Major Tom - wikipedia Major Tom This article is about the fictional character created by David Bowie. For the song by Peter Schilling, see Major Tom ( Coming Home ). Major Tom David Bowie as Major Tom in the Space Oddity video, part of the 1969 promotional film Love You Till Tuesday First appearance Space Oddity Created by David Bowie Information Occupation Astronaut Major Tom is a fictional astronaut referenced in David Bowie 's songs `` Space Oddity '', `` Ashes to Ashes '', `` Hallo Spaceboy '', `` New Killer Star '' and music video `` Blackstar ''. Bowie 's own interpretation of the character evolved throughout his career. `` Space Oddity '' ( 1969 ) depicts an astronaut who casually slips the bonds of the world to journey beyond the stars. In the song `` Ashes to Ashes '' ( 1980 ), Bowie reinterprets Major Tom as an oblique autobiographical symbol for himself. Major Tom is described as a `` junkie, strung out in heavens high, hitting an all - time low ''. This lyric was interpreted as a play on the title of Bowie 's album Low ( 1977 ), which charted his withdrawal following his drug abuse in the United States. Additionally, the choked and self - recriminating tone used in the lyrics `` Time and again I tell myself I 'll stay clean tonight. '' reinforces an autobiographical and retrospective interpretation. A short time later, there is another reversal of Major Tom 's original withdrawal, turning ' outwards ' or towards space. German singer Peter Schilling retold and continued the story of Major Tom in his late 1982 release `` Major Tom ( völlig losgelöst ) '', which reached number one in Germany and Austria in early 1983. The English - language version, `` Major Tom ( Coming Home ) '', peaked at number 14 in the States in late 1983. Other artists who have subsequently made substantial contributions to the Major Tom story include K.I.A. ( `` Mrs. Major Tom '' ). Due to some similarities in Elton John 's `` Rocket Man '', there is a possible connection between the Rocket Man and Major Tom, a connection notably made by Bowie himself, who while singing `` Space Oddity '' in concert would sometimes call out, `` Oh, Rocket Man ! '' Contents 1 Major Tom in Bowie 's work 2 Appearances in songs by other artists 3 Other references in popular culture 4 References 5 External links Major Tom in Bowie 's work In `` Space Oddity '', from the album David Bowie ( 1969, later retitled Space Oddity ), Major Tom 's departure from Earth is successful and everything goes according to plan. At a certain point during the travel ( ' past one hundred thousand miles ' ), he claims that `` he feels very still '' and thinks that `` my spaceship knows which way to go '' and proceeds to say `` Tell my wife I love her very much. '' Control then informs him, `` Ground Control to Major Tom : your circuit 's dead, there 's something wrong '' and attempts to reestablish contact with Major Tom. Tom 's final words in the song ( possibly not heard by Ground Control ) are : `` Here am I floating ' round my tin can, far above the moon. Planet Earth is blue, and there 's nothing I can do. '' In the promotional film from 1969, David Bowie plays as Major Tom, Ground Control ( GC ), and the Countdown Announcer. When the lyrics `` And the stars look very different today '' are said, two lovely women appear, portraying either angels or aliens, or perhaps both. The moment `` Though I 'm past one hundred thousand miles, I 'm feeling very still '' are said, the two women can be seen removing Major Tom 's helmet and spacesuit. Later a still fully outfitted Major Tom can be seen spinning around in space, with a panicked Ground Control attempting to contact him ; the spinning Major Tom is either the reality of the situation, or Ground Control 's imagination. The music video ends with Major Tom sitting in his tin can, far above the world, with the two women by his side in a ménage à trois style. Bowie created a sequel entitled `` Ashes to Ashes '' ( 1980 ). The song, which peaked at Number 1 on the Billboard charts, was featured on his Number 1 LP Scary Monsters ( And Super Creeps ). The song actually says little about Major Tom, except to call him a `` junkie, '' slang