I've read in more than one place that Bowie offered this song to Elvis first, but that Elvis turned it down. This leads me to believe that it really is just a gospel song, Bowie-style.
That said, I don't think that lessens the power of the song. Can you imagine being a Ziggy Stardust fan and going to see Bowie as the Thin White Duke singing a gospel song? It's still iconoclastic. I love the "Just because I don't believe..." line, but more I love that he says "I don't stand in my own light". For someone as popular as Bowie (or especially Elvis), this would have been a really powerful statement.
I've read in more than one place that Bowie offered this song to Elvis first, but that Elvis turned it down. This leads me to believe that it really is just a gospel song, Bowie-style.
That said, I don't think that lessens the power of the song. Can you imagine being a Ziggy Stardust fan and going to see Bowie as the Thin White Duke singing a gospel song? It's still iconoclastic. I love the "Just because I don't believe..." line, but more I love that he says "I don't stand in my own light". For someone as popular as Bowie (or especially Elvis), this would have been a really powerful statement.