David Bowie

Lyrics

[​​​Intro]

[Verse 1]
Look up here, I'm in heaven
I've got scars that can't be seen
I've got drama, can't be stolen
Everybody knows me now

[Verse 2]
Look up here, man, I'm in danger
I've got nothing left to lose
I'm so high, it makes my brain whirl
Dropped my cell phone down below
Ain't that just like me?

[Bridge]
By the time I got to New York
I was living like a king
There I used up all my money
I was looking for your ass

[Verse 3]
This way or no way, you know I'll be free
Just like that bluebird now, ain't that just like me?
Oh, I'll be free, just like that bluebird
Oh, I'll be free, ain't that just like me?
[Outro]

If you're a fan of David Bowie, you've probably heard of Lazarus, one of the artist's most popular songs, which was released on his final album Blackstar. Written for an off-Broadway production of the same name, the song was released just a few days before Bowie's untimely death from liver cancer. Despite its melancholy air, Lazarus features an experimental, jazz-influenced sound that exemplifies Bowie's pioneering spirit as a musician.

About Lazarus

Lazarus deals with themes of mortality, drawing inspiration from the parable of Lazarus that appears in the Bible. Just like the Biblical character who is resurrected by Jesus Christ, the song alludes to the idea of eternal return and explores the idea that death and life are intertwined. The accompanying video, which features a hospital bed, a wardrobe that looks suspiciously like a coffin, and Bowie himself appearing frail, has led many to interpret the song as the artist's final goodbye to his fans.

Musically, Lazarus is a standout track thanks to its fusion of rock and jazz instrumentation. Listeners will detect the synths that typify Bowie's music since his Berlin period, as well as rasping distorted guitars and the saxophone of Danny McCaslin. The result is a sombre, melancholy sound that is nonetheless infused with a sense of experimentalism and flightiness. Bowie's voice itself often cracks, lending an added poignancy to the track.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert played host to the cast of Lazarus on 15/12/15. There, they played Lazarus, imbuing the event with an added layer of emotion that was not lost on fans.

Bowie's death in January 2016 provoked a groundswell of emotion among fans, with many turning to his music for solace in the wake of his passing. Lazarus's new-found poignancy in the light of the artist's death only added to this, resulting in much critical acclaim for the song and its parent album.

Inspired by Nietzsche's eternal return, the Lazarus narrative has become a cultural meme, reflecting life, death, and resurrection. While the song's inspiration draws from the parable of Lazarus as per the Bible, it has come to represent so much more than just a person or character.

In crafting Lazarus, Bowie was able to create a condensed reflection of human narratives of birth, death, and rebirth. The song's exploration of mortality is therefore not merely a lamentation on the inevitability of death; rather, it is an attempt to grapple with the more complex aspects of what it means to be alive and mortal, and what legacy a person may leave behind after they have passed on.

Overall, Lazarus is a testament to Bowie's enormous influence on the music industry, and his legacy as one of the most innovative and influential musicians of the 20th century. Featuring a poignant, melancholy sound tinged with experimentation and flights of instrumental fancy, there is no doubt that Lazarus stands as one of the most memorable songs Bowie released in his lengthy and illustrious career.

• Release Date: December 15, 2015
• Artist: David Bowie