"The Man Who Sold the World" is a song written by English singer-songwriter David Bowie. The title track of Bowie's third studio album of the same name, it was released in November 1970 in the US and in April 1971 in the UK by Mercury Records. Produced by Tony Visconti, it was recorded at Trident and Advision Studios in London in May 1970, towards the end of the album's sessions; Bowie recorded his vocal on the final day of mixing for the album, reflecting his generally dismissive attitude during the sessions.

The song has been covered by hundreds of artists, which many critics have noted has saved the song from falling into obscurity.[citation needed] Many have also noted that certain covers have managed to outshine the popularity of Bowie's original recording. The most popular covers include Scottish singer Lulu, whose version produced a UK top ten hit in 1974 and was produced by Bowie and Ronson, Scottish musician Midge Ure in 1982, whose cover of the song was featured in the 2015 video game Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, and the American rock band Nirvana, whose 1993 performance of the song for the television program MTV Unplugged introduced it to a new audience.

Lyrics

We passed upon the stair

We spoke of was and when

Although I wasn't there

He said I was his friend

Which came as a surprise

I spoke into his eyes

I thought you died alone

A long long time ago

Oh no, not me

We never lost control

You're face to face

With the man who sold the world

I laughed and shook his hand

And made my way back home

I searched for form and land

For years and years I roamed

I gazed a gazeless stare

We marked a million hills

I must have died alone

A long, long time ago

Who knows?

Not me

I never lost control

You're face to face

With the man who sold the world

Who knows?

Not me

We never lost control

You're face to face

With the man who sold the world