The Man Who Sold the World
- Nirvana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We spoke of was and when
Although I wasn't there
He said I was his friend
Which came as a surprise
I spoke into his eyes
I thought you died alone
A long, long time ago
Oh no, not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
I laughed and shook his hand
And made my way back home
I searched for form and land
For years and years, I roamed
I gazed a gazeless stare
We walked a million hills
I must have died alone
A long, long time ago
Who knows?
Not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
Who knows?
Not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
"Thanks, that was a David Bowie song"
"What's next?"
"I didn't screw it up, did I?
Okay, but here's another one I could screw up"
"What is it?"
"Am I going to do this by myself?"
"Do it by yourself"
"Okay, well, I think I'll try it in a different key
I'll try it in the normal key
And if it sounds bad, these people are just gonna have to wait"
The lyrics of "The Man Who Sold the World" by Nirvana are cryptic and there are different ways to interpret them. However, the song is generally thought to be about identity and the confusion that one may feel about their place in the world. The singer meets someone who says that they are friends, but the singer doesn't remember meeting them. The person they meet is revealed to be the man who sold the world, implying a sense of deception and falseness. The second verse talks about the singer's search for meaning in life, which has been fruitless and has left them feeling lost.
The line "We never lost control" may refer to the idea that the person who sold the world has maintained power and control over society, despite the singer's sense of confusion and loss. The chorus implies that the singer is coming face to face with the consequences of this deception and the impact it has had on the world. The uncertainty in the final verse, with the repeated refrain of "who knows?" and the discussion of trying the song in a different key, might suggest a sense of experimentation and the search for meaning and understanding.
Line by Line Meaning
We passed upon the stair
We encountered each other while going up the stairs
We spoke of was and when
We talked about past memories and events
Although I wasn't there
I did not participate in the events we spoke about
He said I was his friend
He claimed to have a close relationship with me
Which came as a surprise
This revelation was unexpected
I spoke into his eyes
I had a direct conversation with him, face to face
I thought you died alone
I had believed that he had passed away, and without companionship
A long, long time ago
This death had supposedly occurred a significant amount of time in the past
Oh no, not me
I, the artist, am not in the same position
We never lost control
We, the artist and his friend, always stayed in command of the situation
You're face to face
You are directly confronted by
With the man who sold the world
The person you are facing is the one who deceived and changed things to gain power
I laughed and shook his hand
I greeted him without any hostility or suspicion
And made my way back home
I returned home promptly and safely
I searched for form and land
I sought stability and a sense of place
For years and years, I roamed
But I had been wandering aimlessly for a long time
I gazed a gazeless stare
I looked blankly and without purpose
We walked a million hills
We experienced various tests and difficulties as we tried to find our way
I must have died alone
I may have succumbed to my fears and troubles by myself
Who knows?
It is unknown
Not me
I cannot provide an answer
What's next?
What is our next course of action?
I didn't screw it up, did I?
I didn't make any mistakes, did I?
Okay, but here's another one I could screw up
I'm about to perform another song which could potentially be performed poorly
What is it?
What song are we going to perform?
Am I going to do this by myself?
Do I have to perform this song alone?
Do it by yourself
Yes, you have to perform this song on your own
Okay, well, I think I'll try it in a different key
I'll try to perform the song in a different pitch
I'll try it in the normal key
Although, I shall perform it in its original pitch
And if it sounds bad, these people are just gonna have to wait
If it doesn't sound good, then the audience has to endure it until I get it right
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@daryl7277
RIP Kurt. Can't believe it's been 30 years. We all still miss you 😢
@davidmontero75
Indeed
@Jodi26
Always. He left this world far too soon. ❤
@erasorz
Yeah, like we miss Mozart.
@dipeshpanday6029
Ya, may be he has come back again in different form
@MP-qr5ts
yeah. :( 30y so so lovely voice.
@TheMaestromMephisto
You know the band is legendary when you prefer the unplugged session over the studio recordings
@ChristopherDeal-cd5bf
0:07
@ofiyn
اكراكيل
@ofiyn
ميسالف