for a person with a heroin addiction or other compulsive habit. The context of the lyrics seems to indicate that the song is mainly about Bowie 's own soul searching, rather than a literal continuation of the Major Tom story. There is an inclusion saying `` strung out in heaven 's high, hitting an all time low '' referring to him getting high on cocaine, while his life is low. Given Bowie 's own history of drug problems, it is quite possible that the `` Major Tom '' line could also be autobiographical. Alternatively, the song can be interpreted to provide detailed information on Tom 's story. The song refers an event happening much later, after `` Space Oddity. '' Ground control receives a message from the `` Action Man, '' referring to Tom, and he says `` I 've loved all I 've needed to love. Sordid details following... ''. He talks about how the shrieking of nothing is killing him, how all he has are his pictures of women to keep him company, and how he now has neither money nor hair. He wants to kick the habit but the planet is `` glowing ; '' essentially he can not quit whatever is influencing him -- and killing him -- because the feeling is too pleasurable and addictive. The exact source of the influence is not defined. The later verses seem to reflect more on Bowie 's literal battle with addiction, specifically about wanting to stay clean but being stuck with a `` valuable friend. '' The song again refers directly to Tom toward the end, where he has become more of a legend, but not for his heroics. He has become a nursery rhyme in the minds of the public, with mothers warning against drug use by telling their children if they want `` to get things done, you 'd better not mess with Major Tom. '' Bowie released a song entitled `` Hallo Spaceboy '' on his album Outside ( 1995 ). While this song itself does not directly reference Major Tom, references to Major Tom do appear in the remixed version that Bowie released with the Pet Shop Boys in 1996. This remix contains lyrics from `` Space Oddity '' that are sung by Pet Shop Boys vocalist Neil Tennant. Although never mentioned in the song, an astronaut, possibly Major Tom, does make an appearance in the music video for the song `` Slow Burn '' on Bowie 's 2002 album Heathen. In the music video of Bowie 's 2015 song `` Blackstar '' ( on the album of the same name, released in 2016 two days prior to the artist 's death ), a dead astronaut is depicted. His skull is retrieved by an alien female who takes it back to what could be considered a cult which subsequently worships the relic. This astronaut was speculated to be a depiction of Major Tom 's final fate. Video director Johan Renck said on a BBC documentary `` to me, it was 100 % Major Tom. '' Appearances in songs by other artists In Peter Schilling 's song `` Major Tom ( Coming Home ) '' ( 1983 ) Tom sends a final message, `` Give my wife my love... '', after which transmission ceases. People on Earth mourn Tom, not realising that he is still alive. He then declares `` Now the light commands / This is my home / I 'm coming home '', possibly referring to the afterlife. The associated music video shows an object falling back through the atmosphere, presumably either Major Tom or his ship. In this song the word `` light '' in `` now the light commands '' is often heard or transcribed as `` life '' but the liner notes of the LP Error in the System ( and the original German ) confirm the word `` light. '' The German - language version `` Völlig losgelöst '' is contained in Schilling 's German LP Fehler im System ( 1983 ). Both albums also contain a different song without lyrics entitled `` Major Tom, Part II ''. Schilling 's song was recorded in French by Plastic Bertrand in 1983, but with slightly altered lyrics, in which Major Tom prefers to stay away from Earth and its selfishness and danger of nuclear war. At the Drive - In 's song `` Cosmonaut '' ( 2000 ) was sometimes introduced at live shows by a recorded `` final message '' from Major Tom before he dies in space. The message does not appear in the recorded version of `` Cosmonaut '', which itself has no apparent connection to Major Tom. K.I.A. created a song