David Bowie – Space Oddity (1969)

A new copy of the original film and song, Space Oddity has just appeared on David Bowies Youtube page.

About this video, “On 2 February 1969, David Bowie went in to Willesden’s Morgan Studios to cut a new song, Space Oddity, with colleague John ‘Hutch’ Hutchinson (who sings the ‘ground control’ sections) for ‘Love You Till Tuesday’, a film that was being made by Bowie’s then manager, Kenneth Pitt. Bowie subsequently demoed further versions of the song in an attempt to secure a record deal, which led ultimately to a contract with Mercury/Philips and the world-famous hit version recorded on 20 June 1969. The February recording finally became part of Decca when Pitt sold the rights to Love You Til Tuesday to PolyGram in 1984.

Space Oddity was written and recorded by David Bowie. It was first released as a 7-inch single on 11 July 1969. It was also the opening track of his second studio album, David Bowie. It was David’s first single to chart in the UK, peaking at number five, it went to number 1, when is was re-released in 1975.

David Bowie – Space Oddity – Lyrics

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

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

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

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.