The Man Who Sold The World

The Man Who Sold The World album was apparently written and recorded in about 3 weeks, surely David Bowie’s fastest recording feat. There were apparently two songs written, both of whom had the working title “The Man Who Sold The World”. In the end, the other song was given the title “Saviour Machine”.

Besides the catchy guitar riff, discovered for another generation by Nirvana’s cover version, TMWSTW itself has interesting and somewhat mysterious lyrics. Who was the Man Who Sold The World? Some mysterious stranger who passed upon the stair and never lost control? Maybe he was Ziggy Stardust, the soon to be Rock God and Bowie alter ego, who would “sell” the world before disappearing behind Bowie’s “retirement” after a short career that launched Mr Bowie to superstardom ?

The first time I heard The Man Who Sold The World, I assumed it was about an insurance scam. Someone who had apparently died “ a long, long time ago”, but who was still alive, living off the insurance money!

In reality, the time pressure to complete the songs on the Man Who Sold The World album, probably meant that many of the lyrics were left somewhat vague and half-finished (although the lyrics are a lot less impenetrable than much of Bowie’s work). They represent the beginning of a shift away from the ballad style of Bowie’s early work, extending even through to the Space Oddity album, although maintain a strong storyline feel. The music is almost heavy metal in texture, with guitar solos more reminiscent of Led Zeppelin than Mick Ronson. The song, The Man Who Sold The World has a strong pop feel, with the guitar hook and staircase guitar chords of the chorus.

However, my favourite version is the first one I heard, a cover by mainstream pop mistress Lulu, with Bowie’s elegant saxophone replacing the lead guitar of the original version. Brilliant!