entitled `` Mrs. Major Tom '' ( 2002 ) on his Adieu Shinjuku Zulu album, where the song is sung by Larissa Gomes. Here the story is told from the perspective of Major Tom 's wife left at home. `` Mrs. Major Tom '' was covered by Sheryl Crow on William Shatner 's album Seeking Major Tom ( 2011 ). The Tea Party created a song entitled `` Empty Glass '' on its album Seven Circles ( 2004 ). The song is written from the perspective of an unnamed person who is questioning Major Tom intensely about the purpose of life. The song also references Ground Control and the Bowie phrases `` star man '' and `` diamond dogs ''. The New Zealand comedic folk duo Flight of the Conchords allude to the character in their tribute song `` Bowie '' ( 2008 ) where they place Bowie himself in space, and give him the rank of Lieutenant. In 2011, Jimmy Fallon appeared on the Piers Morgan Tonight television program, playing the guitar and singing a broad parody of `` Space Oddity '' along the lines of : `` This is Tim Tebow to Jesus Christ '', using a Bowie-esque vocal style. He also performed the song on his late night talk show Late Night with Jimmy Fallon in the character of an amalgamation of Tim Tebow and David Bowie called `` Tebowie ''. Major Tom also has had and continues to have passing references in other popular songs, such as : Five Star 's `` Rain or Shine '' ( 1986 ), Def Leppard 's `` Rocket '' ( 1987 ), Marilyn Manson 's `` Apple of Sodom '' ( 1997 ), Lorraine Bowen 's `` Space '' ( 2002 ), The Mars Volta 's live rendition of the song `` Cicatriz '' ( 2005 ) featuring a lengthy jam which would evolve into the song `` Cassandra Gemini '', Cold 's `` Happens All The Time '' ( 2005 ), Alphabeat 's `` Fantastic 6 '' ( 2007 ), Shiny Toy Guns ' cover of Schilling 's `` Major Tom '' ( 2009 ), The Cab 's `` Angel with a Shotgun '' ( 2011 ), Lana Del Rey 's `` Terrence Loves You '' ( 2015 ) which is interpreted by many fans to be a homage to Bowie and his brother Terrence, and Stephen Pearcy 's `` Ten Miles Wide '' ( 2017 ). Other references in popular culture During his tour of duty on board the International Space Station, British astronaut Timothy Peake was regularly referred to by the media as `` Major Tim '', in a direct reference to Bowie 's fictional astronaut. Peake was on the ISS at the time of Bowie 's death and tweeted a tribute to him from there. In 2017, author Clive Gifford wrote a book aimed at children about Peake 's time on board the ISS, titled `` Ground Control to Major Tim : The Space Adventures of Major Tim Peake ''. Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield had previously performed a version of `` Space Oddity '' on board the ISS in 2013, creating one of the first music videos to be made in space. In the first mission of Metal Gear Solid 3 Major Zero codenames himself Major Tom. This is in reference to series creator Hideo Kojima 's love for David Bowie. References Jump up ^ Roy Carr & Charles Shaar Murray ( 1981 ). Bowie : An Illustrated Record : pp. 109 -- 116 Jump up ^ Was `` Major Tom '' the astronaut a real person ? from The Straight Dope Jump up ^ `` Space Oddity Original Video ( 1969 ) ''. YouTube. Retrieved 1 April 2014. ^ Jump up to : http://www.lyricsfreak.com/d/david+bowie/ashes+to+ashes_20036971.html Jump up ^ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/david-bowie-plays-doomed-blind-prophet-in-haunting-blackstar-video-20151119 Jump up ^ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/david-bowies-new-song-blackstar-review-major-tom-is-dead-bowie-l/ Jump up ^ https://www.standard.co.uk/stayingin/music/david-bowie-s-new-song-blackstar-five-things-you-need-to-know-including-his-popeye-inspiration-and-a3119416.html Jump up ^ Savage, Mark ( 2017 - 01 - 10 ). `` David Bowie : Ten things we 've learned since his death ''. BBC. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 10. That cites an interview which was only available in the UK on the date of access. Whately, Francis, ed. ( 2017 - 01 - 07 ). `` Bowie : The Last Five Years ''. BBC2. Retrieved 2017 - 01 - 10. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Jump up ^ ( 2 ) Jump up ^ ( 3 ) ^ Jump up to : `` British Astronaut Pays Tribute To David Bowie From Outer Space, Musicfeeds. