Before coming together to form the duo, Fredriksson and Gessle were already established artists in Sweden, with Fredriksson releasing a number of solo albums and Gessle being the lead singer and songwriter of Gyllene Tider, which had three No. 1 albums. On the advice of the managing director of their record label, they came together to record "Neverending Love", which became a hit single in Sweden.
After the release of Don't Bore Us, Get to the Chorus!, a greatest hits record, the duo took a hiatus before returning with the albums Have a Nice Day (1999) and Room Service (2001). They continued to chart in other territories, mainly in Europe and Latin America, where they earned various Gold and Platinum awards until the beginning of the new millennium. In 2002, the duo took a break from recording and touring when Fredriksson was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Gessle went on to release solo albums and reunited with Gyllene Tider before Roxette took to the stage together again for the first time in 8 years, in 2009, during Gessle's European Party Crasher tour. In 2011, they released Charm School, their first studio album in ten years, which was followed by Travelling in 2012. Their latest studio album, Good Karma, was released in 2016.
Their songs "It Must Have Been Love" and "Listen to Your Heart" continue to receive wide radio airplay, with both singles recently receiving awards from BMI for achieving five million radio plays. They have sold an estimated 75 million records worldwide, with over 10 million in certified units from Germany, the US and the UK, achieving gold and platinum certifications for Joyride and Look Sharp! in all three regions.
On 18 April 2016, an official statement was released, cancelling the last leg of the RoXXXette 30th Anniversary Tour due to concerns about Marie Fredriksson's health. As her doctors have advised her to refrain from playing live, she will no longer tour with Roxette. Fredriksson stated: "Sadly, now my touring days are over and I want to take this opportunity to thank our wonderful fans that has followed us on our long and winding journey." Gessle added: "The joyride on the road is over now – but we sure had fun, didn't we?" Roxette has also worked in the studio on their tenth studio album, Good Karma. They have worked with young producers from Sweden like Addeboy vs Cliff "to inject new blood into the Roxette sound". Remixes aside, this is the first time that they have allowed anyone outside of the Roxette canon to produce new music. On 8 April 2016, the lead single off the album, "It Just Happens", was released. The album followed on 3 June 2016.
Per Gessle toured Europe in October and November 2018 as "Per Gessle's Roxette" with a set that lent heavily on the band's back catalogue.
Harleys & Indians
Roxette Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Harley Harley heaven
I want to meet a King
Like the Panhead 48
I want to meet the Fat One
We can talk for hours
When my time has come, Babe
I won't be running late.
Flying high
Riders in the sky
Na na na na.
When I go to heaven
Red-skin heaven
I want to meet the Chiefs
Yea, I want to meet all Scouts
I won't miss my friends 'cause I know where they'll be
We're all part of the Indian Family.
Flying high
Riders in the sky
Na na na na.
It's alright, Baby
I'm OK, honey
I'm only travellin' through this state of mine
Hey it's alright, Mama
I'm doin' fine now, Mama
I'm only in a certain state of mind.
When I go to heaven
Hog Hog heaven
I'll have a drink with Elvis while Marlon's on his way
We're kickin' and we're revvin'
We're dressing up in style
It's time to take a ride on that freeway in the sky.
Flying high
Riders in the sky
Na na na na
Come on, come on.
The lyrics to Roxette's song "Harleys & Indians" depict the desire to meet certain individuals or groups after death in different versions of heaven. The first verse describes wanting to meet a King like the Panhead 48 and the Fat One, which are both models of Harley Davidson motorcycles. The singer wants to have an extended conversation with them and not be late when it's their time to go. The second verse talks about going to "Red-skin heaven" and meeting Chiefs and Scouts, and how the singer won't miss their friends as they're all part of the Indian Family. The last verse portrays being in "Hog Hog heaven" and having a drink with Elvis Presley while Marlon Brando is on his way. It's time to "take a ride on that freeway in the sky."
