The Man Who Sold the World
Nirvana Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 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
We walked a million hills
I must have died alone
A long, long time ago

Who knows?
Not me
I 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

"Thanks, that was a David Bowie song"
"What's next?"
"I didn't screw it up, did I?
Okay, but here's another one I could screw up"
"What is it?"
"Am I going to do this by myself?"
"Do it by yourself"
"Okay, well, I think I'll try it in a different key




I'll try it in the normal key
And if it sounds bad, these people are just gonna have to wait"

Overall Meaning

The song, The Man Who Sold the World, is known for its enigmatic and surreal lyrics that have remained a subject of interpretation and analysis over the years. The song's opening line, "We passed upon the stair," establishes the sense of confusion and disorientation that runs through the song. The rest of the opening stanza speaks of a conversation that the singer had with someone, possibly a friend, about things that have happened in the past. The singer expresses surprise that the person is still alive, suggesting that they may have died a long time ago.


The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "We never lost control" and puts forth the idea that the person who is being spoken to is face to face with the man who sold the world. Many interpretations see this as a reference to someone who has sold their soul or sold out to society, while others see it as a vague commentary on the state of the world as a whole. The second verse speaks of the singer's search for "form and land" while they roamed for years and gazed "a gazeless stare." The final lines of the song, "Who knows? Not me," are a further statement of uncertainty and confusion.


Overall, the song seems to act as a commentary on the state of the world and the individual's place within it. The surreal, dream-like lyrics and the haunting melody all contribute to the overall sense of unease that runs throughout the song.


Line by Line Meaning

We passed upon the stair
We encountered each other on the stairwell


We spoke of was and when
We discussed past events and memories


Although I wasn't there
I did not experience the events being discussed


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


Which came as a surprise
This was unexpected and caught me off-guard


I spoke into his eyes
I made direct eye contact when speaking


I thought you died alone
I believed that you passed away without any companionship


A long, long time ago
This happened a significant amount of time in the past


Oh no, not me
I refuse to accept that claim


We never lost control
We maintained stability and direction


You're face to face
You are in close proximity with


With the man who sold the world
In the presence of the person who deceived and manipulated the world


I laughed and shook his hand
I outwardly showed no hostility and greeted him warmly


And made my way back home
I left the situation and returned to where I came from


I searched for form and land
I struggled to find acceptance and stability


For years and years, I roamed
I wandered aimlessly for an extended period of time


I gazed a gazeless stare
I stared blankly and without focus


We walked a million hills
We traveled a great distance and overcame many challenges


I must have died alone
I likely passed away without any companionship


Who knows?
We cannot be sure


Not me
I do not know


What's next?
What is the next step?


I didn't screw it up, did I?
I hope I did not make any mistakes


Okay, but here's another one I could screw up
I am willing to take a risk, knowing there is potential for failure


Am I going to do this by myself?
Will I be performing this without assistance?


Do it by yourself
You should perform it without assistance


I think I'll try it in a different key
I believe I will attempt it at a different pitch


I'll try it in the normal key
I will attempt to sing it at the expected pitch


If it sounds bad, these people are just gonna have to wait
If it does not sound good, the audience will have to endure it anyway




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@pam.suelenof

We passed upon the stairs
We spoke of was and when
Although I wasn't there
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 from form and land
For years and years I roamed

I gazed the gazeless stare
We walked a millions hills
I must have died alone
A long, long time ago

Who knows? Not me
I 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



@melodramaticpau

The Man who sold the world

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 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 [Alt: I searched for foreign land]
For years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazeless stare
At all the millions here [Alt 1: We walked a million years]
[Alt 2: With multimillionaires]
[Alt 3: We walked a million hills]
I must have died alone [Alt: I must have died along]
A long, long time ago

Who knows?
Not me
I 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



All comments from YouTube:

@shireysuperslash

we are all growing old, and look at him staying young forever.

@placeholdername3521

you sound jealous

@petergriffin6223

.

@templarkiller2926

It is hard to age when you are dead.

@cerseilannister9685

Templarkiller illuminati have power to live forever

@adrianchiu7313

That's true

483 More Replies...

@TasheikaSmikle

You know the band is legendary when you prefer the unplugged session over the studio recordings

@ChristopherDeal-cd5bf

0:07

@ofiyn

اكراكيل

@ofiyn

ميسالف

More Comments

More Versions