Ashes to Ashes
From Ground Control to Major Tom: Unraveling the Cosmic Message in 'Ashes to Ashes'
Lyrics
Do you remember a guy that's been
Reflecting on a person from the past
In such an early song?
Referencing an early song involving this person
I've heard a rumor from Ground Control
Rumor heard from Ground Control
Oh no, don't say it's true
Expressing disbelief in the truth of the rumor
They got a message from the Action Man
Message from the Action Man
""I'm happy, hope you're happy too
Quoting the Action Man expressing happiness
I've loved all I've needed, love
Emphasizing having loved all necessary love
Sordid details following""
Mentioning explicit details following
The shrieking of nothing is killing, just
The absence of meaningful sounds is distressing
Pictures of Jap girls in synthesis and I
Reference to synthetic images of Japanese girls
Ain't got no money and I ain't got no hair
Financial and physical struggles expressed
But I'm hoping to kick but the planet it's glowing
Hopeful despite challenges on a planetary scale
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
Transition from life ("Ashes to ashes")
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Assertion that Major Tom is a drug addict
Strung out in heaven's high
Major Tom depicted as strung out in heaven
Hitting an all-time low
Major Tom's situation at an all-time low
Time and again I tell myself
Repeated self-admonition to stay clean
I'll stay clean tonight
Desire to remain drug-free tonight
But the little green wheels are following me
Perceived pursuit represented by little green wheels
Oh no, not again
Expressing frustration at a recurring situation
I'm stuck with a valuable friend
Stuck with a valuable but challenging friend
""I'm happy, hope you're happy too""
Quoting the valuable friend expressing happiness
One flash of light but no smoking pistol
Describing a sudden event without clear consequences
I never done good things (I never done good things)
Admitting to not always doing good things
I never done bad things (I never done bad things)
Stating the avoidance of bad actions
I never did anything out of the blue, woh-o-oh
Claiming not to have done anything unexpectedly
Want an axe to break the ice
Expressing a desire for a drastic change
Wanna come down right now
Desire for an immediate descent
Ashes to ashes, funk to funky
Reiteration of the transition from life ("Ashes to ashes")
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Reiteration of Major Tom's drug addiction
Strung out in heaven's high
Repeating Major Tom's state in heaven
Hitting an all-time low
Reinforcing Major Tom's all-time low
My mother said, to get things done
Mother's advice not to interfere with Major Tom
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
Reiteration of mother's warning about Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
Repeated emphasis on not messing with Major Tom
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
Continued warning regarding Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
Persistent advice against interfering with Major Tom
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
Repetition of the caution about Major Tom
My mother said, to get things done
Continued insistence not to mess with Major Tom
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
Final repetition of the warning concerning Major Tom
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