Jeffrey Lewis is an American singer/songwriter and comic-book artist, part of the Anti-folk movement. Several of his musical influences have been acknowledged in his songs such as The Chelsea Hotel Oral Sex Song, concerning the song by Leonard Cohen, and The History of The Fall. Like Cohen, Lewis' lyrics are complex and literate, often combining a depressing world-view with a hopeful message and sharp wit. Born in New York City and growing up on the Lower East Side of Manhattan Island his songs are also highly informed by his home surroundings, with songs namechecking places such as Williamsburg, the FDR Drive and the East River.
Jeffrey Lewis was born in New York in November 1975. He attended State University of New York at Purchase College and graduated in 1997; his final thesis was on the Alan Moore graphic novel "Watchmen".
After being signed by the British record label Rough Trade in 2001, Lewis released his first official album The Last Time I Did Acid I Went Insane, and in 2003 he released the album It's the Ones Who've Cracked That the Light Shines Through. Lewis later released the album City & Eastern Songs, in the U.K. in November 2005. All three albums also include his brother, Jack Lewis, who wrote and sang a number of the songs. He has also performed and collaborated with fellow New York Anti-folk singers Kimya Dawson and Diane Cluck.
His latest album, 12 Crass Songs was released on Rough Trade in Europe in September of 2007. As the title suggests, it is 12 covers of the British anarchist punk band Crass. It features vocals, keyboard and recorder from Helen Shriner, bass by both John Kessel and brother Jack Lewis, drums by David Beachamp (live drummer/The Bloodugars) and Raphi Gottesman (who often plays with Jack Lewis). Shwervon's Nan Turner also contributes vocals to various tracks.
Jeffrey Lewis is a Welsh composer. After graduating from University College, Cardiff, he studied composition with Stockhausen, Ligeti, and Boguslaw Schaffer, and electronic composition with Don Banks. His early career was spent as a pianist with the Paris Chamber Ensemble; after his return to the U.K, in 1973 he joined the Department of Music at the University College of North Wales, Bangor.
Banned from the Roxy
Jeffrey Lewis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I never much liked playing there anyway
They said they only wanted well behaved boys
Do they think guitars and microphones are just toys?
Well, i've chosen to make my stand
Against what I feel is wrong with this land
They just sit there on their overfed asses
Feeding off the sweat of less fortunate classes
They got control and won't let it be forgotten
The truth of their reality is at the end of a gun
The proof is all in history and is no fun
Seeing the army in your front yard
Seeing the machine guns resting on the fence
Finding the entrance to your door is bared
And they got the nerve to call back defence
Seems their defence is a just the threat of strength
Protection for the privileged at any length
The government protecting their profits from the poor
The rich and the fortunate chaining up the door
Afraid that the people may ask for a little bit more
Than the shit they get, the shit they get, the shit they get,
The shit they get.
Defence it's nothing less than war
And no one but the government knows what it's for
Oh yes they say it's defence, say it's decency
Mai Lai, Hiroshima, know what I mean?
The same lies with depressing frequency
They say "We had to do it to keep our lives clean"
Well whose life? Who are they talking to?
I'll tell you one thing, it ain't me and you
And their systems, christ, they're everywhere
School, army, church, the corporation deal
Our reality based on fear
A conspiracy to stop you feeling real
But they're wrong
I'd say they're wrong
I swear they're wrong
I know they're wrong
I ain't quite ready with my gun
But we've always got our song
So i've been
Banned from the Roxy, Ok
Never much like playing there anyways
In Jeffrey Lewis's song "Banned from the Roxy," he expresses his frustration with the power dynamics and systemic inequalities he perceives in society. The Roxy is a reference to a nightclub in London that was notorious for being exclusive and only allowing "well-behaved" people to enter. Lewis implies that this exclusivity is a problem and that the Roxy is just one example of the larger injustice in society.
Lewis takes a strong stand against the power structures that he sees as immoral and oppressive. He implies that those in power are lazy, gluttonous, and exploiting those who are less fortunate. He highlights the fact that they maintain their power through force and intimidation, as well as by controlling the narrative through lies and propaganda. He points out that "defence" is often just a euphemism for aggression and domination.
