From "Space Oddity" promo video from 1968

In 1968 David Bowie wrote his song "Space Oddity" about Major Tom who floats away from his spaceship ("Here am I floating round my tin can far above the moon ..."). Heavily inspired by Stanley Kubrick's movie "2001: A Space Odyssey" and also his drug abuse at that time. Did Major Tom really existed? Not that the history books show. Though there were two Apollo astronauts named Tom. Although there weren't majors and both returned home safely (Thomas P. Stafford was on Apollo 10 and Thomas K. Mattingly served aboard Apollo 16).

Astronaut Thomas Stafford on the left

His first version of the song was released in the "Love You Till Tuesday" movie from 1969. During that time he was still in search for stardom by performing in the theaters with the mime group from Lindsay Kemp. He also had the idea to form a duo with John Hutchinson. They performed the song together on a demo tape also including a cover of a song by Elton John: "Love Song". Then they recorded a version where Bowie and Hutch shared vocals and played acoustic guitars, with Bowie adding ocarina and an instrument called the Stylophone. Officially a toy musical instrument invented in 1967.

Advert for the Stylophone
David Bowie - Space Oddity (single cover)

In 1969 his second version of the song was released on his second album originally untitled but later in the Ziggy Stardust era renamed to "Space Oddity". The song was completely different than the rest of the material on that album and was produced by another producer. This producer was Gus Dudgeon who also produced for Elton John in those days. Legendary Rick Wakeman (Yes, Strawbs) made his first appearance here with Bowie on Mellotron. The strings were arranged by Paul Buckmaster who also worked with Elton John. In late 1969 the song picked up attention being used in a documentary of the first landing on the moon. And at that point the song became his first worldwide hit.

Elton John - Rocket Man (single cover)

Elton John and Bernie Taupin’s “Rocketman” (from the “Honky Chateau” album) from 1972 appears to allude to Major Tom, though he is not mentioned by name. The unnamed astronaut preparing to go out into space in “Rocketman” worries about missing his wife and about it being a “long, long time till touchdown brings him "round …". During a BBC radio performance Bowie performed "Space Oddity" and he seems to make the connection for fans to Elton John's song as he sings “Oh, Rocketman!”

David Bowie - Ashes To Ashes (single cover)

Later in 1980 Bowie returned to the theme in "Ashes To Ashes", a sequel to "Space Oddity" that referred to Major Tom as a junkie, "strung out in heaven's high". It was released on the album "Scary Monsters". Three years later the Austrian singer Peter Schilling released another song around the same theme as "Space Oddity" titled "Major Tom (I'm Coming Home)" or in german "Major Tom (Völlig Losgelöst)". Schilling's song was recorded in French by Plastic Bertrand in 1983. This version had slightly altered lyrics, in which Major Tom prefers to stay away from Earth and its selfishness and danger of nuclear war. Major Tom had references in many pop songs throughout the years like Five's Star "Rain Or Shine" from 1986: “Robin Hood and Major Tom. All the super heroes rolled into one”.

Five Star - Rain Or Shine (single cover)

Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield performed "Space Oddity" on board the International Space Station (ISS). With permission of Bowie it was released on YouTube on 13 May 2013. This was the first music video ever to be made in space.

Perhaps Major Tom is still floating out there somewhere?

Space Oddity (1969)

Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on
Ground Control to Major Tom (ten, nine, eight, seven, six)
Commencing countdown, engines on (five, four, three)
Check ignition and may God's love be with you (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


Original video from 1969 Love You Till Tuesday movie

Promo video from 1972 for the 2nd version from 1969

Elton John - Rocket man

Promo video for Ashes To Ashes

Peter Schilling - Major Tom
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Five Star - Rain Or Shine
Astronaut Chris Hadfield - Space Oddity