Word on a Wing
Encyclopedia
"Word on a Wing" is a song written by David Bowie
in 1976
for the Station to Station
album.
Bowie admits that the song was written out of a coke
-addled spiritual despair that he experienced while filming the movie The Man Who Fell To Earth
. In 1980 Bowie spoke of the song to NME, claiming "There were days of such psychological terror when making the Roeg
film that I nearly started to approach my reborn, born again thing. It was the first time I'd really seriously thought about Christ and God
in any depth, and 'Word on a Wing' was a protection. It did come as a complete revolt against elements that I found in the film. The passion in the song was genuine... something I needed to produce from within myself to safeguard myself against some of the situations I felt were happening on the film set."
During the time of recording this song Bowie began to wear a silver crucifix, one which he still wears today. Despite the lyrics claiming that he is 'trying hard to fit among your scheme of things' Bowie seems to be suspicious of having blind faith with regards to religion, exclaiming 'just because I believe don't mean I don't think as well, don't have to question everything in heaven or hell'. This suspicion seems to contradict the sentiment Bowie had while recording Golden Years, where is exclaimed 'I believe all the way'. Bowie later admitted that "there was a point when I very nearly got suckered into that narrow sort of looking... finding the cross as the salvation of mankind around the Roeg period".
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
in 1976
1976 in music
-January–February:*January 5 – Former Beatles road manager Mal Evans is shot dead by Los Angeles police after refusing to drop what police only later determine is an air rifle....
for the Station to Station
Station to Station
Station to Station is the tenth studio album by English musician David Bowie, released by RCA Records in 1976. Commonly regarded as one of his most significant works, Station to Station is also notable as the vehicle for Bowie's last great 'character', The Thin White Duke...
album.
Bowie admits that the song was written out of a coke
Cocaine
Cocaine is a crystalline tropane alkaloid that is obtained from the leaves of the coca plant. The name comes from "coca" in addition to the alkaloid suffix -ine, forming cocaine. It is a stimulant of the central nervous system, an appetite suppressant, and a topical anesthetic...
-addled spiritual despair that he experienced while filming the movie The Man Who Fell To Earth
The Man Who Fell to Earth (film)
The Man Who Fell to Earth is a 1976 British science fiction film directed by Nicolas Roeg.The film is based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Walter Tevis, about an extraterrestrial who crash lands on Earth seeking a way to ship water to his planet, which is suffering from a severe drought...
. In 1980 Bowie spoke of the song to NME, claiming "There were days of such psychological terror when making the Roeg
Nicolas Roeg
Nicolas Jack Roeg, CBE, BSC is an English film director and cinematographer.-Life and career:Roeg was born in London, the son of Mabel Gertrude and Jack Nicolas Roeg...
film that I nearly started to approach my reborn, born again thing. It was the first time I'd really seriously thought about Christ and God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
in any depth, and 'Word on a Wing' was a protection. It did come as a complete revolt against elements that I found in the film. The passion in the song was genuine... something I needed to produce from within myself to safeguard myself against some of the situations I felt were happening on the film set."
During the time of recording this song Bowie began to wear a silver crucifix, one which he still wears today. Despite the lyrics claiming that he is 'trying hard to fit among your scheme of things' Bowie seems to be suspicious of having blind faith with regards to religion, exclaiming 'just because I believe don't mean I don't think as well, don't have to question everything in heaven or hell'. This suspicion seems to contradict the sentiment Bowie had while recording Golden Years, where is exclaimed 'I believe all the way'. Bowie later admitted that "there was a point when I very nearly got suckered into that narrow sort of looking... finding the cross as the salvation of mankind around the Roeg period".
Live versions
- A live version recorded at Nassau Coliseum, Long Island on March 23, 1976 was released as a bonus track on the RykodiscRykodiscRykodisc Records is an American record label. It is owned by Warner Music Group, operates as a unit of WMG's Independent Label Group and is distributed through Alternative Distribution Alliance.-Company history:...
CD release of Station to Station. After regular appearances on the Isolar – 1976 Tour "Word on a Wing" remained under wraps for over twenty years. - It was revived in 1999 for the VH1 StorytellersVH1 StorytellersStorytellers is a television music series produced by the VH1 network.In each episode artists perform in front of a live audience, and tell stories about their music, writing experiences and memories, somewhat similar to MTV Unplugged...
TV musical documentary series, when Bowie reaffirmed that the song was a product of 'the darkest days of my life... I'm sure it was a call for help', during those days he declared himself as fascinated by FascismFascismFascism is a radical authoritarian nationalist political ideology. Fascists seek to rejuvenate their nation based on commitment to the national community as an organic entity, in which individuals are bound together in national identity by suprapersonal connections of ancestry, culture, and blood...
and mysticism of Third Reich and wondered things like "Can I change the channel on my TV without using the clicker?".
Other releases
- It was released as the B-side of the single "StayStay (David Bowie song)"Stay" is a song written by David Bowie for the 1976 album Station to Station.In July 1976 it was released as a single by RCA in the US. The length of the album version of "Stay" is 6:15....
" in July 1976.