The Man Who Sold the World
Fear Cult Lyrics
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Nirvana
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We passed upon the stair
We spoke of was and when
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
At all the millions here
I 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
In "The Man Who Sold the World," the singer encounters a man who claims to have sold the world. The singer is taken aback, as he had believed that the man had died a long time ago. Though confused, the singer converses with the man, who assures him that they had never lost control. The song is a commentary on the nature of reality, and the transition from one world to another.
The lyrics are enigmatic and interpretive. They suggest that there is more than one way to view reality, and that each person experiences the same world differently. The man who sold the world could be seen as a symbol for the forces that control our lives, or as a person who has harnessed the power of the universe. Both interpretations have merit, and the lyrics leave the meaning up to the listener.
Line by Line Meaning
We passed upon the stair
We met each other on the staircase
We spoke of was and when
We talked about past events and their timing
Although I wasn't there
Despite the fact that I was not present during the events discussed
He said I was his friend
He claimed that we were acquaintances
Which came as a surprise
This statement was unexpected to me
I spoke into his eyes
I looked deeply into his eyes as I spoke to him
I thought you died alone
I previously believed you died without any companionship
A long long time ago
This event occurred in the distant past
Oh no, not me
I am not the one being referred to in the previous line
We never lost control
Neither of us lost our composure during the conversation
You're face to face
You are directly confronting
With the man who sold the world
You are interacting with the person who deceived the masses
I laughed and shook his hand
I found the situation amusing and agreed to part with a handshake
And made my way back home
I returned to my place of residence
I searched for form and land
I sought to establish my identity and find a physical location to call my own
For years and years I roamed
I spent a significant amount of time traveling and exploring
I gazed a gazeless stare
I stared blankly and without purpose
At all the millions here
I observed the masses of people present
I must have died alone
I probably passed away without the presence of others
Who knows? Not me
I am not aware of the answer
We never lost control
Neither of us lost our composure during the conversation
You're face to face
You are directly confronting
With the man who sold the world
You are interacting with the person who deceived the masses
Who knows? Not me
I am not aware of the answer
We never lost control
Neither of us lost our composure during the conversation
You're face to face
You are directly confronting
With the man who sold the world
You are interacting with the person who deceived the masses
Writer(s): DAVID BOWIE
Contributed by Gianna S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Zera
I downloaded this album ages ago, didn't know it was rare. Now this cover... this is horrible