i have been obsessed with Life on Mars for the past few weeks, and i love its theme of escapism.
But i'm not certain that i fully understand the lyrics to the second verse.
I even wondered if Bowie wrote the song "through the eyes" of Walt Disney, who's first theme park opened the year Hunky Dory came out.
I have my take on the meaning of the first few lines of that verse, that disney's company was turning into the ultimate cash cow, which was a shame because the man seemed to be the ultimate escapist.
And the workers have struck for fame, for Lennon's on sale again-Disney's workers had a notable strike in the 30's, and the man called them communists. So i think it could be Lennon, or LenIN, and mean that leftist values expressed in entertainment media are for sale just like everything else?
Who are the "mice in their million hordes?" Are they the same as the girl with the mousy hair, seeking escape from a hard life?
And as for the bit about Rule Britannia, i haven't a clue.
Also, what is with the shift in narrative distance, (I ask you to focus on, I'VE wrote it ten times or more?)
Am i looking to deep for a definitive meaning of lyrics by a man who sometimes uses William S Burrough's random cut-and-and paste writing method and snorted coke like Tony Montana?
I feel like i'm RIGHT on the edge of fully understanding the song. I know that some people here are seriously into David Bowie.
The first half is easy enough to make sense of. What does the second half mean?
edit:Oh, and allow me to throw in my two cents on guitar players. I like Reeves Gabrels. He was bowie's guitarist as i was becoming aware of him, and good LORD he comes up with some interesting stuff.