Roxanne
Los Hijos de Frida Lyrics
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You don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne
You don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right
You don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
-Roxanne- put on the red light,
-Roxanne- put on the red light
-Roxanne- put on the red light,
-Roxanne- put on the red light
Put on the red light
I loved you since I knew you
I wouldn't talk down to you
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your make up
Told you once I won't tell you again
It's a bad way
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
-Roxanne- you don't have to put on the red light
-Roxanne- put on the red light
-Roxanne- put on the red light
-Roxanne- put on the red light
-Roxanne- put on the red light
-Roxanne- you don't have to put on the red light
The lyrics to "Roxanne" by Los Hijos de Frida addresses a societal issue where women are forced to sell their bodies for financial gain. The first verse urges Roxanne to stop working as a prostitute ("You don't have to put on the red light") since those days are over for her. The second verse highlights Roxanne's sense of obligation, how she doesn't have to wear "that dress" and sell herself on the street for money. Roxanne is then reassured that it doesn't matter if what she's doing is wrong or right, she doesn't have to put on the red light.
The chorus repeats the message that Roxanne doesn't need to put on the red light anymore. The singer expresses his love for Roxanne and says he wouldn't talk down to her. He acknowledges Roxanne's other suitors but proclaims that he won't share her with them, and his mind is made up. In the final lines, he tells her to put away her makeup and that he won't repeat himself again. The overall message is one of empowerment where Roxanne is encouraged to leave behind an unhealthy and dangerous profession and seek a better life.
Line by Line Meaning
Roxanne
Addressing the person named Roxanne
You don't have to put on the red light
You don't have to engage in prostitution anymore
Those days are over
The time of having to sell yourself for money has passed
You don't have to sell your body to the night
You don't have to engage in prostitution anymore
You don't have to wear that dress tonight
You don't have to dress up to attract clients anymore
Walk the streets for money
Engaging in prostitution to earn money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right
You don't care if what you're doing is morally right or wrong
Put on the red light
A reference to the red light districts where prostitution occurs
I loved you since I knew you
Expressing a deep affection towards Roxanne
I wouldn't talk down to you
I wouldn't speak to you in a disrespectful manner
I have to tell you just how I feel
Expressing the need to express feelings to Roxanne
I won't share you with another boy
Expressing the desire to be in an exclusive relationship with Roxanne
I know my mind is made up
Asserting that he's made up his mind about his feelings
So put away your make up
Encouraging Roxanne to be natural and not have to dress up to impress
Told you once I won't tell you again
Stressing the importance of his message and not wanting to repeat himself
It's a bad way
Engaging in prostitution is not a good or healthy way to make a living
Writer(s): Gordon Matthew Sumner, Baz Luhrmann, Mariano Martinez, Craig Pearce
Contributed by Chase C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.