Were These David Bowie's Last Words?

Increasingly private at the end of his life, Bowie's actual last words are unknown. However, at a posthumous tribute to Bowie at the 2016 Brit Awards, Bowie's friend Gary Oldman shared words from a letter Bowie had written to him near the end of his life, according to Consequence.

"Music has given me over 40 years of extraordinary experiences ... I can't say that life's pains or more tragic episodes have been diminished because of it, but it has allowed me so many moments of companionship that when I have been lonely and sublime means communications when I have wanted to touch people," Bowie wrote. "'It has been my doorway of perception and the house that I live in.'"

That last line is the last confirmed statement Bowie is known to have made, according to Express. They are fitting last words for someone who spent decades opening up doors for other people, inspiring countless artists and fans to explore new horizons — from his gender fluidity to his adept ability to weave together disparate musical genres, Bowie broke so many boundaries, and his music was the thread that connected it all together.