The song was reworked by Bowie, featuring atmospheric synths, a new bassline, techno-style drums and a notably darker mood, for performances in concerts from 1995 to 1997, including the 1995 MTV Europe Music Awards. Bowie later returned to playing the original version in the 2000s.
The Man Who Sold the World
David Bowie 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 some surprise
I spoke into his eyes "I thought you died alone
A long, long time ago"
I 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 gazely stare
At all the millions here
We must have died alone
A long, long time ago
Who knows? Not me
We 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
David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World” is an enigmatic and haunting song that appears to be about the nature of identity, power, and control. The song begins with the singer encountering an old friend and speaking to him about the past. However, the singer is surprised to learn that the friend believes he is still alive, even though he has died a long time ago. The singer then asserts his independence, saying that he has never lost control.
As for what the lyrics mean, there are multiple interpretations of the song. Some suggest that it is about Bowie negotiating his own identity as he transitioned from his old persona to a new persona, such as Ziggy Stardust, while others believe it could be about addiction or the idea of selling one's soul for fame and fortune. Additionally, the lines “We must have died alone / A long, long time ago” could also be interpreted as a metaphor for the loss of spiritual wisdom or detachment from emotion that occurs as a person attains power and success.
Overall, “The Man Who Sold the World” remains an elusive and haunting song, with multiple layers of meaning that continue to inspire fans and music critics alike.
Line by Line Meaning
We passed upon the stair
We encountered each other while we were taking the stairs.
We spoke of was and when
We talked about the past and the present/future.
Although I wasn't there
I wasn't physically present during the events we talked about.
He said I was his friend
He claimed that we were friends.
Which came as some surprise
I was caught off guard when he made that statement.
I spoke into his eyes 'I thought you died alone
A long, long time ago'
I looked directly at him and expressed my belief that he had passed away a long time ago and was alone when it happened.
Oh no, not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
I reject the idea that I'm the one who's lost control - you're actually confronting the man who's responsible for manipulating and selling the world.
I laughed and shook his hand
Despite the shock of seeing him and the realization that he might be dead, I laughed and shook his hand in a friendly way.
And made my way back home
After saying goodbye to him, I left and returned to my own residence.
I searched for form and land
For years and years, I roamed
I gazed a gazely stare
At all the millions here
We must have died alone
A long, long time ago
I wandered aimlessly for a long time, trying to find a place to call home. As I looked at all the people in the world, I felt detached from them and came to the conclusion that everyone is actually alone - even though we're surrounded by others.
Who knows? Not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the man who sold the world
I'm unsure about the nature of our reality and our level of control within it. However, I reiterate that you're in the presence of the man who's responsible for selling the world's current state of being.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@monicamiranda3161
I think the stair is the Stair of Jacob where the angels go up and go down.
"I thought you died alone a long long time ago" which for me it means he recognized him as Judas Iscariot the edomite. He had died before in another eon when he refused to kneel before the Son of God, there was a battle in heaven and Saint Michael pierced him with the sword of truth saying that nobody could be God. He was ousted from heaven and fell on the Earth.
He charged 30 silver pieces to betray Jesus and Jesus had said to the twelve one of you is a devil.
But then he should have died alone as it says in the Gospels that he hung himself , but in the Acts it says he fell and his body divided in two.
Maybe and this is something I think about sometimes, maybe Judas has never died , he is the antichrist instilling fear in all humans, persecuting, torturing and killing. And some may think that if they become friend of him things will go better for him. There's no agreements with a lier and cheater and an assassin. There's no agreement. Judas will hate everthing God created.
Yes, he sold the world literally. I will not go into the financial part of the situation.
He sold us all. Jesus bought us all at a high price.
As he is a liar he will say he never lost control. He never had any control at all.
And yes he died a long long time ago in another Eon.
This requires some readings in the world of the angels by priest Forteya. This book has a pdf on the web, but you'd better buy it on a bookstore. It's a cheap book.