The lyrics to "Harleys & Indians" echo the idea of different levels of heaven envisioned by different cultures with each having their own set of customs and beliefs. The desire to meet specific people in each heaven is not limited to individuals of a single culture but to those that are personally influential. The individuals or groups mentioned in the lyrics are iconic and represent the culture of the people hearing the song. Roxette's lyrics express a genuine passion for these different cultures and an acknowledgment of the importance of significant cultural aspects. The music video for the song includes shots of Indians and Harleys, reinforcing the post-death as heaven where all the groups come together.
Line by Line Meaning
When I go to heaven
In my mind, as a fantasy, I think of going to heaven.
Harley Harley heaven
A joyful, motorcycle-filled heaven that I imagine for myself.
I want to meet a King
In this fantasy, I want to meet someone important.
Like the Panhead 48
I want to meet someone like the classic motorcycle model named Panhead 48.
I want to meet the Fat One
I want to meet someone who is known as the Fat One and we can talk for hours.
We can talk for hours
I hope to have a long conversation with this person I want to meet in my imagined heaven.
When my time has come, Babe
Referring to my inevitable death, I hope my departure timing will not be delayed or chaotic.
I won't be running late.
I hope to have a timely, peaceful passing when the time comes.
Flying high
In this imagined motorcycle-filled heaven, we will be riding our motorcycles high in the sky.
Riders in the sky
A continuation of the idea of riding motorcycles high in the sky.
Na na na na.
Repetition for the chorus melody.
Red-skin heaven
In this imagined version of heaven, there is also a red-skin heaven or Indian heaven.
I want to meet the Chiefs
I want to meet the grand leaders of the Indian community in the hereafter.
Yea, I want to meet all Scouts
I also want to meet all the Indian Scouts in my imagined Indian heaven.
I won't miss my friends 'cause I know where they'll be
In this afterlife, I believe I can be reunited with my Indian friends and I won't miss them anymore.
We're all part of the Indian Family.
We are a close-knit community, and we will be together again in this imagined Indian heaven.
It's alright, Baby
Everything is okay in the present moment.
I'm OK, honey
I am content and happy, even though I am just passing through this current state in my life.
I'm only travellin' through this state of mine
I am just passing through this phase of my life.
Hey it's alright, Mama
Everything is good at this moment, and there is no need for concern.
I'm doin' fine now, Mama
I am doing well, even though I am still in this transient phase of my life.
I'm only in a certain state of mind.
I am only mentally focused on this current phase of my life.
Hog Hog heaven
In this imagined heavenly realm, there is a 'hog hog heaven,' filled with Harley-Davidson motorcycles.
I'll have a drink with Elvis while Marlon's on his way
In this fantasy, I will drink with Elvis Presley while waiting for Marlon Brando to arrive.
We're kickin' and we're revvin'
We are having a great time riding motorcycles and having fun.
We're dressing up in style
We are wearing fashionable clothes, taking pride in our appearances and enjoying ourselves.
It's time to take a ride on that freeway in the sky.
It is time to enjoy an exhilarating ride on the highways and byways of heaven.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PER GESSLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Funguy31
I said—Then, dearest, since 'tis so,
Since now at length my fate I know,
Since nothing all my love avails,
Since all, my life seem'd meant for, fails,
Since this was written and needs must be—
My whole heart rises up to bless
Your name in pride and thankfulness!
Take back the hope you gave,—I claim
Only a memory of the same,
—And this beside, if you will not blame;
Your leave for one more last ride with me.
My mistress bent that brow of hers,
Those deep dark eyes where pride demurs
When pity would be softening through,
Fix'd me a breathing-while or two
With life or death in the balance: right!
The blood replenish'd me again;
My last thought was at least not vain:
I and my mistress, side by side
Shall be together, breathe and ride,
So, one day more am I deified.
Who knows but the world may end to-night?
Hush! if you saw some western cloud
All billowy-bosom'd, over-bow'd
By many benedictions—sun's
And moon's and evening-star's at once—
And so, you, looking and loving best,
Conscious grew, your passion drew
Cloud, sunset, moonrise, star-shine too,
Down on you, near and yet more near,
Till flesh must fade for heaven was here!—
Thus leant she and linger'd—joy and fear!
Thus lay she a moment on my breast.
Then we began to ride. My soul
Smooth'd itself out, a long-cramp'd scroll
Freshening and fluttering in the wind.
