This song is from the perspective of the Spiders from Mars, Ziggy’s band. It shows the animosity that arises between Ziggy and the group, as Ziggy grows more and more popular, pushing them to the shadows as he gets the spotlight.
This track may be described as the climax of David Bowie’s astonishin...
[Intro]
Oh yeah
[Verse 1]
Now Ziggy played guitar, jamming good with Weird and Gilly
And the Spiders From Mars
He played it left hand, but made it too far
Became the special man, then we were Ziggy's band
[Verse 2]
Ziggy really sang, screwed up eyes and screwed down hairdo
Like some cat from Japan
He could lick 'em by smiling, he could leave 'em to hang
He came on so loaded, man, well-hung and snow-white tan
[Chorus 1]
So where were the spiders
While the fly tried to break our balls?
Just the beer light to guide us
So we bitched about his fans
And should we crush his sweet hands?
Oh yeah
[Verse 3]
Ziggy played for time, jiving us that we were voodoo
The kids were just crass, he was the nazz
With God-given ass, he took it all too far
But boy, could he play guitar
[Chorus 2]
Making love with his ego
Ziggy sucked up into his mind (ah)
Like a leper messiah
When the kids had killed the man
I had to break up the band
[Bridge]
Oh yeah
Ooh
[Outro]
Ziggy played guitar
Ziggy Stardust was written by David Bowie.
Ziggy Stardust was produced by Ken Scott & David Bowie.
David Bowie released Ziggy Stardust on Fri Jun 16 1972.
David Bowie describes the song motif very clearly –
I wasn’t at all surprised ‘Ziggy Stardust’ made my career. I packaged a totally credible plastic rock star.