"Lazarus" is the haunting final single released during David Bowie's lifetime, appearing on his 2016 album Blackstar. Issued on December 17, 2015, just weeks before his death, the song and its accompanying video have become widely recognized as Bowie's self-penned epitaph—a deliberate, artistic farewell as he faced terminal illness12.
Lyrics and Meaning
The song opens with the striking line, "Look up here, I'm in heaven," immediately signaling its themes of mortality and transcendence. Throughout, Bowie reflects on his life, fame, and impending death, with lyrics such as:
"I've got scars that can't be seen
I've got drama, can't be stolen
Everybody knows me now"
Producer Tony Visconti confirmed that "Lazarus" and other tracks on Blackstar were intended as a commentary on Bowie's own mortality, serving as a "self-epitaph"1. The title references the biblical figure Lazarus, whom Jesus famously raised from the dead, a symbol often used in culture to evoke resurrection and the hope of life after death342.
The song’s chorus—"I'll be free, just like that bluebird"—suggests liberation from suffering and the physical world, while also acknowledging Bowie's enduring legacy12. The lyrics, filled with both resignation and defiance, have been interpreted as Bowie’s way of preparing his audience for his passing and asserting that his art would live on.
Music Video
Directed by Johan Renck, the video was filmed shortly after Bowie learned his cancer was terminal. It features Bowie in a hospital bed, eyes bandaged, and later writing frantically at a desk with a skull, before retreating into a wardrobe—a visual metaphor for death and transition132. The imagery is rich with references to Bowie's past work, including the Station to Station era, and is saturated with symbolism about mortality, legacy, and transformation.
Cultural and Critical Impact
- "Lazarus" was Bowie's first top 40 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in over 28 years, peaking at #40 after his death1.
- The song and video received widespread acclaim, with Pitchfork and Billboard both ranking it among the best songs of 20161.
- The track is also central to Bowie's off-Broadway musical Lazarus, itself a meditation on mortality and reinvention13.
Legacy
"Lazarus" stands as one of the most powerful artistic farewells in popular music, a moving meditation on death, transformation, and the enduring power of art. The song’s direct engagement with mortality, paired with its release just days before Bowie’s passing, has cemented it as a poignant and essential part of his legacy1342.
Notable Lyrics:
"Look up here, I'm in heaven
I've got scars that can't be seen
I've got drama, can't be stolen
Everybody knows me now
...
This way or no way, you know I'll be free
Just like that bluebird, now ain't that just like me?"32
"Lazarus" is Bowie’s final gift to his audience—a work that faces death unflinchingly, yet finds beauty, mystery, and even freedom in the act of saying goodbye.
