Williams has received a record 18 Brit Awards, winning Best British Male Artist four times, Outstanding Contribution to Music twice, an Icon Award for his lasting impact on British culture, eight German ECHO Awards, and three MTV European Music Awards. In 2004, he was inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame after being voted the Greatest Artist of the 1990s. According to the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), he has been certified for 20.2 million albums and 8.66 million singles in the UK as a solo artist. Five of his albums have also topped the Australian albums chart, and has sold 75 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. He also topped the 2000–2010 UK airplay chart. His three concerts at Knebworth in 2003 drew over 375,000 people, the UK's biggest music event to that point. In 2014, he was awarded the freedom of his hometown of Stoke-on-Trent and had a tourist trail created and streets named in his honour. Williams' thirteenth album, XXV was released on 9 September 2022.
After 15 years, Williams rejoined Take That in 2010 to co-write and perform lead vocals on their album Progress, which became the second-fastest-selling album in UK chart history and the fastest-selling record of the century at the time. The subsequent stadium tour, which featured seven songs from Williams' solo career, became the biggest-selling concert in UK history when it sold 1.34 million tickets in less than 24 hours. In 2011, Take That frontman Gary Barlow confirmed that Williams had left the band for a second time to focus on his solo career, although he stated that the departure was amicable and that Williams was welcome to rejoin Take That in the future. Williams has since performed with Take That on three separate television appearances, and collaborated with Barlow on a number of projects such as the West End musical The Band.
By All Means Necessary
Robbie Williams Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You've got open doors
In and out of their wives
In and out of your smalls
It's not a BAFTA you're after
You want a million dollar lay
By all means necessary
You will get your way
It all seems so easy
But so are you
That's what I've heard them say
All the makeup that you wear
Can't hide the flaws
Your work in charity for your own cause
You won't be dating a teacher
You'd rather shag a manic street preacher
By all means necessary
You will get your way
It seems all so easy
But so are you
That's what I've heard them say
Sex with a stranger
You've been laid in a manger
And you think he's your saviour
Will he leave his pager?
You could be his daughter
Look what he's bought ya
But the money won't change ya
Of that there's no danger
Now your life's gettin' darker
It's you that they're after
Fifteen minutes a martyr
Blame it on your father
That dress nearly fits ya
Girl what's possessed you
Can we please take your picture
You know they'll forget ya
Ooh yeah
It all seems so easy
But so are you
That's what I've heard them say
By all means necessary
You will get your way
By all means necessary
You will get your way
By all means necessary
You will get your way
You don't get your way
By giving it away
You don't get your way
By giving it away
In "By All Means Necessary" Robbie Williams paints a picture of a person, who will do whatever it takes to get what they want. The persona described in the song is willing to compromise their own morals to achieve fame, fortune, and glory. This individual has little concern for the impact their actions have on others and is consumed by their own desires. Williams speaks to the persona's excessive vanity, self-centeredness, and willingness to engage in whatever behavior they believe will advance their plight.
The song describes an individual who craves fame, attention, and adoration. They are willing to engage in immoral and unethical behaviors to achieve their goals. The persona described in this song will sleep around, cheat on their partner, manipulate others, and use their sexuality to gain access to what they want. The lyrics lament the shallow nature of the entertainment industry, portraying it as a place where talent is not enough, and one must also have fame, wealth, and power.
"By All Means Necessary" is an indictment of the toxic culture of celebrity and the excesses of modern society. The song condemns the willingness of individuals to compromise their integrity for the sake of attention, fame, and fortune. It is a haunting reminder that the pursuit of personal gain at the expense of others is ultimately a self-destructive exercise.
Line by Line Meaning
Canned laughter for applause
Your success is built on fake support.
You've got open doors
You have access to anyone or anything you want.
In and out of their wives
You have sexual relationships with married people.
In and out of your smalls
You have a lot of sexual partners.
It's not a BAFTA you're after
You're not looking for an award for your work.
You want a million dollar lay
You want to have sexual relationships with rich and famous people.
By all means necessary
You are willing to do anything to get what you want.
You will get your way
You will succeed in getting what you want.
All the makeup that you wear
You use makeup to hide your imperfections but they're still there.
Can't hide the flaws
Your imperfections are still visible.
Your work in charity for your own cause
You do charity work for your own benefit, not for the greater good.
You won't be dating a teacher
You're not interested in a partner who doesn't have money or fame.
You'd rather shag a manic street preacher
You prefer someone unconventional and dangerous for a sexual partner.
Sex with a stranger
You engage in risky sexual behavior with strangers.
You've been laid in a manger
You've engaged in sexual activity in a place of religious significance.
And you think he's your saviour
You believe that your sexual partner can save you.
Will he leave his pager?
You're worried that your partner is not fully committed to you.
You could be his daughter
Your partner is much older than you.
Look what he's bought ya
Your partner uses money to control you.
But the money won't change ya
Money will never truly satisfy you.
Of that there's no danger
You're sure of your own values and desires.
Now your life's gettin' darker
Your life is becoming more chaotic and dangerous.
It's you that they're after
People are interested in you for your fame and money, not for who you are as a person.
Fifteen minutes a martyr
You are willing to use your fame to portray yourself as a victim.
Blame it on your father
You blame your problems on your family and upbringing.
That dress nearly fits ya
Your clothes are revealing and provocative.
Girl what's possessed you
People are wondering what could have led you to behave this way.
Can we please take your picture
People want to capture your image for their own gain.
You know they'll forget ya
People are only interested in you temporarily, then they'll move on to the next big thing.
You don't get your way
You won't succeed in getting what you want.
By giving it away
By being too free with your body and sexual activity.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GUY CHAMBERS, ROBERT PETER WILLIAMS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Philip Kassabian
on Win Some Lose Some
Yet another fantastic Robbie Williams song. Absolutely fantastic.
Philip Kassabian
on Millennium
What a fantastic song by Robbie Williams.
Edy Souza
on Advertising Space
:)
Edy Souza
on Angels
Love! Love!