Due to some similarities in Elton John's "Rocket Man", there is a possible connection between the Rocket Man and Major Tom, a connection notably made by Bowie himself, who while singing "Space Oddity" in concert would sometimes call out, "Oh, Rocket Man!" Major Tom in Bowie's work
Major Tom") and The Tea Party ("Empty Glass"). Other artists who have subsequently made substantial contributions to the Major Tom story include K.I.A. The English-language version, " Major Tom (Coming Home)", peaked at number 14 in the United States in late 1983. German singer Peter Schilling retold and continued the story of Major Tom in his late 1982 release " Major Tom (völlig losgelöst)", which reached number one in Germany and Austria in early 1983. A short time later, there is another reversal of Major Tom's original withdrawal, turning 'outwards' or towards space. Additionally, the choked and self-recriminating tone used in the lyrics "Time and again I tell myself I'll stay clean tonight" reinforces an autobiographical and retrospective interpretation. This lyric was interpreted as a play on the title of Bowie's album Low (1977), which was inspired by the withdrawal symptoms he suffered while undergoing treatment for drug addiction. Major Tom is described as a " junkie, strung out in heaven's high, hitting an all-time low".
In the song "Ashes to Ashes" (1980), Bowie reinterprets Major Tom as an oblique autobiographical symbol for himself. "Space Oddity" (1969) depicts an astronaut who casually slips the bonds of the world to journey beyond the stars. Major Tom is a persona of David Bowie's, referenced in songs " Space Oddity", " Ashes to Ashes", " Hallo Spaceboy", and " Blackstar." Bowie's own interpretation of the character evolved throughout his career. David Bowie as Major Tom in the "Space Oddity" video, part of the 1969 promotional film Love You Till Tuesday