the truth of the matter can be seen


Your eyes
This repeated line confirms the importance of interpretation through the eyes


Ah ah ah
Approximately representing the flickering of the candle




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: David Bowie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@hastekulvaati9681

@@chookin1 “This is not art persay...”

Sure it is Percy.

“If you cannot see this...”

I think you are confused. Art is not necessarily the thing that inspired it. Space Oddity was a song not a space mission.

Bowie dabbled in all kinds of interesting ideas m throughout his career. He was inspired occultism. He was also inspired by politics, Current affairs, classic Hollywood, science fiction, psychology; krautrock, Americana, the golden age of cinema and the culture of Weimar Germany.



@rmilrta

+HighPacheChief

It

is

not

satanic.

Nor was he a satanist.

It is art. And in accord with batwingedloony's comment I have not begun to absorb it yet.

It is intense.

The diamond encrusted skull might allude to bone cancer or metastases.

It's full of symbolism and art. Apparently some of the dancing is inspired by the way characters move in Popeye animations.

It is intense, readable, it has beauty.



All comments from YouTube:

@iliaschaikalis8579

Man knew he was dying but instead of being afraid looked death in the eye and used him as inspiration for his final masterpiece. Absolute respect to this legend. What a noble way to go out. May he rest in piece

@pleasantvalleypickerca7681

Yes I agree. I've thought exactly that since he passed. He was a remarkable man and artist!

@wightwalker2453

I expect he experienced the same emotions as we all would in that particular boat.

@sammyd8860

Stop accepting death. Build citadels of lego and cheese

@johnpyle1268

Masterpiece indeed, as was his life.

@vinn995

DiX Inc. right? I think Bowie showed us that there is nothing to fear in death. As Mark Twain said “ I had been dead for billions and billions of years before i was born and do not recall suffering the slightest inconvenience from it”. Perhaps the Starman has begun a new journey in a new universe?

254 More Replies...

@CreaMrTive

The man has even turned his death into a piece of performing art. RIP you powerful visionary.

@28theli

+A.J. Thomson totally agree! Thats incredible!

@katrinaj3757

you're so right . its incredibly moving and a little hard to watch

@jennifferocasio6266

why? how did he die?

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