Great songs transcend their immediate space and morph into something grander, greater and immortal. “Somewhere Over the rainbow” and “My Way” are obvious examples of music standards that have enjoyed that rite of passage. “Heroes” is edging its way into that rarified space.

On the album it was a straightforward love song, but his performance live on “Isolar2” added a reflective, plaintiff longeur quality which I liked very much, a reading which endured until it was popularised again during the 9/11 tribute concert and reinvented as a tribute to the heroes of the hour. I do not particularly like this adaptation- but it has worked.

It happened to Springsteen with “Born in the usa” woody Guthrie with “This Land is your land” and Clapton with “Wonderful tonight”. Sometimes a song takes on a life of its own.

Bowie was unusually adept at picking subjects and song titles and writing music and lyrics which could be reinvented- think “”Space oddity”, “Life on Mars”, Fashion, Lets dance, and Fame.

Thus we all have our own versions of the song in our heads and hearts. The refrain of “we can be heroes- just for one day” is genius as is Fripp’s guitar.