The Man Who Sold the World
Nine Inch Nails/David Bowie Lyrics

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We passed upon the stair
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

Oh no, not me
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 gazley 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

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The Man Who Sold The World describe a chance encounter between the singer and someone he used to know, who now seems to be a stranger. The two talk about the past and the singer expresses surprise at being referred to as a friend. The man then assures him that he never died alone or lost control. The singer then laughs and makes his way back home, but the encounter seems to have affected him deeply, as he muses about the millions of people around him and how they must have died alone a long time ago. The song ends with the repetition of the refrain "You're face to face with the man who sold the world."

The song has been interpreted in many different ways, but one popular interpretation is that it is about the idea of identity and how it can be lost or sold. The singer may represent a person who feels like they have lost their sense of self, while the "man who sold the world" may represent someone who has managed to sell their identity in order to gain power or success. The line "We must have died alone a long long time ago" suggests a sense of isolation or despair, as if the singer and the man are both disconnected from the world around them.

Line by Line Meaning

We passed upon the stair
We met on the staircase

We spoke of was and when
We talked about old times

Although I wasn't there
I wasn't present during the past event being discussed

He said I was his friend
He claimed that we were friends

Which came as some surprise
It was unexpected to hear him say that

I spoke into his eyes
I looked directly at him while speaking

I thought you died alone
I believed he had died without companionship

A long long time ago
It happened a significant time in the past

Oh no, not me
I don't share that fate

I never lost control
I never gave in to despair or chaos

You're face to face
You are physically present with

With the man who sold the world
With a person who deceived and sold the world, perhaps figuratively

I laughed and shook his hand
I was amused and greeted him politely

And made my way back home
I returned to my home after the encounter

I searched for form and land
I sought stability and direction

For years and years I roamed
I wandered aimlessly for a long period of time

I gazed a gazley stare
I looked around with a vacant expression

At all the millions here
At the vast number of people present

We must have died alone
It's possible we have all died alone

Who knows
It's uncertain

Not me
I don't know

You're face to face
You are physically present with

With the man who sold the world
With a person who deceived and sold the world, perhaps figuratively

Who knows
It's uncertain

Not me
I don't know

We never lost control
We never gave in to despair or chaos

You're face to face
You are physically present with

With the man who sold the world
With a person who deceived and sold the world, perhaps figuratively

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: DAVID BOWIE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

Shortstuff Jay

3y↑3

Man thank you so MUCH for putting this up, and especially for touching it up enough to make it a smooth listen.. Remember, every artist is his own worst critique, but you have done a fantastic job! 😁