Life On Mars
David Bowie
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It's a god-awful small affair To the girl with the mousy hair But her mummy is yelling "No" And her daddy has told her to go But her friend is nowhere to be seen Now she walks through her sunken dream To the seat with the clearest view And she's hooked to the silver screen But the film is a saddening bore For she's lived it ten times or more She could spit in the eyes of fools As they ask her to focus on Sailors fighting in the dance hall Oh man! Look at those cavemen go It's the freakiest show Take a look at the Lawman Beating up the wrong guy Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know He's in the best selling show Is there life on Mars? It's on Amerika's tortured brow That Mickey Mouse has grown up a cow Now the workers have struck for fame Cause Lennon's on sale again See the mice in their million hordes From Ibeza to the Norfolk Broads Rule Britannia is out of bounds To my mother, my dog, and clowns But the film is a saddening bore Cause I wrote it ten times or more It's about to be writ again As I ask you to focus on Sailors fighting in the dance hall Oh man! Look at those cavemen go It's the freakiest show Take a look at the Lawman Beating up the wrong guy Oh man! Wonder if he'll ever know He's in the best selling show Is there life on Mars?
Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer
Written by: David Bowie
Lyrics © Ultra Tunes, BMG Rights Management, TINTORETTO MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
10 facts about this song
Creation"Life on Mars?" is a song by David Bowie, first released on his 1971 album "Hunky Dory." It was solely written by Bowie, though the piano backing was prominently performed by Rick Wakeman.
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Musical StructureThe song, consisting of an intricate piano arrangement by Rick Wakeman, is noted for its cinematic grandeur. It’s in the key of F major, and it also contains a heavily dramatic string arrangement.
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InspirationBowie supposedly wrote "Life on Mars?" as an answer to the song "My Way" by Paul Anka. The inspiration comes from the fact that Bowie's English lyrics to the French tune were rejected and instead, Anka wrote "My Way" to the same tune.
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Recognition"Life on Mars?" is often regarded as one of the greatest songs in popular music—the BBC said its "crescendo climax is a glorious out-of-body experience"; NME declared it "a cross between a Broadway musical and Salvador Dali painting."
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In the ChartsThe song reached No. 3 in the UK Singles Chart and stayed on the chart for thirteen weeks when it was released as a single in 1973.
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Cultural ImpactThe song influenced the British sci-fi drama series named "Life on Mars". It was also used prominently in the American Horror Story: Freak Show on which Jessica Lange performed a rendition in one episode.
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Cover VersionsMany artists have covered "Life on Mars" throughout the years, showing its enduring appeal, including Barbra Streisand, The Flaming Lips, and jazz guitarist Bill Frisell.
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Music VideoIts music video directed by Mick Rock has seen Bowie in a turquoise "ice-blue" suit designed by Freddie Burretti. It's often considered one of the iconic performances of Bowie.
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Rick Wakeman's RoleDespite his significant contribution, Wakeman didn't initially believe in the song's potential as he stated in 2016: "I thought it was a strange song, and I remember thinking 'I’m not sure this will be a hit.'”
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Lyric AnalysisLyrical topics in "Life on Mars?" include disillusionment with life and the question of whether there is life on Mars, hence the song's title. The BBC described the song as having "one of the strangest lyrics ever" consisting of a "slew of surreal images" like a Salvador Dalí painting.
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