dotel Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 Who knows the words to and the meaning behind David Bowie's "Ground control To Major Tom"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_jr_ Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 Welcome to Songfacts, dotel. The song you're speaking of is called "Space Oddity", and is about an astronaut whose mission goes wrong, and he is left in space. From the lyrics, it seems 'ground control' knows all is lost, but 'Major Tom' is unaware he is going to die in space. here are the lyrics: Ground Control to Major Tom Ground Control to Major Tom Take your protein pills and put your helmet on Ground Control to Major Tom Commencing countdown, engines on Check ignition and may God's love be with you Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Liftoff This is Ground Control to Major Tom You've really made the grade And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare "This is Major Tom to Ground Control I'm stepping through the door And I'm floating in a most peculiar way And the stars look very different today For here Am I sitting in a tin can Far above the world Planet Earth is blue And there's nothing I can do Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles I'm feeling very still And I think my spaceship knows which way to go Tell me wife I love her very much she knows" Ground Control to Major Tom Your circuit's dead, there's something wrong Can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you hear me, Major Tom? Can you.... "Here am I floating round my tin can Far above the Moon Planet Earth is blue And there's nothing I can do." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katie_sane Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 'Space Oddity' by David Bowie appears on the album of the same name and is one of Bowie's best known songs. It was supposedly inspired by the plight of the Apollo 8 astronauts. Major Tom, the character in 'Space Oddity' was reprised by Bowie in 1980 for the song 'Ashes To Ashes'. 'Ashes To Ashes' was said to be about Bowie and his experiences/battles with drugs. Ashes To Ashes Do you remember a guy that's been In such an early song I've heard a rumour from Ground Control Oh no, don't say it's true They got a message from the Action Man "I'm happy, hope you're happy too I've loved all I've needed to love Sordid details following" The shrieking of nothing is killing Just pictures of Jap girls in synthesis and I Ain't got no money and I ain't got no hair But I'm hoping to kick but the planet it's glowing Ashes to ashes, funk to funky We know Major Tom's a junkie Strung out in heaven's high Hitting an all-time low Time and again I tell myself I'll stay clean tonight But the little green wheels are following me Oh no, not again I'm stuck with a valuable friend "I'm happy, hope you're happy too" One flash of light but no smoking pistol I never done good things I never done bad things I never did anything out of the blue, woh-o-oh Want an axe to break the ice Wanna come down right now My mother said to get things done You'd better not mess with Major Tom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible_r Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 Apparently the bbc banned space odyssey because when it came out, there was a space mission going on, and they didn't want to create a bad atmosphere until they returned home Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
_jr_ Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 There you have it, dotel. More info than you bargained for. They don't call this place Songfacts for nothing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 OK then Smarty Pants. What about Elton John's Rocket Man? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible_r Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 rocket man was not released in the late 60s-early 70s! anyway, space oddity was only banned until the space mission (i forget which one) returned to earth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted May 13, 2005 Report Share Posted May 13, 2005 David Bowie is one of rock's great opportunists. He wrote Space Oddity to capitalize on American's fascination with space travel. He wanted to make it big in the US. When that song got some airplay and buzz, the album name was changed from Man of Words, Man of Music to Space Oddity. Don't get me wrong, I love Bowie, and being an opportunist isn't a negative thing. In fact, it's sheer brilliance. Rocket Man by Bernie Taupin/Elton John was meant to do the same thing...and it really did. Both of them are excellent songs. Space Oddity was the first album I ever owned. Before that I just listened to my sister's stuff. I still can hear her saying to me, "You like that song????". Not only did I like it, but I insisted Mr. Bowie would be a big star...Take that Sis! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted May 14, 2005 Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 rocket man was not released in the late 60s-early 70s! anyway, space oddity was only banned until the space mission (i forget which one) returned to earth Rach, you just don't get me, do you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible_r Posted May 14, 2005 Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 I get you, yet still feel the need to answer your "questions"! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted May 14, 2005 Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 Thanks Rach. Some people on here just have the nerve to ignore me. Those dirty....well, nevermind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted May 14, 2005 Report Share Posted May 14, 2005 Ignore UncleJohn?? Who could ingnore UncleJohn??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Clown Posted May 24, 2005 Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 Just wanted to add something to this - the reading of the song as the story of an astronaut stuck in space and being left to die is a perfectly reasonable explanation and reading of the song's lyrics. But the video that accompanied the song's re-release (at least I think it was the re-release) in the early seventies had a different ending to the tale.... in the video the astronaut has found his way into a harem of lovely space ladies... and will not respond to the calls from earth because he is having such a great time. A different twist and one that Bowie himself was happy with as he starred in the video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulGirl Posted May 24, 2005 Report Share Posted May 24, 2005 Ignore UncleJohn?? Who could ingnore UncleJohn??? well i think i'd rather be ignored than be called by the wrong name!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted May 25, 2005 Report Share Posted May 25, 2005 All together now..."come join Uncle John's band......" edna can call me anything she wants. You can too, Gisela. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted May 25, 2005 Report Share Posted May 25, 2005 well i think i'd rather be ignored than be called by the wrong name!! Oh, so it´s "Joe"... sorry, I didn´t know much who he was... "Uncle Joe", then... Gis, I was joking... How could I ignore dear:bow: Uncle Joe? Don´t we all love love love him??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxy Posted May 25, 2005 Report Share Posted May 25, 2005 Easily confused, he kinda blends into the background.....NOT.... I do that all the time edna....and then go back and edit!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edna Posted May 25, 2005 Report Share Posted May 25, 2005 I also edit many times, I just don´t do it when I don´t read my "preview post", like that time when, under peaches and sammy´s influence, I wrote a dirty word... Foxy, I was really kidding ignoring Uncle John... where´s your sense of humour? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SoulGirl Posted May 25, 2005 Report Share Posted May 25, 2005 i figured you were joking edna, but just couldn't let it slip!! so, uncle jemima jojoba jimmy jack joe, how yoooou doin'? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
invisible_r Posted May 25, 2005 Report Share Posted May 25, 2005 just goes to show how observant I am! i hadn't noticed edna said uncle john Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted May 25, 2005 Report Share Posted May 25, 2005 Rach, I'm crushed. Realy? You hadn't noticed? (sniff) Foxy...blend into the background? LOL, yes, if it's a beige background. Gisela, I'm fine as wine! Jemima Jojoba? That rocks! But it's kind of feminine isn't it? Donchoo be callin' me no Aunt Jemima Jojoba!! edna, I (we all) love you, too. Too, too, too!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foxy Posted May 25, 2005 Report Share Posted May 25, 2005 I also edit many times, I just don´t do it when I don´t read my "preview post", like that time when, under peaches and sammy´s influence, I wrote a dirty word... Foxy, I was really kidding ignoring Uncle John... where´s your sense of humour? I was joking to edna, where's your sense of humour?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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