Life On Mars?
David Bowie; Mick Ronson Lyrics

It's a God-awful small affair
Life can feel insignificant and overwhelming

To the girl with the mousy hair
The song's protagonist is an ordinary girl, not a glamorous heroine

But her mummy is yelling "No"
Her mother disapproves of her choices

And her daddy has told her to go
Her father believes she should leave and find a better life

But her friend is nowhere to be seen
She lacks support or companionship

Now she walks through her sunken dream
She's feeling hopeless and aimless

To the seat with the clearest view
She's trying to gain perspective on her life

And she's hooked to the silver screen
She's using movies to escape reality

But the film is a saddening bore
Even the fantasy world is disappointing and unfulfilling

For she's lived it ten times or more
She's stuck in a rut, unable to move on

She could spit in the eyes of fools
She's smart and articulate, and doesn't tolerate fools

As they ask her to focus on
People are demanding her attention or asking her to conform

Sailors fighting in the dance hall
The surreal imagery suggests chaos and confusion

Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
People can be primitive and barbaric, even in modern times

It's the freakiest show
The world can be strange and unsettling

Take a look at the lawman
Authority figures can abuse their power

Beating up the wrong guy
There is injustice in the world

Oh man, wonder if he'll ever know
It's uncertain whether the perpetrator will face accountability

He's in the best selling show
The spectacle of violence and sensationalism sells and fascinates

Is there life on Mars?
Is there a better, more fulfilling existence beyond Earth?

It's on America's tortured brow
America is plagued by its own societal problems

That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Even beloved icons can become corrupted, commodified, or irrelevant

Now the workers have struck for fame
Regular people aspire to celebrity and material success

'Cause Lenin's on sale again
Even revolutionary ideals are marketed and consumed

See the mice in their million hordes
The masses can be mindless and unthinking in their consumption and conformity

From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
This applies to both exotic and mundane locations

Rule Britannia is out of bounds
The song critiques nationalistic pride and imperialism

To my mother, my dog, and clowns
The artist disavows traditional symbols of loyalty, love, and happiness

But the film is a saddening bore
The song repeats this line to emphasize the artist's dissatisfaction

'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
The singer is self-aware and reflective, and perhaps implicates himself in society's problems

It's about to be writ again
The cycle of banality and disappointment will continue

As I ask you to focus on
The artist implores the listener to pay attention and question the status quo