Released: September 12, 1980
Songwriter: David Bowie
Producer: Tony Visconti David Bowie
[Verse 1]
Do you remember a guy that's been
In such an early song?
I've heard a rumour 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 to 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 is glowing
[Chorus]
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
[Verse 2]
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've never done good things
I've never done bad things
I never did anything out of the blue, whoa whoa
Want an axe to break the ice
Wanna come down right now
[Chorus]
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
[Outro]
My mama said to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mama said to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mama said to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mama said to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
Do you remember a guy that's been
In such an early song?
I've heard a rumour 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 to 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 is glowing
[Chorus]
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
[Verse 2]
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've never done good things
I've never done bad things
I never did anything out of the blue, whoa whoa
Want an axe to break the ice
Wanna come down right now
[Chorus]
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
[Outro]
My mama said to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mama said to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mama said to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
My mama said to get things done
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
Nothing Has Changed
- Let Me Sleep Beside You (2001 Re-Recording)
- This Is Not America
- Modern Love (Single Version)
- Your Turn To Drive
- I’m Afraid of Americans (NIN V1 Mix)
- Blue Jean
- Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)
- Rebel Rebel
- Everyone Says ‘Hi’
- Slow Burn
- Thursday’s Child
- Strangers When We Meet
- New Killer Star
- Survive (Marius de Vries Mix)
- Let’s Dance (single version)
- Golden Years (single edit)
- Seven (Marius de Vries Mix)
- You’ve Got a Habit of Leaving
- Liza Jane
- Buddha of Suburbia
- Hallo Spaceboy (Pet Shop Boys Remix)
- Time Will Crawl (MM Remix)
- Can’t Help Thinking About Me
- Dancing in the Street
- In the Heat of the Morning
- Shadow Man
- Love Is Lost (Hello Steve Reich Mix by James Murphy for the DFA)
- Absolute Beginners
- Little Wonder
- Boys Keep Swinging
- Fashion
- Under Pressure
- Ziggy Stardust
- The Jean Genie
- The Stars (Are Out Tonight)
- Sound and Vision
- Heroes
- Space Oddity
- Where Are We Now?
- Drive-In Saturday
- Life on Mars?
- The Man Who Sold the World
- Starman
- All the Young Dudes
- Changes
- Moonage Daydream
- Ashes to Ashes
- Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
- The Hearts Filthy Lesson
- Jump They Say
- Young Americans
- Loving the Alien
- Wild Is the Wind
- Oh! You Pretty Things
- Silly Boy Blue
- Diamond Dogs
- China Girl
- Sorrow
- Fame
- Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980)
- Changestwobowie (1982)
- Sound + Vision (1989)
- Changesbowie (1990)
- Best of Bowie (2002)
- The Best of David Bowie 1980/1987 (2007)
- Nothing Has Changed (2014)
- Legacy (The Very Best of David Bowie) (2016)
- Space Oddity
- ★ (Blackstar)
- Heroes
- Life on Mars?
- Lazarus
- Starman
- Changes
- The Man Who Sold the World
- Girl Loves Me
- Ashes to Ashes
- Ziggy Stardust
- Moonage Daydream
- Modern Love
- Five Years
- ’Tis a Pity She Was a Whore
- I Can’t Give Everything Away
- Dollar Days
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Suicide
- Rebel Rebel
- Young Americans
- Station to Station
- Suffragette City
- Let’s Dance
- Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)