Psychedelic Rock Music

Ah, 1969. The tensions of the race to space had worked their way into ever day life since the mid-1950s. The Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union affected the world and had part of its drama play out in outer space. In 1968, Stanley Kubrick released is epic sci-fi flick 2001: A Space Odyssey. (HAL: Just what do you think you’re doing, Dave?) And, on June 20, 1969, Apollo 11 was the first manned mission to land on the moon. Space exploration was on our minds.

On July 11, 1969, David Bowie released his song “Space Oddity,” which was written and performed by the one and only David Bowie. It is also the opening track for his 1969 album David Bowie. The lyrics have been said to allude to Kubrick’s film as well as poke a bit of fun at the British space program. In the song Bowie introduces his character Major Tom. The BBC did not play the song until the Apollo 11 crew had returned home safely. The song has been recorded and reissued a number of times, so there are many chart positions. The initial recording went to #5 in the U.K. and only #124 in the U.S. In 1973, it went to #15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. In 1975, it became Bowie’s first #1 UK single. The character Major Tom appeared in other songs, including “Ashes to Ashes,” “Hallo Spaceboy,” and “Blackstar.”

David Bowie was born David Robert Jones in Brixton, London, England, on January 8, 1947. He died of liver cancer on January 10, 2016. He was a singer, songwriter, musician on many instruments, record producer, arranger, painter, and actor.

Here are the lyrics to “Space Oddity” by David Bowie:

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.

Check Out The Groove Pad for More 1960s Music

The Pass the Paisley Groove Pad is a resting stop, a place to chill out and listen to the featured song on the stereo. If the mood strikes you, click on the juke box to access and listen to the 50+ free online songs there. The TV has several channels, with selections updated twice a week. Every now and then, Pass the Paisley hosts an all-request of 1960s and 1970s songs for a Be-In at the juke box in the Groove Pad. Keep on truckin’. Hope you enjoyed “Space Oddity” by David Bowie.