This song is a deeply personal piece, described by David Bowie himself as being "very much based on myself and my brother." He elaborated that it reflects his feelings about himself and his brother, or a "doppelganger," exploring the uncertain position his brother Terry held in his life. Though Bowie initially said the lyrics "make absolutely no sense" and were for an American market that "always like to read things into things," its dense and impenetrable nature invites listeners to find their own meaning within its emotional landscape. At its heart, it plays like a musical journey into the complex bonds of family and identity.