Life On Mars
David Bowie (w/Stevie Ray Vaughan) Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To the girl with the mousy hair
But her mummy is yelling no
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seat with the clearest view
But the film is a saddening bore
For she's lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
It's on America's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
But the film is a saddening bore
'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
It's about to be writ again
As I ask you to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh man look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh man wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
"Lie On Mars!" is a song by David Bowie that opens with the description of a girl whose mousy hair had landed her in a difficult situation with her parents who were against her decisions. Her friend is not present in her deepest moments, and she turns to her television for comfort through the screen. However, her experience is saddening as the film is not appeasing, and she has repeatedly wasted her time. In a world of chaos, the only entertainment that she could have depended on is disappointing her. The stanza then makes reference to some dancers and a fight in a hall. The violence arises, and the lyricist questions the lack of control in such situations. He then wonders if the wrong person ever knows why they face violence. Despite the sadness, the existence of life on Mars could present a silver lining in such an uncanny and difficult world.
The next stanza begins with an allusion to Disneyland and fights for recognition in the upward economic climb. More conflicts arise between the different factions of society, with the whole sense of settling the dispute fading away. The line "Rule Britannia is out of bounds" denotes a dislike of traditional values, and everyone faces the same skepticism, even those considered jesters. While the world may seem gloomy, the lyricist finds solace in the possibility of life on Mars. The song is a reflection of the increasing disillusionment of the world and the human condition, looking up to other possibilities outside of the current world.
Line by Line Meaning
It's a God-awful small affair
Life is a difficult and insignificant thing.
To the girl with the mousy hair
Refers to a girl with an unremarkable appearance.
But her mummy is yelling no
Her mother disapproves of her.
And her daddy has told her to go
Her father wants her to leave home.
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
She feels alone and unsupported.
Now she walks through her sunken dream
She's disillusioned with her life.
To the seat with the clearest view
She seeks clarity in her thoughts.
And she's hooked to the silver screen
She believes in the glamour and escape that movies offer.
But the film is a saddening bore
She's disappointed in the movie's lack of originality.
For she's lived it ten times or more
She's seen similar plots too many times before.
She could spit in the eyes of fools
She's confident and unafraid of confrontation.
As they ask her to focus on
Others want her to pay attention to things she doesn't care about.
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Refers to the chaos and confusion of life.
Oh man look at those cavemen go
Suggests that humans are primitive beings.
It's the freakiest show
Life is unpredictable and absurd.
Take a look at the lawman
Refers to authority figures and their questionable power.
Beating up the wrong guy
They're punishing someone who doesn't deserve it.
Oh man wonder if he'll ever know
People in power may not understand the consequences of their actions.
He's in the best selling show
Refers to the commercialization and commodification of life.
Is there life on Mars?
The absurdity of life makes one wonder if there's a better existence somewhere else.
It's on America's tortured brow
Suggests that America is a symbol of stress and turmoil.
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Disney is no longer the innocent and wholesome brand it once was.
Now the workers have struck for fame
Workers want recognition and success for their labor.
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
The commodification of famous people.
See the mice in their million hordes
Refers to the masses of people doing the same unoriginal things.
From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
People everywhere are the same.
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
Traditional institutions and values are no longer relevant.
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
An example of the bizarre and meaningless things people care about in life.
It's about to be writ again
History repeats itself.
As I ask you to focus on
The artist asks the listener to pay attention to the message of the song.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DAVID BOWIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@juanda0202
It's a God awful small affair
To the girl with the mousey hair
But her mummy is yelling: No!
And her daddy has told her to go
But her friend is nowhere to be seen
Now she walks through her sunken dream
To the seats with the clearest view
And she's hooked to the silver screen
But the film is saddening bore
For she's lived it ten times or more
She could spit in the eyes of fools
As they ask her to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh, man!
Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh, man!
Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best-selling show
Is there life on Mars?
It's on America's tortured brow
That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
Now the workers have struck for fame
'Cause Lennon's on sale again
See the mice in their million hordes
From Ibeza to the Norfolk Broads
Rule Britannia is out of bounds
To my mother, my dog, and clowns
But the film is a saddening bore
'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
It's about to be written again
As I ask you to focus on
Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Oh, man!
Look at those cavemen go
It's the freakiest show
Take a look at the lawman
Beating up the wrong guy
Oh, man!
Wonder if he'll ever know
He's in the best selling show
Is there life on Mars?
@heliotrope3345
Imagine being a teen when Bowie first came on the scene, it was so mindblowing, there was no one else even remotely like him.
@chrispolo840
Love David Bowie? You'll love a band called The Doublejumps
@zeralita0
still isn't
@andymcburzel9959
That's right! I experienced all this what you wrote! There was nothing comparable! " All you pretty
things" and " Starmann" were my favourites! Heroes
too as well as the German
version " Helden"😎
@Crabchann
Hes one of my heroes. What a bliss that was for you guys.
@lewisner
Bryan Ferry and Roxy Music ?
@dreamworld3319
This should be the first song played on Mars once we reach it.
@mimichu__
Yes. Yes I agree.
@vintage_gal64
OMG YES
@margaretgriffin906
Absolutely 🎉