what is the song "the man who sold the world" by nirvana about?

Question

just want some opinions

Answer 1

It is actually an old David Bowie song.

Answer 2

"The Man Who Sold the World" is a song by David Bowie. It is the title track of his third album, released in the U.S. in November 1970 and in the UK in April 1971. It was later re-popularised and introduced to a new generation by Nirvana's cover on their MTV Unplugged in New York album. In the wake of this cover, Bowie bemoaned the fact that when he performed the song himself he would encounter "kids that come up afterwards and say, 'It's cool you're doing a Nirvana song.' And I think, '&^**^you, you little tosser!'


The song's themes have been compared to the horror/fantasy works of H.P. Lovecraft.[2] The lyrics are also cited as reflecting Bowie's concerns with splintered or multiple personalities,[3] and are believed to have been partially inspired by the nursery rhyme "The Psychoed", by William Hughes Mearns:[4]

Yesterday upon the stair
I met a man who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish that man would go away

Answer 3

Well, it is a David Bowie Song that Nirvana is covering so I imagine from Nirvana's view it is an homage to David Bowie. It was at a period where a lot of Bowie's songs were about addiction so it may have some tie to that, but to me it almost represents an analogy to selling out and being alone.

Answer 4

"the guy Who offered the worldwide" is a song via David Bowie. It became later re-popularised and presented to a sparkling technology via Nirvana's conceal on their MTV Unplugged in manhattan album. interior the wake of this cap, Bowie bemoaned the undeniable fact that once he finished the variety himself he could bump into "babies that arise afterwards and say, 'that's cool you're doing a Nirvana song.' and that i think of, '**** you, you little tosser!'" The song's topics have been whilst in comparison with the horror/myth works of H. P. Lovecraft. The lyrics additionally are stated as reflecting Bowie's concerns with splintered or dissimilar personalities, and are believed to have been in part stimulated via the poem "Antigonish" via William Hughes Mearns.

Answer 5

Not sure...It's David Bowie's song and he sings about odd things sometimes.





Lyrics for: The Man Who Sold The World

We passed upon the stair
We spoke of was and when
Although I wasn't there
He said I was his friend
Which came as a surprise
I spoke into his eyes
I thought you died alone
A long long time ago

Oh no, not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With The Man Who Sold The World

I laughed and shook his hand
And made my way back home
I searched for form and land
For years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazeless stare
At all the millions here
I must have died alone (Alt: I must have died along)
A long, long time ago

(x2)
Who knows?
Not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the Man Who Sold the World

Answer 6

It is by David Bowie, I think.....I know Nirvana did not write it. It is one of my all time favorite songs. I love how Kurt sings it. I am not sure what it is about, hmmmmm, I will have to check that out.

Answer 7

David Bowie originally wrote and performed this song........I think its about him, struggling between the Ziggy persona and who he really was ........

"We passed upon the stair" is a figurative representation of a crossroads in Bowie's life, where Ziggy Stardust catches a glimpse of his former self, (being David Bowie) which he thought had died a long time ago. Then he (the old David Bowie) says: "Oh no, not me. I never lost control." This indicates that Bowie never really lost sight of who he was, but he Sold The World (made them believe) that he had become Ziggy, and he thought it was funny (I laughed and shook his hand). He goes on to state, "For years and years I roamed," which could refer to touring. "Gaze a gazely stare at all the millions here" are the fans at concerts.

Answer 8

It was actually originally written and performed by David Bowie, but I think it's about a man who doesn't recognize or know himself anymore...

Hope that helps

Answer 9

To be honest; I don't think it means much of anything.

Nirvana has always been kinda random with their lyrics.

Like, say, in Milk It there's the lyrics "Doll Steak, Test Meat"

I highly doubt that means jack.

Also, since David Bowie wrote this song, he also writes randomly.

Good luck!

-Stef

Answer 10

a friendship betrayed by someone who cares about nothing. thats what i think, could be wrong. who knows what bowie was smoking really.