The Man Who Sold the World
Ofln - Nirvana Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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"
In "The Man Who Sold The World," Ofln (Nirvana's) frontman Kurt Cobain covers David Bowie's eponymous song with a darker, more haunting twist. The lyrics open with the singer describing a chance encounter with a friend and the surprise that this friend is alive, as Cobain thought they died a long time ago. The chorus is enigmatic and largely repeated, referring to the "man who sold the world" and a narrator who claims they never lost control.
Some interpret the song as a commentary on madness and isolation, with the lyrics suggesting that the singer may be hallucinating the encounter with the friend or the friend themselves. The idea of someone selling the world may also be a nod to the chaos of the world and the idea of someone profiting from that chaos.
Other interpretations suggest that the song is about identity, with the singer's surprise at finding their friend alive and the repeated assertion of not losing control hinting at a fear of losing oneself or one's sense of identity. Cobain's haunting vocals and the song's slow, methodical pacing add to the sense of unease and apprehension.
Line by Line Meaning
We passed upon the stair
We encountered each other while climbing the stairs
We spoke of was and when
We talked about the past and memories of the past
Although I wasn't there
I wasn't present in the past events that we spoke about
He said I was his friend
He claimed that I was his friend even though I wasn't present in the past he spoke of
Which came as a surprise
I was surprised to hear that I was his friend
I spoke into his eyes
I looked deeply into his eyes as I spoke
I thought you died alone
I had assumed that you had passed away without anyone around
A long, long time ago
This happened a very long time ago
Oh no, not me
I know for sure that I am not the one who is to blame
We never lost control
We had always been in control of our lives
You're face to face
You're finally seeing and confronting
With the man who sold the world
The one who had deceived the world and made a profit out of it
I laughed and shook his hand
I greeted him warmly and shook his hand while laughing
And made my way back home
I then went back home
I searched for form and land
I looked for purpose and meaning in life
For years and years, I roamed
I wandered aimlessly for many years
I gazed a gazeless stare
I stared blankly and without a focus
We walked a million hills
We've been through many hardships and struggles
I must have died alone
I probably passed away without anyone with me
Who knows?
I have no idea
Not me
I am clueless about it
Okay, but here's another one I could screw up
I might mess up this next song as well
What is it?
What song are we doing next?
Do it by yourself
You can perform the next song all by yourself
I'll try it in the normal key
I'll attempt it in the standard key
If it sounds bad, these people are just gonna have to wait
If it doesn't sound good, the audience will just have to wait for the next performance.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@daryl7277
RIP Kurt. Can't believe it's been 30 years. We all still miss you 😢
@davidmontero75
Indeed
@Jodi26
Always. He left this world far too soon. ❤
@erasorz
Yeah, like we miss Mozart.
@dipeshpanday6029
Ya, may be he has come back again in different form
@MP-qr5ts
yeah. :( 30y so so lovely voice.
@TheMaestromMephisto
You know the band is legendary when you prefer the unplugged session over the studio recordings
@ChristopherDeal-cd5bf
0:07
@ofiyn
اكراكيل
@ofiyn
ميسالف