“Peggy Sue Got Married” versus “Ashes to Ashes”
My Saturday interview features author Jordan Rothacker, who will join me to discuss his Bowie-influenced science fiction novel, The Death of the Cyborg Oracle. It’s a terrific book and the interview is a compelling and rich discussion. And it comes amidst the launch of Jordan’s follow-up book, The Shrieking of Nothing. The title, as Bowie fans will recognize, comes from “Ashes to Ashes” (1980). Since the second book isn’t out yet, and I haven’t read it, we discuss it only in passing, but in so doing Jordan mentioned that Bowie had been referencing the most famous song-sequel of all time, Buddy Holly’s “Peggy Sue Got Married” (1959).
“Peggy Sue Got Married?” At this point in the interview I nodded and went along. Sure, I’ve heard the song, and I know its predecessor, “Peggy Sue” (1957), but how exactly was Bowie referencing the song? No clue.
Well, that’s not quite right. The clue that I had was that “Ashes to Ashes” is also a sequel song— it tells the continuing story of Major Tom, last heard from in “Space Oddity” (1969). So there’s that. I just had never thought of the two songs being especially related, so I played the Buddy Holly song. Wait…did I hear the words correctly? Why, yes I did. But before I get to them, let me remind you of the lyrics of “Ashes to Ashes” that set up the rest of the song:
Do you remember a guy that’s been
In such an early song?
I’ve heard a rumor from Ground Control
Oh no, don’t say it’s true
You know these, right? Now, here’s part of “Peggy Sue Got Married”:
Please don’t tell, no, no, no
Don’t say that I told you so
I just heard a rumor from a friend
I don’t say that it’s true
I’ll just leave that up to you
If you don’t believe, I’ll understand
You recall a girl that’s been in nearly every song
Bowie borrows the formulation of “a girl that’s been in nearly every song” and adapts it to describe “a guy that’s been in such an early song.” This is especially interesting if you listen to both songs because the music is so different, but the words of the one song could be sung to the tune of the other. Both narrators “heard a rumor,” and while Holly won’t “say that it’s true,” Bowie pleads, “don’t say it’s true.” Plus, Bowie works in a “oh no,” echoing Holly’s “no, no, no.” I’m not revealing anything new here, but I think because the music of both songs sounds so different, I never noticed the connection until Jordan mentioned it.
So there it is. Never mind that the two songs sound nothing alike and are thematically about as different as can be. Nonetheless, Bowie clearly had Buddy on his mind. Bowie also mentions the name, “Buddy,” in the 50’s influenced, “Drive in Saturday,” while I haven’t read much, if anything about Buddy Holly influencing Bowie, it seems like he resided somewhere in Bowie’s head.
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So, come back Saturday not for Buddy Holly but for Jordan Rothacker. And if you happen to be in Georgia on October 29th, bust out your favorite Bowie costume and join the author himself at his book launch party (see below).
Xxxx