The Man Who Sold the World
David Bowie & Kurt Cobain Lyrics
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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
The Man Who Sold the World is a song by David Bowie, released in 1970 for the album with the same title. It was later covered by Nirvana, with Kurt Cobain on lead vocals, on their MTV Unplugged session in 1993. The lyrics narrate a conversation between two friends who meet accidentally on a stairway, where the singer is surprised to see his friend who sold the world to him. This is a metaphor for a moment when he realizes that his ideals and beliefs were not his own, but were sold to him by this man. The singer feels a sense of disillusionment and searches for his own identity through wandering and getting lost.
The song has been interpreted in different ways as it has a cryptic and ambiguous meaning. Some believe it refers to the Vietnam War, where the soldiers were sold to fight for a cause they didn't understand or didn't believe in. Others believe it's about Bowie's own search for identity as an artist. The line "I thought you died alone, a long long time ago" could be a reference to the death of Ziggy Stardust, Bowie's alter ego. At this point, the singer realizes that he has lost control of himself and his life, and he's face to face with the man who sold him his ideals.
Line by Line Meaning
We passed upon the stair
We encountered each other while walking up the stairs
We spoke of was and when
We talked about past events and memories
Although I wasn't there
Although I didn't personally experience the events we're discussing
He said I was his friend
He claimed that we were friends
Which came as some surprise
I was caught off guard by this assertion
I spoke into his eyes, 'I thought you died alone A long long time ago'
I expressed my confusion to his face by referencing a rumor that he had died long ago and without friends
Oh no, not me
Contrary to what he may have heard, that is not the case with me
I never lost control
I have always remained composed
You're face to face With the man who sold the world
You are directly confronting the individual who managed to deceive an entire society
I laughed and shook his hand
I found amusement in the absurdity of the situation and shook his hand in greeting
And made my way back home
I left and returned to my residence
I searched for form and land
I explored new areas and worked to establish my individual identity
For years and years I roamed
I spent an extended and undefined period of time on this journey
I gazed a gazely stare, at all the millions here
I observed the vast crowds of people with an unchanging and fixed expression
We must have died alone A long long time ago
It is likely that we have collectively lost our true individuality and humanity in the distant past
Who knows? Not me
I do not have an answer to this question
You're face to face With the man who sold the world
You are directly confronting the individual who managed to deceive an entire society, once again
Who knows? Not me
I am still without an answer to this question
We never lost control
We have maintained our presence and identity
You're face to face With the man who sold the world
You are still directly confronting the individual who managed to deceive an entire society
Contributed by Layla T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@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
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