Golden Years

Bowie's ex-wife Angela claims this was written for her. Bowie does appear to be addressing someone specific in this song, encouraging them to revel in their "golden years": "Don't let me hear you say life's taking you nowhere, angel, come get up my baby, look at that sky, life's begun, nights are warm and the days are young."

Bowie wrote this with the intention of giving it to Elvis Presley, but he reportedly refused the song. Elvis died two years later.

Bowie made an appearance on Soul Train singing (actually, lip synching) "Golden Years" and "Fame" on November 4, 1975. Few white performers had appeared on the show, but host Don Cornelius gave him a warm welcome, introducing him as "one of the world’s most popular and important music personalities." For Bowie, Soul Train was a big deal because he grew up listening to many of the American R&B who appeared on the show. He was nervous, and reportedly got a little drunk beforehand to take the edge off; footage does appear to show him stumbling over his lyrics.