Past hopes already lay behind.
What need to strive with a life awry?
Had I said that, had I done this,
So might I gain, so might I miss.
Might she have loved me? just as well
She might have hated, who can tell!
Where had I been now if the worst befell?
And here we are riding, she and I.
Fail I alone, in words and deeds?
Why, all men strive and who succeeds?
We rode; it seem'd my spirit flew,
Saw other regions, cities new,
As the world rush'd by on either side.
I thought,—All labour, yet no less
Bear up beneath their unsuccess.
Look at the end of work, contrast
The petty done, the undone vast,
This present of theirs with the hopeful past!
I hoped she would love me; here we ride.
What hand and brain went ever pair'd?
What heart alike conceived and dared?
What act proved all its thought had been?
What will but felt the fleshly screen?
We ride and I see her bosom heave.
There 's many a crown for who can reach.
Ten lines, a statesman's life in each!
The flag stuck on a heap of bones,
A soldier's doing! what atones?
They scratch his name on the Abbey-stones.
My riding is better, by their leave.
What does it all mean, poet? Well,
Your brains beat into rhythm, you tell
What we felt only; you express'd
You hold things beautiful the best,
And pace them in rhyme so, side by side.
'Tis something, nay 'tis much: but then,
Have you yourself what 's best for men?
Are you—poor, sick, old ere your time—
Nearer one whit your own sublime
Than we who never have turn'd a rhyme?
Sing, riding 's a joy! For me, I ride.
And you, great sculptor—so, you gave
A score of years to Art, her slave,
And that 's your Venus, whence we turn
To yonder girl that fords the burn!
You acquiesce, and shall I repine?
What, man of music, you grown gray
With notes and nothing else to say,
Is this your sole praise from a friend,
'Greatly his opera's strains intend,
But in music we know how fashions end!'
I gave my youth: but we ride, in fine.
Who knows what 's fit for us? Had fate
Proposed bliss here should sublimate
My being—had I sign'd the bond—
Still one must lead some life beyond,
Have a bliss to die with, dim-descried.
This foot once planted on the goal,
This glory-garland round my soul,
Could I descry such? Try and test!
I sink back shuddering from the quest.
Earth being so good, would heaven seem best?
Now, heaven and she are beyond this ride.
And yet—she has not spoke so long!
What if heaven be that, fair and strong
At life's best, with our eyes upturn'd
Whither life's flower is first discern'd,
We, fix'd so, ever should so abide?
What if we still ride on, we two
With life for ever old yet new,
Changed not in kind but in degree,
The instant made eternity,—
And heaven just prove that I and she
Ride, ride together, for ever ride?
Jeffery Phillips
Chuck: So the episode begins and Neelix ambushes Janeway heading up the hall. As the conversation comes up without context provided for the episode, I shall turn to our random-context generator table, and they are discussing... dice rolling sounds Ship-wide Orgy Night!
Neelix: I thought last night went well, didn't you?
Janeway: Extremely well, everyone had a lot of fun.
Neelix: I was thinking of making it a regular feature, say uh, once a month?
Janeway: It's certainly worth a try.
Neelix: And captain, you were especially good last night.
Janeway: Thanks Neelix, it's been a while.
Neelix: You'd never know.
Chuck: They're actually talking about Talent Night, which Janeway had won... of course, by performing the "Dying Swan"...I'm presuming it's the dance, and not that she took a swan out and killed it, but I can't really rule that out entirely.
Mr AJ
The energy of the tune is untouchable.🤘
Lazar Mihai
This is really a strong heavy metal song!
Grand Admiral Prawn
This is not heavy metal 💀
Lucy Faiella
Roxette rocks my world!!!! Great songs!!!!
bloodrunsclear
Just a great song! I came here because SF Debris left out parts of this song even in his Endgame review so I wanted to hear the whole thing. I just love the instruments here :)
Luis D.C.
¡¡EXTRAORDINARIOS!!!!!!!!!!!De mis favoritos.
Konrad Povac
I love Roxette - What a great Song !
André Fernandes
This song is awesome!
Antonio Inacio
The best of "Roxette"!
Maria Kulle
probably The Best album in The Word