David Bowie: Space Oddity

Remarks:

Also known as “Major Tom”, this song came out on July 11th 1969, just five days before Apollo 11 blasted off for the Moon. It made his name. It is still his most famous song. It went to #1 on the pop chart in Britain and to #14 across the Anglosphere as a whole (weighted average).

See also:

• songs: the 1960s
• also David Bowie:
  • In memoriam: David Bowie
  • David Bowie: China Girl
• also space travel:
  • Gil Scott-Heron: Whitey on the Moon
  • Elton John: Rocket Man
• Apollo 11
• Apollo 8

Lyrics:

Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills
and put your helmet on

[spoken]
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Liftoff

Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown,
engines on
Check ignition
and may God’s love be with you

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 my 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.