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2018. Jump up ^ `` Ground Control to Major Tim : The Space Adventures of Major Tim Peake, '' Book Depository. Retrieved 3 April 2018. External links Analysis of Schilling 's `` Major Tom ( Coming Home ) '' David Bowie Discography Songs Awards and nominations Filmography Tours Studio albums David Bowie ( 1967 ) David Bowie ( 1969 ) The Man Who Sold the World Hunky Dory The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars Aladdin Sane Pin Ups Diamond Dogs Young Americans Station to Station Low `` Heroes '' Lodger Scary Monsters ( and Super Creeps ) Let 's Dance Tonight Never Let Me Down Black Tie White Noise Outside Earthling Hours Heathen Reality The Next Day Blackstar With Tin Machine Tin Machine Tin Machine II Tin Machine Live : Oy Vey, Baby Live albums David Live Stage Ziggy Stardust : The Motion Picture LiveAndWell.com Live EP ( Live at Fashion Rocks ) Live Santa Monica ' 72 VH1 Storytellers A Reality Tour Live Nassau Coliseum ' 76 Cracked Actor ( Live Los Angeles ' 74 ) Welcome to the Blackout ( Live London ' 78 ) Soundtracks Christiane F. Love You till Tuesday Labyrinth The Buddha of Suburbia Lazarus EPs Baal Earthling in the City Live EP ( Live at Fashion Rocks ) The Next Day Extra No Plan Compilations The World of David Bowie Images 1966 -- 1967 Changesonebowie The Best of Bowie Changestwobowie Rare Golden Years Fame and Fashion Changesbowie Early On ( 1964 -- 1966 ) The Singles Collection RarestOneBowie The Deram Anthology 1966 -- 1968 The Best of David Bowie 1969 / 1974 The Best of David Bowie 1974 / 1979 BBC Sessions 1969 -- 1972 Bowie at the Beeb All Saints Best of Bowie Club Bowie The Collection The Best of David Bowie 1980 / 1987 iSelect Nothing Has Changed Legacy Box sets Sound + Vision Bowie Box Set The Platinum Collection Five Years ( 1969 -- 1973 ) Who Can I Be Now ? ( 1974 -- 1976 ) A New Career in a New Town ( 1977 -- 1982 ) Loving The Alien ( 1983 -- 1988 ) Concert videos Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars Serious Moonlight Glass Spider A Reality Tour VH1 Storytellers Promotional films Love You till Tuesday Jazzin ' for Blue Jean Bowie -- The Video Collection Black Tie White Noise Best of Bowie Tours Ziggy Stardust Tour Diamond Dogs Tour Isolar Isolar II Serious Moonlight Tour Glass Spider Tour Tin Machine Tour Sound + Vision Tour It 's My Life Tour Outside Tour Outside Summer Festivals Tour Earthling Tour Hours Tour Mini Tour Heathen Tour A Reality Tour Related Iman ( wife ) Angie Bowie ( first wife ) Duncan Jones ( son ) Berlin Trilogy Major Tom The Thin White Duke Jareth Omikron : The Nomad Soul Symphony No. 1 `` Low '' Symphony No. 4 `` Heroes '' `` Bowie '' The Sovereign David Bowie Narrates Prokofiev 's Peter and the Wolf Toy We Were So Turned On : A Tribute to David Bowie The Life Aquatic Studio Sessions Heteropoda davidbowie Lazarus Death Art collection David Bowie Is Part One Part Two Major Tom Songs Space Oddity ( 1969, David Bowie ) Rocket Man ( 1972, Elton John ) Ashes to Ashes ( 1980, David Bowie ) Major Tom ( 1983, Peter Schilling ) Major Tom, Part II ( 1983, Peter Schilling ) Hallo Spaceboy ( 1995, David Bowie ) Mrs. Major Tom ( 2003, K.I.A. ) Blackstar ( 2015, David Bowie ) Albums Seeking Major Tom ( 2011, William Shatner ) Video Love You till Tuesday ( 1984, David Bowie ) Bowie 's in Space ( 2007, Flight of the Conchords ) ISS expedition 35 Space Oddity ( 2013, Chris Hadfield ) Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Major_Tom&oldid=852781638 '' Categories : David Bowie Fictional astronauts Fictional characters introduced in 1969 Fictional drug addicts Fictional majors Fictional skeletons Recorded music characters Major Tom Hidden categories : Use British English from January 2014 Use dmy dates from January 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Brezhoneg Deutsch Español Nederlands Norsk nynorsk Português Русский Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 31 July 2018, at 09 : 44 ( UTC ). 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Question: who wrote and sang ground control to major tom
Answer: David Bowie