★
(David Bowie)



In the Villa of Ormen
In the Villa of Ormen
Stands a solitary candle
Ah ah ah ah
In the centre of it all
In the centre of it all
Your eyes

On the day of execution
On the day of execution
Only women kneel and smile
Ah ah ah ah
At the centre of it all
At the centre of it all
Your eyes
Your eyes

Ah ah ah
Ah ah ah

In the Villa of Ormen
In the Villa of Ormen
Stands a solitary candle
Ah ah ah ah
At the centre of it all
At the centre of it all
Your eyes
Your eyes
Ah ah ah

Oo oo oo oo
Ooo
Oo oo oo oo
Ooo
Oo oo oo oo

Something happened on the day he died
Spirit rose a metre then stepped aside
Somebody else took his place and bravely cried:
  'I'm a blackstar'
  'I'm a blackstar'

How many times does an angel fall?
How many people lie instead of talking tall?
He trod on sacred ground he cried loud into the crowd
  'I'm a blackstar'
  'I'm a blackstar'
  'I'm not a gangstar'

I can't answer why
  (I'm a blackstar)
Just go with me
  (I'm not a filmstar)
Imma take you home
  (I'm a blackstar)
Take your passport and shoes
  (I'm not a popstar)
And your sedatives boo!
  (I'm a blackstar)
You're the flash in the pan
  (I'm not a Marvelstar)
I'm the great I am
  (I'm a blackstar)

I'm a blackstar way up, on money, I've got game
I see right so wide, so open-hearted pain
I want eagles in my daydreams, diamonds in my eyes

  I'm a blackstar
  I'm a blackstar

Something happened on the day he died
Spirit rose a metre then stepped aside
Somebody else took his place and bravely cried:
  'I'm a blackstar'
  'I'm a starstar'
  'I'm a blackstar'

I can't answer why
  (I'm not a gangstar)
But I can tell you how
  (I'm not a flamstar)
We were born upside down
  (I'm a stars star)
Born the wrong way round
  I'm not a whitestar
  I'm a blackstar

Oo oo oo oo

  I'm not a gangstar
  I'm a blackstar
  I'm a blackstar

Oo oo oo oo

  I'm not a pornstar
  I'm not a wandering star

Oo oo oo oo

  I'm a blackstar
  I'm a blackstar

In the Villa of Ormen
Stands a solitary candle
Ah ah ah ah
At the centre of it all
Your eyes

On the day of execution
Only women kneel and smile
Ah ah ah ah
At the centre of it all
Your eyes
Your eyes
Ah ah ah



(2015 song commissioned by director Johan Renck for the theme song of 'The Last Panthers' TV crime show from Sky/Canal+ that launched on 12th November 2015. Title track of the 2016 ★ Blackstar album released on 8th January 2016. The 10-minute single was released via digital download on 20th November 2015. Exclusive premiere of the 10-minute video was broadcast on Sky Atlantic/Sky Arts on 19th November 2015).

Personnel: David Bowie (Acoustic Guitar, Associated Performer, Composer, Lyricist, Main Artist, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Strings). Donny McCaslin (Flute, Saxophone, Woodwinds). Jason Lindner (Keyboards, Organ, Piano). Tim Lefebvre (Bass). Mark Guiliana (Drums, Percussion). Ben Monder (Guitar). Tony Visconti (Engineer, Mixing Engineer, Producer, Strings). Tom Elmhirst (Mixing Engineer). Joe LaPorta (Mastering Engineer). Kevin Killen (Engineer). Kabir Hermon (Assistant Engineer). Erin Tonkon (Assistant Engineer). Joe Visciano (Assistant Engineer).