The wife and I went out to dinner this evening. There was music playing in the background, when Peter Schilling’s song Major Tom (Coming Home) came on. I made note of it to the wife and said “The song you named Major Tom after.”
You see, our dog is named Major Tom, after the song. The wife’s first husband loved that song. After he passed away, the wife got an American Eskimo puppy. She went through many names before settling on Major Tom, and that was because her first husband loved the song and she wanted to do something to honor his memory.
For those not in the know, it is a spiritual successor to David Bowie’s 1969 hit song Space Oddity. In the song, fictional astronaut Major Tom launches into space. While he is in orbit a malfunction happens and he is stranded in space. Ground Control tries to get in contact with him but they can’t, so he (presumably) dies alone in space.
In Major Tom (Coming Home) the fictional astronaut, also named Major Tom, launches into space. Again, something goes wrong, and he starts drifting out into space instead of being stuck in orbit. It is never explicitly stated that the Major Tom in Schilling’s song is related to the one in David Bowie’s song, but that seems to be the general consensus.
Both of the songs deal with feelings of alienation and being separated from other human beings. This seems to be a common feeling, which explains why the songs resonate with so many people. Everybody feels alienated and alone at times so something that expresses that feeling can help people deal with it, or at least feel comradery in their aloneness.
“I’ve always felt that there should be a third ‘Major Tom’ song, sort of make it a trilogy,” I said to the wife as we ate.
“You should write it then,” she replied.
You know what, I think she is right. Even though I have no rhythm or musical ability, I should write one. Who knows, maybe it will be a hit. I doubt that, but you never know.
Actually, it turns out that David Bowie wrote a ‘sequel’ to Space Oddity called Ashes To Ashes. In the song, Major Tom has become a junkie, addicted to drugs and unable to cope with reality.
I don’t think I like that as an ending. My version would be something a little more hopeful. I’d have Major Tom drifting through space, seeing all the wonders to behold in the grandeur that is the Universe.
What do you think, my Hordeling? Leave a comment and let me know.
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