Alpha, their second album, also had a couple of hits ("Don't Cry" and "The Smile Has Left Your Eyes") but its follow-up, Astra, was a flop. The group disbanded in 1985, only to reunite in 1990 without John Wetton; John Payne took his place. After churning out a couple of new songs for a greatest-hits collection, the band hit the road, including two sold-out dates in front of 20,000 fans in Moscow. Thereafter, they toured sporadically and released Aqua (1992), Aria (1994), Arena (1996), Aura (2001), and Silent Nation (2004). The band's lineup reverted to its original form featuring Wetton, Palmer, Howe, and Downes for Phoenix (2008) and Omega (2010). In 2012, the original Asia lineup returned with the studio album XXX, featuring the single "Face on the Bridge." The following year, Howe announced his amicable departure from the group to pursue other projects, and in 2014 Asia released the album Gravitas, featuring new guitarist Sam Coulson. In January 2017, a month and a half before the scheduled beginning of an extensive U.S. tour by the band, John Wetton died from colon cancer at the age of 67.
Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
There is another band with the same name:
2) Asia was an excellent hard rock band with a drive for epic, pomp-filled rock tunes. The band was from Rapid City, South Dakota and should not be confused with the famous U.K. one, which sadly outshone them and ended up rendering the U.S. group highly obscure despite the U.S. one's critical support. Going for a loose instrumental energy similar to Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, their eventual line-up was made up of Michael English (vocals, bass, percussion), Larry Galbraith (vocals, guitars, mandolin), Mike Coates (guitars, mandolin, mellotron, piano, harpsichord, vocals), and Doug Johnson (percussion). They released two albums: 'Asia' (1979) and 'Armed to the Teeth' (1980).
Back in Town
Asia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Chrome wings - low ride
Freeway - red line
To city lights electric I glide
If there´s escape from your illusion
You gotta break the whole constitution
Concrete - touch sky
Steel bird - black tie
Is this what they call the freedom you buy ?
Look at him behind the delusion
All you hear is the voice of confusion
[CHORUS]
The bad boy´s back
The bad boy´s back in town
The bad boy´s back
Don´t you shoot him down
Wheels spin - ace high
No win - no life
One world - truth lies
Love´s just a word on a red neon sign
If there´s escape from the conclusion
You gotta shake the whole institution
[CHORUS]
If there´s escape from your illusion
You gotta break the whole constitution
[CHORUS]
The lyrics of Asia’s song “Back in Town” tell the story of a rebel or a “bad boy” who has returned to the city, riding on his motorcycle. The opening lines describe the scene, with wheels turning and smoke rising as he rides in on his low-riding “chrome wings.” The song continues to describe the cityscape, with its concrete buildings that seem to touch the sky, main streets where stray dogs lie, and steel birds soaring overhead. The chorus repeats the refrain “The bad boy’s back in town,” indicating that the singer has a reputation in this city and has returned after some time away.
The lyrics also touch on themes of escape and freedom. The singer seems to be escaping some form of illusion or delusion, and is seeking a way to break free from it. The chorus urges others not to “shoot him down” upon his return, indicating that he may have faced opposition or persecution in the past. The final verse reinforces these themes, pointing out that love is just a word on a neon sign and that the truth often lies hidden behind the veneer of a society built on falsehood.
Line by Line Meaning
Wheels turn - smoke rise
As I drive along on my lowrider chrome wings, the smoke rises from my spinning wheels, creating an aura of badassery.
Chrome wings - low ride
My car defines me as a low-rider and I take pride in the fact that I'm riding on chrome wings.
Freeway - red line
I'm speeding down the freeway so fast that the tachometer is hitting the red line.
To city lights electric I glide
As I enter the city, I feel the electric vibe of the city lights guiding me through the dark streets.
If there's escape from your illusion
If you're ready to break free from the illusions you believe, then maybe you're ready to take control of your life.
You gotta break the whole constitution
You must exert your authority over every aspect of your life and make things happen for yourself.
Concrete - touch sky
Skyscrapers tower over the city streets and touch the sky, leaving no room to breathe.
Main street - dogs lie
Even the stray dogs that roam the streets in search of food know that these concrete jungles are harsh and unforgiving.
Steel bird - black tie
The metal birds of the city have a sleek, powerful design that is both ominous and captivating.
Is this what they call the freedom you buy ?
Is the freedom we're seeking nothing more than an expensive commodity that we can purchase from the system?
Look at him behind the delusion
The man behind the veil of deception never gets to see the true reality of the situation.
All you hear is the voice of confusion
When you're lost in the illusions of the city, all you can hear is the sound of confusion and despair.
The bad boy's back
I'm back with a vengeance and I'm not backing down for anyone.
The bad boy's back in town
I'm back in the city and I'm ready to take control with my rebellious spirit.
Don't shoot him down
Let me be free to do what I want and live my life on my own terms, without any interference or judgment from others.
Wheels spin - ace high
As my wheels spin, I feel like I have a winning hand in a high-stakes card game.
No win - no life
If I'm not winning at life, then what's the point of living?
One world - truth lies
In this world, the truth is often hidden behind a veil of lies and deception.
Love's just a word on a red neon sign
In this city, love is nothing more than a cheap marketing ploy used to sell products and services.
If there's escape from the conclusion
If you're ready to break free from the predetermined conclusions that the system has set for you, then maybe you're ready to live a life of freedom.
You gotta shake the whole institution
You need to make a big impact and shake things up if you want to overthrow the system and take control of your life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GEOFF DOWNES, JOHN TIMOTHY PAYNE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@victorrafaelmendez355
es un temon !!
tremendo poder tiene ..
este disco esta buenisimo !!
del primer al ultimo track..
verdaderamente espectacular !!!
@vaneipontes3824
Good Song 🎵🎼🎶🎼🔥🎹🎤🥁🎸💪👊😎🤘
@Cinemagoer_64
Do you think the John Payne period sounds 90s? It is like they had a sound of their own!
@LongLiveRocknRollMusic
John Payne's music doesn't really have a sound based on any year. He has a unique and marvellous sound that could be a part of any era and be great! His music is phenomenal just as he is!
@edilsonruas7843
Cool
@LongLiveRocknRollMusic
Yeah this is a very cool song!