Exactly three years ago Bowie released his final album, on his birthday, and two days before he died. Was that opening track a coda for a stellar career, referencing a life’s work, his demons and impending death? The album came as a great surprise, and was full of hints of his condition, but news of death so soon afterwards came as a far greater shock. But what of this track, his longest, second only to 1976’s Station to Station?
Blackstar is another word for dwarf star, or dying star, and neatly this could to be references to Major Tom, and his first big hit, Space Oddity. Bowie was also a huge fan of Elvis Presley, with whom he shared his birthday. He was also obsessed with this coincidence, and perhaps Elvis is also referenced in the star chorus. The ritualistic elements of the lyrics, including the “solitary candle” may also refer to his old interest in the works of Aleister Crowley, not unusual for many rockstars of the 1970s. So the song, mischievously, is full of questions as well as answers. Is it a villa of all men, or, as in the official lyrics, villa of Ormen? This is what he originally wrote:
The spidery lyrics of David Bowie - Blackstar early version.
Ormen, however, is possibly a Norwegian village Ørmen, also Norwegian for for serpent. It has been speculated that this is a reference to where his first girlfriend Hermione Farthingale lived when she left him, in 1969, to film The Song Of Norway - and Bowie had already referenced her in the video about looking back in his previous album’s Where are we now? – when he wore the blue T-shirt bearing the name of that film. The plot thickens. For all the questions, this is an astonishing piece of work, produced by old collaborator Tony Visconti, with outstanding drumming by Mark Guiliana. What does it all mean? Feel free to add your thoughts below. In any case, what a farewell. What a finale.
In the villa of Ormen (all men), in the villa of Ormen
Stands a solitary candle, ah-ah, ah-ah
In the centre of it all, in the centre of it all
Your eyes
On the day of execution, on the day of execution
Only women kneel and smile, ah-ah, ah-ah
At the centre of it all, at the centre of it all
Your eyes, your eyes
[Bridge I]
Ah-ah-ah
Ah-ah-ah
In the villa of Ormen, in the villa of Ormen
Stands a solitary candle, ah-ah, ah-ah
At the centre of it all, at the centre of it all
Your eyes, your eyes
Ah-ah-ah
[Bridge II]
Something happened on the day he died
Spirit rose a metre and stepped aside
Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried
(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar)
How many times does an angel fall?
How many people lie instead of talking tall?
He trod on sacred ground, he cried loud into the crowd
(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar, I'm not a gangstar)
I can't answer why (I'm a blackstar)
Just go with me (I'm not a filmstar)
I'ma take you home (I'm a blackstar)
Take your passport and shoes (I'm not a popstar)
And your sedatives, boo (I'm a blackstar)
You're a flash in the pan (I'm not a marvel star)
I'm the Great I Am (I'm a blackstar)
I'm a blackstar, way up, on money, I've got game
I see right, so wide, so open-hearted pain
I want eagles in my daydreams, diamonds in my eyes
(I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar)
Something happened on the day he died
Spirit rose a metre then stepped aside
Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried
(I'm a blackstar, I'm a star's star, I'm a blackstar)
I can't answer why (I'm not a gangstar)
But I can tell you how (I'm not a flam star)
We were born upside-down (I'm a star's star)
Born the wrong way 'round (I’m not a white star)
I'm a blackstar, I'm not a gangstar
I'm a blackstar, I'm a blackstar
I'm not a pornstar, I'm not a wandering star
I'm a blackstar, I’m a blackstar
[Bridge III]
In the villa of Ormen stands a solitary candle
Ah-ah, ah-ah
At the centre of it all, your eyes
On the day of execution, only women kneel and smile
Ah-ah, ah-ah
At the centre of it all, your eyes, your eyes
Ah-ah-ah
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