So, Who Is Major Tom?
Bowie never fully disclosed why he chose the name Tom for his fictional astronaut. But one theory holds that he saw a poster advertising a circus performer named Tom Major, and the name just clicked (although some people have completely refuted that idea).
Photo by Studio Canal / Shutterstock
But the origin of the name isn’t as important as the essence of the character. Major Tom played a huge role in Bowie’s career, and he mentioned him several times in later albums. Fans believe Tom is an alter ego, for Bowie himself, but we’ll let you be the judge.
Let’s get into the lyrics for a clearer picture.