‘Starman’ was written as a direct response to the head of RCA Dennis Katz's request for a single for the album ‘The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars’. Co-produced by Ken Scott, Bowie recorded the song on 4 February 1972 towards the end of the Ziggy Stardust sessions at Trident Studios in London with his backing band the Spiders from Mars – comprising guitarist Mick Ronson, bassist Trevor Bolder and drummer Woody Woodmansey.

The lyrics describe Ziggy Stardust bringing a message of hope to Earth's youth through the radio.