The Man Who Sold the World
Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie 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 lyrics of "The Man Who Sold The World" by Nine Inch Nails and David Bowie seem to tell the story of a man who meets a friend on a stairwell and is surprised that he is still alive after thinking he "died alone" a long time ago. They reminisce about old times, and the friend reveals that he has become famous for selling the world, which comes as a surprise to the singer. However, the singer is composed and doesn't lose control. They part ways and the singer spends years searching for something, maybe meaning or a sense of belonging, as he roams the world aimlessly. He looks at the millions of people around him and wonders if they too have died alone, a long time ago. The last lines suggest that no one knows if they have control or if they are face to face with the man who sold the world.
The interpretation of the lyrics is open to many possibilities. Some interpretations suggest that the song is about David Bowie's alter ego or multiple identities. Some suggest that it is a tongue-in-cheek story about how Bowie's music had been not only influential but also changed the world. While others speculate that "the Man who sold the world" is about selling one's soul to the devil, or it can also be a metaphor that signifies the loss of self and identity. The title itself raises many questions, is the singer the man who sold the world? Or is he merely confronting him?
Line by Line Meaning
We passed upon the stair
We encountered each other on a staircase
We spoke of was and when
We talked about the past and reminisced
Although I wasn't there
Despite not being physically present
He said I was his friend
He claimed that we were friends
Which came as some surprise
This was unexpected news
I spoke into his eyes 'I thought you died alone
I looked directly at him and expressed my belief that he died alone
A long, long time ago'
Many years in the past
Oh no, not me
This statement is a denial of the previous assumption
I never lost control
There was never a moment when I lost my composure
You're face to face
You are in close proximity
With the man who sold the world
You are meeting the person who is responsible for the present state of things
I laughed and shook his hand
I found the situation humorous and shook his hand in a friendly manner
And made my way back home
I departed and headed home
I searched for form and land
I searched for identity and a sense of belonging
For years and years, I roamed
I traveled for a long time without finding what I was looking for
I gazed a gazely stare
I looked around with a vacant expression
At all the millions here
At the masses of people present
We must have died alone
It is likely that we all died without companionship
Who knows? Not me
I am uncertain
We never lost control
We maintained a sense of equilibrium throughout
You're face to face
You are directly confronting
With the man who sold the world
With the person who is responsible for the way things are
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind