Born to a working-class family, Ferry studied fine art and taught at a secondary school before pursuing a career in music. In 1970 he began to assemble the rock band Roxy Music with a group of friends and acquaintances in London, and took the role of lead singer and main songwriter. The band achieved immediate international success with the release of their eponymous debut album in 1972, containing a rich multitude of sounds, which reflected Ferry's interest in exploring different genres of music. Their second album, For Your Pleasure (1973), further cultivated the band's unique sound and visual image that would establish Ferry as a leading cultural icon over the next decade.
Ferry began a parallel solo career in 1973 by releasing These Foolish Things, which popularized for the first time the concept of a contemporary musician releasing an album covering standard songs and was a drastic departure from his ongoing work with Roxy Music. His second album, Another Time, Another Place (1974), featured as its cover image Ferry posing by a pool in a white dinner jacket and represented one of his most impactful fashion statements. Over the next two years, Roxy Music released a trilogy of albums, Stranded (1973), Country Life (1974) and Siren (1975), which broadened the band's appeal internationally and saw Ferry take greater interest in the role of a live performer, reinventing himself in stage costumes ranging from gaucho to military uniforms.
Ferry disbanded Roxy Music following the release of their best-selling album Avalon in 1982 to concentrate on his solo career, releasing further singles such as "Slave to Love" and "Don't Stop the Dance" and the UK no. 1 album Boys and Girls in 1985. Including his work with Roxy Music, Ferry has sold over 30 million albums worldwide.
As well as being a prolific songwriter, Ferry has recorded many cover versions, including standards from the Great American Songbook, in albums such as These Foolish Things (1973), Another Time, Another Place (1974), Let's Stick Together (1976), Taxi (1993) and As Time Goes By (1999), as well as Dylanesque (2007), an album of Bob Dylan covers. In 2019, Ferry was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Roxy Music.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bryan_Ferry
Studio albums
These Foolish Things (1973)
Another Time, Another Place (1974)
Let's Stick Together (1976)
In Your Mind (1977)
The Bride Stripped Bare (1978)
Boys and Girls (1985)
Bête Noire (1987)
Taxi (1993)
Mamouna (1994)
As Time Goes By (1999)
Frantic (2002)
Dylanesque (2007)
Olympia (2010)
The Jazz Age (2012)
Avonmore (2014)
Bitter-Sweet (2018)
Zamba
Bryan Ferry Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Why you never come around
Now you're such a lady
Why your feet don't touch the ground
Tell me pretty baby
Say you I'll never let me down
Autumn clearing
All the leaves are falling down
The lyrics of Bryan Ferry's song Zamba are about a man who is in love with a woman who drives him crazy but never comes around. He refers to her as a lady and notices that her feet do not touch the ground. He then pleads with her to never let him down. The song metaphorically describes the autumn season as the leaves are falling down and the man can now see clearly. It could be interpreted that he realizes that his feelings for her are stronger than ever.
The lyrics suggest that the woman is not easily accessible or available to the man, but he still loves her regardless of the distance or challenges. The lyrics also contain a sense of yearning and passion for the woman. The chorus and verses of the song have an upbeat tone accompanied by a beautiful arrangement of instruments that gives the song a light, playful groove.
Line by Line Meaning
Girl you drive me crazy
The girl's actions make the singer go mad.
Why you never come around
The girl rarely visits the singer.
Now you're such a lady
The girl evolved into a sophisticated woman.
Why your feet don't touch the ground
The girl seems very happy at all times.
Tell me pretty baby
The singer wants the girl to say something sweet.
Say you'll never let me down
The singer wants the girl's affirmation of loyalty.
Autumn clearing
The season is autumn now.
All the leaves are falling down
The trees are shedding their leaves.
I can see clearly now
The singer has a new perception of things.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BRYAN FERRY, PATRICK LEONARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind