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)
Ain’t That So
Roxy Music Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So far it seems
Too bad the blues
Blew my schemes
Dynamite
Such sweet surprise
In southern heat
Ain't that so
Shadows cling
Where shutters close
Who can tell
Heaven knows
Why some can laugh
And some can sing
Stand in line
Or get on down and swing
Ain't that so
Cross the street
who's ringing bells?
Peeling walls
Of cheap hotels
Neon flare
A sudden chill
And there you lie
And time stands still
Ain't that so
The opening lines of Roxy Music's song Ain't That So suggest that the singer has lived an eventful life with some setbacks. The reference to the "blues" suggests disappointment or sadness that has impacted the singer's plans. However, the following lines suggest that there have been positive moments too, the "sweet surprise" that can be found in different places - the heat of the south, or the skies of the north. There is a sense of unpredictability to life here, with shadows clinging and shutters closing. The line "who can tell, heaven knows" gives a sense of resignation - these ups and downs are part of life, but they are not wholly predictable.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been around
I have been to different places and experienced many things.
So far it seems
Based on my past experiences, it seems that the present might be similar or different.
Too bad the blues
Unfortunately, feeling down or depressed has affected my plans and ideas.
Blew my schemes
My hopes and ambitions got derailed due to feeling sad or unhappy.
Dynamite
The situation is explosive or has the potential to become so.
Such sweet surprise
An unexpected and pleasant experience.
In southern heat
In the hot climate of the southern regions.
Or northern skies
Or under the northern hemisphere's skies.
Ain't that so
Isn't that the truth, doesn't that make sense?
Shadows cling
Darkness lingers around or follows.
Where shutters close
Where windows or doors shut, blocking light or outside noise.
Who can tell
It is impossible to guess or know.
Heaven knows
Only God knows or can understand what's happening.
Why some can laugh
The reason why some people can find joy or happiness.
And some can sing
And others can express themselves or be creative in different ways.
Stand in line
Wait patiently along with other people for something.
Or get on down and swing
Or move rhythmically and energetically in a party or a club.
Cross the street
Walk on the other side of the road.
who's ringing bells?
Who's making a noisy disturbance with bells?
Peeling walls
Walls that are falling apart or whose paint is cracking.
Of cheap hotels
Of low-cost places to stay overnight.
Neon flare
A sudden outburst of colorful lights or signs.
A sudden chill
A rapid shift towards cooler temperatures, causing discomfort or discomfort emotionally.
And there you lie
And there you are lying down, perhaps feeling exposed or vulnerable.
And time stands still
Everything else has stopped, and only the present moment is real or meaningful right then.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: FERRY, BRYAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@friendlier
'Manifesto' gets short shrift from many Roxy fans, but as someone who has followed them from 1972 onward I think it's a small masterpiece. It certainly set the stage for pop music styles that came forward in the early 80s.
@johnearle1
Trash especially
@neilrobson3064
It’s a brilliant record - just as good as Country Life in its own way….
@johnearle1
Manifesto was such a brash change from Siren, which in itself, was a continental rift from the previous four albums. It set in motion the trek Roxy Music would travel until the release of Avalon. The fathers of New Wave, they are so under appreciated by many. Duran Duran said they would have never existed without Roxy Music.
@quentincrisp6933
The godfather's of "Art Rock" !
@ColtraneTaylor
If Roxy Music never existed we couldn't have listened to them. Horrifying thought.
@jackmoore6982
I love all of Bryan Ferry Roxy Music stuff, they have continued to still sound fresh and brilliant along with David Bowie they are still ahead of their time and will always continue to please fans and get new fans in this new generation. Ferry and Roxy have helped me go through alot and I will always love them.
@charlesbaldo
They were the "New Wave" saw them 45 years ago and would love to see them in the 2022 tour.
@stephenyoung7591
I saw them on the 'Country Life' tour ~1975, and just saw them in Toronto last week. Well worth it.
@skwertball2274
Saw them in Washington DC, and, I am sorry to say, it felt like Bryan was phoning it in. I STILL don’t mind having paid $1300 for my fifth row seats. To watch a legend!