Ground Control to Major Tom is the first line of ‘Space Oddity’ – a David Bowie classic. It tells the story of an astronaut in space and it’s a fantastic song to practice your English with. My students love it! Hope you will too.

The copyright on the music has been cleared by YouTube, so teachers, feel free to share it with your students.
RIP David Bowie – what a great story teller and what a great musician! Planet earth is blue without you.

Lyrics to Ground Control to Major Tom

Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills and put your helmet on

Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown, engines on
Check ignition and may God’s love be with you

Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Liftoff

This is Ground Control to Major Tom
You’ve really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it’s time to leave the capsule if you dare

This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I’m stepping through the door
And I’m floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today

For here am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there’s nothing I can do

Though I’m past one hundred thousand miles
I’m feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much
She knows

Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit’s dead, there’s something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you….

Here am I floating round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there’s nothing I can do.

For more songs to learn English with, click here.