The Supermen

David Bowie

About The Supermen

"The Supermen" is a song written by David Bowie in 1970 and released as the closing track on the album The Man Who Sold the World. It was one of a number of pieces on the album inspired by the works of literary figures such as Friedrich Nietzsche and H. P. Lovecraft.


Year:
2000
2:51
102 
#2

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When all the world was very young
And mountain magic heavy hung
The supermen would walk in file
Guardians of a loveless isle
And gloomy browed with super fear their tragic endless lives
Heaves nor sighs in solemn, perverse serenity
wondrous beings chained to life

Strange games they would play then
No death for the perfect men
Life rolls into one for them
So softly a super god cries

Where all were minds in uni-thought
Power is weird by mystics taught
No pain, no joy, no power too great
Colossal strength to grasp a fate
Where sad-eyed mermen tossed in slumbers
Nightmare dreams no mortal mind could hold
A man would tear his brother's flesh, a chance to die
To turn to mold

Far out in the red-sky
Far out from the sad eyes
Strange, mad celebration
So softly a super god cries 

Far out in the red-sky
Far out from the sad eyes
Strange, mad celebration
So softly a super god dies

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David Bowie

David Robert Jones (8 January 1947 - 10 January 2016), known by his stage name David Bowie ( /ˈboʊ.i/ BOH-ee), was an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s. He is known for his distinctive voice as well as the intellectual depth and considerable eclecticism of his work. more »

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Written by: David Bowie

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, TINTORETTO MUSIC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


10 facts about this song

Song Release
"The Supermen" by David Bowie was first released as part of his third album, "The Man Who Sold the World," in 1970.
Inspiration Behind the Song
The song is influenced by Bowie's fascination with Friedrich Nietzsche's concept of the Übermensch, which translates to 'Superman' in English.
Producers
It was produced by Tony Visconti, who worked on many of Bowie’s albums throughout his career.
Track Length
The original track length of "The Supermen" is approximately 3 minutes and 39 seconds.
Rerecorded Versions
Bowie rerecorded "The Supermen" for his 1997 album "Earthling", and the rerecorded track is longer than the original, at 4 minute and 42 seconds.
Live Performances
Despite being a lesser-known song, "The Supermen" was frequently performed by Bowie in his live concerts, including during his 'Ziggy Stardust' tour.
Influential Sound
The track, along with the rest of the album, is noted for its hard-rock sound – a departure from Bowie's earlier work, more psychedelic and folk-oriented. It thus represented Bowie's shifting musical style at the time.
Lyrics
"The Supermen" presents a dystopian view of superhuman figures facing the end of the world, exhibiting Bowie's early interest in science-fiction and existentialism.
Guitarist
Mick Ronson, Bowie’s long-time collaborator, provided the distinctive guitar work on the song.
Remastered Edition
"The Supermen" along with the rest of "The Man Who Sold the World" album was remastered and reissued in 2015.

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