@thewriteinpresident
Well it sure ain’t morning…
So I do my daily drinking, and I has been A Try`en to do more Radio Shows, and how nice it would be to have my own Local Radio Shack [too play] @QBALL /_\ all these Old Records I have found throughout my life walk down here in PURGATORY our Celestial Sphere Home World of Earth where OUR FATHER is the Earth, and our Mother is the Heavens where the Angels and Demons shine and Shimmer throughout the “Twilight” of Dusk too Dawn… Now, it ain’t easy being born into a Machine as a Celestial Being in these {Holograpix} +=+ Body Temple TEMPORARY Corporeal Esoteric AVATARS, but I do know I can come back as Any Animal, Element, and even Spirits and SOLIDS in my Future Births on this Never Ending “Spiral” Eternal Ride of BLACK against WHITE when we are them DOTS in The Yin and The Yang…
I watch them SCREENS, and I don’t think the Word TV need apply [anymore] Q’s in these DAYS OF NOAH for after much study and introspection, I do so see that these “FAKE JEWS” from the BOOK OF REVELATION are them Jesuit Zionist of the FREE MASONIC (U.N. FLAG) / * \ State of Israel with their U.N. Roman “Catholic” Vatican WORLD MILITARY EMPIRE as U.N. Troops dawn the Uniforms of my {Local Police} [{**}] and even my Countries Militias the ARMY – NAVY – Air Force and Marines……., and as the Coast Guard and National Guard are also all part of the (COVID19) World Domination Plot known as Agenda 21 and “Agenda 30” that is just DEPOPULATION and continuing operations of JADE HELM 15…….., and the Media being nothing more “than” Malfeasance of PROJECT BLUE BEAM……..., what a day too be alive!!!
It would have never been known to me if the Oracle for the END OF AN AGE had never been born…..., and they did try to wipe out our “Pineapple” Blood Line being we the humans….., and THE REAL JEWS on this side of OUR FLAT EARTH…., and these FAKE JEWS…, and their MADE IN CHINA Red Dragon from the [Holy Bible] [{*}] has put all Merchant Ships out of work: just as the BOOK OF BOOKS has come to pass.., and as this “Head Game” of Trump and Biden is a DISTRACTION from the Latest CORPORATION CEO {Executive Order} too Force Feed PATRIOTISM of these QANONS., and their Masonic [Trojan Horse] to Subjugate all Humans in all OCCUPIED NATIONS by these “U.N. Troops” known as The WORLD POLICE, and their Peacekeeper {U.S. Military} of Massive Weapons that can even RIP OPEN THE DOME OF THE ROCK!!! I say: Whew….
Me thinks` that be it is night time on [this side] /-\ of the FLAT EARTH, or day time on your SIDE OF FLAT EARTH, and that WE ARE have an Alien Invasion force called THEY LIVE known as The EAGLE BLOOD LINE and The SNAKE BLOOD LINE, and they are very very bad evil wicked people called the FAKE JEWS aka {Jesuit Zionist} and their TALMUD O.T.O. Kabbalah Zohar MIND CONTROL using Code + Magic + Alchemy = Sorcery’ where these 2D FLAT SCREENS in our FLAT EARTH have made all humans “Cowards” and SLAVES called the legal Word known as EMPLOYEE, and even though we are Slaves, our EMPLOYED GOVERNMENTS say: We Slaves Will Tell you what to do as OUR FELLOW CITIZENS whom we do so too “live off” your fucking Taxes dumb Asses!!!
Johnny Exodice
https://videos.utahgunexchange.com/watch/last-time-this-happened-to-stocks-market-dropped-20_kJDB7MvatztPfrf.html
There is a very real and simple way too STOP all this Madness: Pick up Arms, and take out the FREE MASON Judges – C.O.P.S. - U.N. Troops and all the rest [connected] to these FAKE JEWS from the Book of Revelation, and then’ all we REAL JEWS be we Muslim – Hindu – Buddhist – Christians, and “what nots” whom have BROWN EYES and BLACK HAIR ONLY can put all these BLUE EYED Light Skin Fair Hair “Tyrants” and their CORPORATIONS in their Place by not Buying any more FAST FOOD, or any Hollywood too Bollywood Clothing – Jewelry – Stocks or Bonds, and just enjoying [ourselves] in our Communities as nonmasons….
The Society of nonmason~
Don’t BUY, or use Apple. or Facebook. or Youtube, or Microsoft, nor WALMART or AMAZON, and learn {Linux Mint} and Ubuntu, and RED HAT……., and WE THE PEOPLE can “defund” our Oppressors!!! Just don’t buy ANY THING Shown on these SCREENS of moving Graven Images……...
The Sentinel...
[///|||\\\]
++++++++++++++++++++++
@keanuxxx4582
The perfect song to wake up from a 9 year coma.
@you_forgot_somethingdumbpo5647
Metal gear ??
@waynenorthspacebuoy3529
Excellent song ... I had a dream about DB which inspired me to record 'I am Space Boy ... its me Dave' on YTube ... it was fun ... thanks Dave.
@peachdog1193
Go back to bed...
@andywalrus07
and then you realise you don't have half of your arm anymore lol
@Polo-wk7zl
This is a song to surpass metal gear.
@Garland846
"This... Is Outer Heaven."
@kentpelham4152
Beat me to it
@letitbeknown8126
R. I. P. David Bowie: The Man Who Changed The World
@andrewmarcellis2007
Hey you might like a band called The Doublejumps if you like David Bowie