Anatomy of a Song: "Space Oddity" Quiz

Answer: Tom

The song 'launches' in with:

"Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom..."

According to www.songfacts.com: "In 1983, Peter Schilling released a sequel to this called "Major Tom (I'm Coming Home)". Set to a techno beat, it tells the story of Major Tom in space".

Answer: Put your helmet on

"Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on"

Good idea, having that helmet on. I am sure if I was being blasted into space it would make me feel more secure!

Answer: May God's love be with you

"Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, engines on
Check ignition and may God's love be with you"

According to www.songfacts.com: "In 1980, Bowie released a follow-up to this called "Ashes To Ashes," where Major Tom once again makes contact with Earth. He says he is happy in space, but Ground Control comes to the conclusion that he is a junkie".

Answer: Shirt

"This is Ground Control to Major Tom
You've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear"

According to www.songfacts.com: "In the line, "And the papers want to know whose shirt you wear", 'whose shirt you wear' is English slang for 'what football team are you a fan of?'. The thinking here being that if you can make it into space then your opinions on football matter".

Answer: Tin can

"For here am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world"

That line has always made me feel like Major Tom was really sad...

Answer: He floats

The verse continues:

"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"

Answer: Blue

"For here am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do"

According to www.songfacts.com: "Bowie wrote this after seeing the 1968 Stanley Kubrick movie "2001: A Space Odyssey". "Space Oddity" is a play on "Space Odyssey".

Answer: One hundred thousand miles

"Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go"

Well, I hope so! Because there's big trouble if it doesn't!

Answer: I love her very much.

And the song continues, leading up to the last verse:

"And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much she knows"

Answer: Moon and stars

"For here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do"

According to www.songfacts.com: "The BBC used this during coverage of the moon landing. There was a great fear that if the missions in space didn't go well, this song would suddenly become inappropriate."