The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Do you remember a guy that's been
In such an early song?
I've heard a rumor 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, 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 good things)
I never done bad 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
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
In such an early song?
I've heard a rumor 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, 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 good things)
I never done bad 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
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
Lyrics submitted by numb, edited by demosthenes2
Ashes To Ashes Lyrics as written by David Bowie
Lyrics © Royalty Network, O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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This song is usually taken for David kicking his drug habit and moving on to the 1980's, but it is more than that! Yes, more! There are some strange lyrics within the lyrics that reveal some of David's biography. For starters, this song is named Ashes to Ashes. Where does that come from? The Bible. The line in the Bible is about death obviously. The Bible verse, "For then the dust will return to the earth,...". But who is returning? Is it David or Major Tom? Major Tom is David's stand in for his many bisexual flings he had in the 1970's. David and Iggy Pop, Lou Reed and Mick Ronson were many of David's bisexual adventures. Analyze the name...and it becomes interesting. What is Major Tom? A "Tom" is a male cat that goes out looking for bodies. A Major Tom = Major Cat. This is David's way of saying he was looking for bisexual men for him to get high with and have men on men sex. Then the key ending lyrics brings it all home: "My mother said to get things done You'd better not mess with major tom"
David's mother wants him to stick to women, but the drugs have caused David's homosexuality to awaken. It forces him to seek out men and dress up as women. David use to dye his hair red, wear lipstick and wear a dress to pick up men. This song was a way for him to admit to it and put it behind him. Notice also how in the 1980's David became more masculine. He wore suits again and became more manly.
so this is a song about going straight?<br /> <br /> I've never heard anything so ridiculous, considering in the eighties Bowie looked as camp as he ever did in the 70s (serious moonlight Bowie, manly, Screaming Lord Byron, manly? Bowie at the Brits in black stilettoes? are you sure???)<br /> <br /> Ashes To Ashes is a line from the bible, of course, it is used at funerals, and the song is a funeral. The funeral procession is there, the semi-religious figures, the pyre.<br /> <br /> Whose funeral? Well obviously Major Tom's but that is not the real-point. The real point is that it is the funeral of the 70s. Every single line in the song references the 70s (and the late 60s in the case of Space Oddity references).<br /> <br /> I think your prurience is interesting, and indeed Bowie has written many overtly homosexual songs throughout his career (from the 60s right up to the 00s). Indeed, his greatest songs have been about homosexuality (Moonage Daydream, Width Of A Circle, Bewlay Brothers) but this is not an overtly homosexual song.<br /> <br /> As I have said earlier, the meaning of the song, to anybody who has listened to his music of the 70s, is obvious. It is about the 70s, it is about his experienes in the 70s and his music of the 70s. And it is a song of the 80s. So it is a funeral.<br /> <br /> Simple as that. I don't think Bowie has written a more direct and autobiographic lyric - he has said so much himself. It's one of the few Bowie lyrics that is not cryptic and does not need too much analysing.
Yeah, I'm not sure anyone has sex with dudes voluntarily, for a long period of time, because 'drugs mad them do it'. (From experience.) I always like to read it as a farewell to his old singing voice (though I know I'm likely wrong) - it starts in that laboured falsetto and then gradually drops into the beautiful growl of "My mama said..." etc.<br /> <br /> @wellard - Couldn't agree more except that, IMO, Bewlay Brothers is very tempting to read as about his brother (a severe schizophrenic) - "He's chameleon, Corinthian, comedian and caricature" etc.