Lewis's lyrics also suggest that these power dynamics are pervasive and infect every aspect of society, from school to church to the military to corporations. He sees a conspiracy to keep people in a state of fear and to prevent them from feeling truly alive and connected to one another. While Lewis is not yet ready to take up arms, he believes that music can be a powerful tool for resistance and social change.
Overall, "Banned from the Roxy" is a scathing critique of the ruling class and their oppressive tactics. Through his lyrics, Lewis encourages listeners to question authority and to stand up against the injustices they see in the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Banned from the Roxy...Ok
I have been banned from Roxy, an establishment I don't really care about anyways.
I never much liked playing there anyway
I didn't really enjoy performing at Roxy.
They said they only wanted well behaved boys
Roxy's management demanded decent behavior from performers.
Do they think guitars and microphones are just toys?
I wonder if Roxy's management thinks that musical gear, like guitars and microphones, are just playthings for performers.
Well, i've chosen to make my stand
I have decided to take a stand against what I perceive as wrong in this country.
Against what I feel is wrong with this land
I am standing up against what I believe is unjust in this country.
They just sit there on their overfed asses
Roxy's management just sits comfortably while enjoying their privileges.
Feeding off the sweat of less fortunate classes
They exploit the less fortunate classes who work so hard to please them.
They keep their power cos their finger's on the button
Roxy's management maintains control by having the power to turn the performers on and off.
They got control and won't let it be forgotten
They control the situation and are committed to maintaining their authority.
The truth of their reality is at the end of a gun
Their reality is derived from violence and the use of force.
The proof is all in history and is no fun
We can see the evidence of this in history, which is far from enjoyable.
Seeing the army in your front yard
Seeing the army camping in your front yard.
Seeing the machine guns resting on the fence
Seeing the machine guns resting on the fence surrounding your home.
Finding the entrance to your door is bared
Finding the entrance to your door blocked.
And they got the nerve to call back defence
They have the audacity to label their aggression as defence.
Seems their defence is a just the threat of strength
Their defence relies solely upon the threat of using force.
Protection for the privileged at any length
They will do whatever it takes to safeguard the privileged class.
The government protecting their profits from the poor
The government is using its authority to protect the interests of the wealthy while suppressing the poor.
The rich and the fortunate chaining up the door
The wealthy and the lucky keeping the door locked to block out the poor.
Afraid that the people may ask for a little bit more
They are afraid that the less fortunate classes might demand more from them.
Than the shit they get, the shit they get, the shit they get,The shit they get.
They are afraid that the less fortunate classes might demand a better quality of life.
Defence it's nothing less than war
Defence is nothing less than a declaration of war.
And no one but the government knows what it's for
Only the government truly knows the reason behind declaring war.
Oh yes they say it's defence, say it's decency
The government claims that their actions are morally justified and are in the name of defence.
Mai Lai, Hiroshima, know what I mean?
Remember the atrocities committed in locations like Mai Lai and Hiroshima and connect the dots.
The same lies with depressing frequency
The lies and propaganda surrounding these events are being repeated again and again.
They say "We had to do it to keep our lives clean"
They say that these horrific actions were necessary to maintain their superior way of life.
Well whose life? Who are they talking to?
Whose lives are they talking about, and to whom are they directing their statements?
I'll tell you one thing, it ain't me and you
One thing is for sure, those who suffer the most are not included in their calculus of suffering.
And their systems, christ, they're everywhere
Their systems of power and control are omnipresent and all-encompassing.
School, army, church, the corporation deal
These systems of control and indoctrination exist in various institutions such as schools, the military, religious organizations, and corporations.
Our reality based on fear
The foundation of our reality is built upon fear.
A conspiracy to stop you feeling real
There is an active conspiracy to prevent people from experiencing reality and questioning their circumstances.
But they're wrong
They are mistaken.
I'd say they're wrong
In my opinion, they are wrong.
I swear they're wrong
I am confident that they are wrong.
I know they're wrong
I am certain that they are wrong.
I ain't quite ready with my gun
I am not yet ready to resort to violence.
But we've always got our song
But we will always have our music as a means of expression and rebellion.
So i've been Banned from the Roxy, Ok Never much like playing there anyways
So, I have been banned from Roxy, but it's not a big deal since I didn't enjoy performing there much in the first place.
Contributed by Parker H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.