Roxy Music became a successful act in Europe and Australia during the 1970s. This success began with their self-titled debut studio album in 1972. The band pioneered more musically sophisticated elements of glam rock while significantly influencing early English punk music, and provided a model for many new wave acts while innovating elements of electronic composition. The group also conveyed their distinctive brand of visual and musical sophistication with their focus on glamorous fashions. Ferry and co-founding member Eno have had influential solo careers. Eno became one of the most significant British record producers of the late 20th century. Rolling Stone originally ranked Roxy Music No. 98 on their greatest artists list ("The Immortals – The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time"), but dropped the group from the list when they updated it in 2011.
Roxy Music's final studio album was Avalon (1982), which was certified Platinum in the United States. In 2005, the band began recording what would have become their ninth studio album—and their first album with Eno since 1973 (he wrote two songs for it and also played keyboards). However, Ferry eventually announced that the material from these sessions would instead be released as a Ferry solo studio album, with Eno playing on "a couple of tracks", and that he believed the group would never again produce a record as Roxy Music. The album was released in 2010 as the Ferry solo studio album Olympia. It featured contributions from Eno, Manzanera, and Mackay (amongst many other session players).
In 2011, Roxy Music played a series of 40th-anniversary shows, but went inactive as a performing entity following the concerts. In 2019, Roxy Music were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2022, Roxy Music reformed for a tour to mark the 50th anniversary of their debut studio album.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roxy_Music
Studio albums
Roxy Music (1972)
For Your Pleasure (1973)
Stranded (1973)
Country Life (1974)
Siren (1975)
Manifesto (1979)
Flesh and Blood (1980)
Avalon (1982)
08 For Your Pleasure
Roxy Music Lyrics
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In our present state
Part false part true
Like anything
We present ourselves
The words we use tumble
All over your shoulder
There all night lying
With your dark horse hiding
Abhorring such extremes
You're rubbing shoulders
With the stars at night
Shining so bright
Getting older
But you'll wake up soon
And fight
In the morning
Things you worried about
Last night
Will seem lighter
I hope things
Will turn out right
Old man
Through every step a change
You watch me walk away
Tara Tara
The lyrics of Roxy Music's "For Your Pleasure" are filled with enigmatic and abstract imagery that can be difficult to decipher. However, the song seems to be a meditation on the complexities and contradictions of human nature. The first verse suggests that the band's presentation of themselves is both false and true, reflecting the duality of personas we all have. The second verse uses powerful metaphors to describe the weight of our worries and fears, which can feel like gravel lying all night on our shoulders. The chorus is hopeful, expressing the desire that things will turn out right in the end.
The line, "Rubbing shoulders with the stars at night, shining so bright" suggests that we are all capable of greatness and that we should strive for it. However, the song tempers this optimism with the realization that change is never easy. In the final verse, the singer remarks that "through every step a change, you watch me walk away", implying that growth requires leaving things behind. The final line, "Tara Tara", is a Hindu mantra that means "star" or "guide", perhaps suggesting a call to enlightenment or a higher state of being.
Line by Line Meaning
For your pleasure
We're doing this for you, our audience, so hopefully you enjoy it
In our present state
We are who we are right now, and that's what we're offering
Part false part true
We're a mix of real and fabricated, just like anything else
Like anything
Nothing is truly pure, everything is influenced and molded by something else
We present ourselves
Here we are, putting ourselves on display
The words we use tumble
Our language is jumbled and not always well thought-out
All over your shoulder
We're throwing things at you, trying to get your attention
Gravel hard and loose
Our words are sharp and rough, but also not completely grounded
There all night lying
We're here, sticking around for the long haul
With your dark horse hiding
You have secrets and things you're keeping hidden, just like us
Abhorring such extremes
We don't like the idea of being too one-sided or extreme
You're rubbing shoulders
You're interacting and mingling with famous and successful people
With the stars at night
Celebrities and other notable figures are around, especially during social events
Shining so bright
They are impressive and captivating, drawing attention to them
Getting older
We're all aging and time keeps moving forward
But you'll wake up soon
You'll have an epiphany or realization at some point
And fight
You'll put up a struggle or effort to enact change
In the morning
This enlightenment will come after a period of rest or contemplation
Things you worried about
Issues or problems that were previously causing stress or concern
Last night
During a prior time of reflection, possibly while you were sleeping
Will seem lighter
They won't be as difficult to manage or overcome as they originally seemed
I hope things
We want positive outcomes and experiences for everyone involved
Will turn out right
We want everything to end well and work out in a positive way
Old man
A term of endearment or familiarity for the person being addressed
Through every step a change
Change is inevitable and happens with every transition or decision
You watch me walk away
As we move forward, we're leaving things behind and moving on to something different
Tara Tara
A repeated phrase that may serve as a kind of punctuation or indication of something coming to a close
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRYAN FERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind