Life On Mars?
Mick Ronson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

It's a God-awful small affair
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
And she's hooked to the silver screen

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?

Overall Meaning

The song "Life on Mars?" by Mick Ronson is a glimpse into the life of a girl with a mousy hair who feels trapped in her small world. Her parents are preventing her from doing what she wants to do, and her only escape is through watching films on her silver screen. However, even this is a saddening bore as she has seen the same film ten times or more. The lyrics suggest that the world around her is void of excitement and meaning.


The second stanza of the song talks about how the character feels about the world. The line "It's on America's tortured brow that Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow" is a metaphor for how the American Dream is dead. The workers in the second line have struck for fame, which is another example of how everyone is trying to escape the mundanity of everyday life. The chorus repeats itself in the same way, reinforcing the idea that there is no way to escape the world that they are living in.


Overall, the song portrays a sense of frustration and hopelessness in the face of a limited and dull existence. It raises questions about the possibility of life on other planets and whether or not there could be a world that is more exciting and fulfilling than the one we are living in.


Line by Line Meaning

It's a God-awful small affair
This situation is insignificant and unpleasant.


To the girl with the mousy hair
Referring to a shy, timid girl.


But her mummy is yelling "No"
The girl's mother is against something.


And her daddy has told her to go
The girl's father wants her to leave.


But her friend is nowhere to be seen
The girl's friend is not around to support her.


Now she walks through her sunken dream
The girl is feeling low and in despair.


To the seat with the clearest view
The girl finds a place where she can see everything clearly.


And she's hooked to the silver screen
The girl is engrossed with the movies.


But the film is a saddening bore
The movie is depressing and uninteresting.


For she's lived it ten times or more
She's watched that movie several times.


She could spit in the eyes of fools
She could easily ridicule those who do not understand her feelings.


As they ask her to focus on
Others are trying to distract the girl from her inner turmoil.


Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Describing a chaotic scene.


Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
Expressing surprise and amusement at the absurdity of the situation.


It's the freakiest show
Describing something that is bizarre and unconventional.


Take a look at the Lawman
Drawing attention to the authority figure.


Beating up the wrong guy
The authority figure is mistaken and unfair.


Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
Expressing doubt about whether the authority figure will ever realize his mistake.


He's in the best selling show
Despite the mistakes, the authority figure is still popular with the masses.


Is there life on Mars?
Asking a philosophical question about the meaning of life and existence.


It's on America's tortured brow
The artist is describing a difficult situation in America.


That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow
The artist is criticizing the commercialization of American culture.


Now the workers have struck for fame
Workers are trying to gain recognition and success.


'Cause Lennon's on sale again
Referencing John Lennon's commercialization and commodification after his death.


See the mice in their million hordes
Describing the masses of people all following the same thing.


From Ibiza to the Norfolk Broads
Referencing the universal nature of the situation.


Rule Britannia is out of bounds
The traditional British way of life is no longer acceptable or relevant.


To my mother, my dog, and clowns
Nobody cares about the traditional British way of life anymore.


But the film is a saddening bore
The movie repeats the same depressing themes.


'Cause I wrote it ten times or more
The singer is the writer of the movie and is stuck in a creative rut.


It's about to be writ again
The singer is about to write another uninspiring movie.


As I ask you to focus on
The artist is requesting the listener's attention.


Sailors fighting in the dance hall
Describing a chaotic and violent scene.


Oh man! Look at those cavemen go
Expressing surprise and amusement at the absurdity of the situation.


It's the freakiest show
Describing something that is bizarre and unconventional.


Take a look at the Lawman
Drawing attention to the authority figure.


Beating up the wrong guy
The authority figure is mistaken and unfair.


Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know
Expressing doubt about whether the authority figure will ever realize his mistake.


He's in the best selling show
Despite the mistakes, the authority figure is still popular with the masses.


Is there life on Mars?
Repeating the philosophical question about the meaning of life and existence.




Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

The Thin White Duke

I miss you, Mick! 😢

teckertime

Brilliant!

RoqDawg

Great to listen to after Curiosity landed on Mars, well I guess anytime for Ronson fans.

Mike M

thanks, wish i would have waited untill i got the hang of the movie maker program. maybe i'll re do it. Mick's the man !

Steven Haywood

Not bad at all. Nice to have a Mick Ronson alternative to the great Bowie song from Hunky Dory.
sttgaegoaktd

Zander Seymour

Ok, apparantly Alice Cooper heard this..then wrote Only women bleed.

steve wilkins

Who wrote this version?

Leps262

Roscoe West

William Ham

roscoes real is Bob Barnes who wrote half the lyrics I composed all the music and rest of lyrics written on road when we yellow payges touring I'm. Bill Ham guitar player from ft worth tx Roscoe shouldn't have done that

Steven Haywood

Thank you sir for the information and thanks to yourself and Roscoe West - Bob Barnes for writing this rather good song indeed.
😛cttgaegoaktd 😛

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