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)
Both Ends Burning
Roxy Music Lyrics
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'Cause you know I'm not so sure
Do I have the speed to carry on
Burn you out of my mind, I know
You're a flame that never fades
Jungle red's a deadly shade
Both ends burning, will the fires keep
Somewhere deep in my soul tonight
Burning
Burn
Now my course is plain as day
Running bold across to play
Both ends burning with a strange desire
That feeds the fire in my soul tonight
I will dance the night away
Living only for today
Both ends burning while you're counting sheep
Hell, who can sleep in this heat this night?
Tell me will I ever learn?
It's too late, the rush is on
Both ends burning and I can't control
The fires raging in my soul tonight
Oh will it never end?
Put your foot around the bend
Drive me crazy to an early grave
Tell me what is there to save tonight
Both ends burning
Burning
Burn
Keep on burning till the end, until the end
Keep on burning till the end, the very end
The lyrics of Roxy Music's song "Both Ends Burning" are an ode to the dangerous and thrilling nature of passion. Bryan Ferry, the lead singer and song's writer, pleads his lover not to let him down because he is not sure he has what it takes to keep up with the intensity of their relationship. He admits that he is trying to burn her out of his mind, but her flame is too strong to be extinguished. Jungle red, a shade of crimson that symbolizes danger and excitement, is referenced to describe the power and intensity of their passion.
In the second part of the song, the singer seems to have surrendered to this fiery passion that drives him. His course in life is "plain as day," and he is "running bold across to play." He dances the night away, living only for the moment, consumed by the flames of desire. The fires in his soul seem uncontrollable, and he knows that it may lead him to an early grave. In the end, he begs the flames to keep on burning until the very end, admitting that there is nothing he can do to stop it.
Line by Line Meaning
Please don't ever let me down
I am relying on you and hope that you won't disappoint me.
'Cause you know I'm not so sure
I'm uncertain of my own abilities and need your support.
Do I have the speed to carry on
Am I capable enough to keep up with the pace?
Burn you out of my mind, I know
I want to erase you from my thoughts.
You're a flame that never fades
Your presence is always intense and captivating.
Jungle red's a deadly shade
The color red can be associated with danger.
Both ends burning, will the fires keep
Can I sustain the intensity of my current state?
Somewhere deep in my soul tonight
This feeling is coming from within me.
Burning
The flames are growing.
Burn
The flames are intensifying.
Now my course is plain as day
My path ahead is clear.
Running bold across to play
I'm moving forward with confidence.
Both ends burning with a strange desire
I'm feeling a unique and powerful urge.
That feeds the fire in my soul tonight
It's fueling the passion I'm experiencing right now.
I will dance the night away
I'm going to celebrate and enjoy the moment.
Living only for today
I'm not thinking about tomorrow, just enjoying the present.
Both ends burning while you're counting sheep
While you're sleeping peacefully, I'm experiencing intense emotions.
Hell, who can sleep in this heat this night?
It's too intense to even consider rest.
Tell me will I ever learn?
I'm unsure if I'll ever understand the consequences of my actions.
It's too late, the rush is on
I'm in the moment and there's no stopping now.
Both ends burning and I can't control
I'm overwhelmed by the intensity of my emotions.
The fires raging in my soul tonight
The passion inside me is burning brightly tonight.
Oh will it never end?
Will this emotional intensity ever stop?
Put your foot around the bend
Keep moving forward and pushing the limits.
Drive me crazy to an early grave
This intensity may lead to my downfall.
Tell me what is there to save tonight
Is there anything I can do to prevent this from going too far?
Both ends burning
This intensity is coming from both sides.
Keep on burning till the end, until the end
The emotional intensity will continue until the very end.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRYAN FERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Gary Johnson
To think most bands would give anything to have written one song like this and yet Ferry never stopped coming up with such brilliant tunes. Class and talent, what a combination.
Peter Sokol
As it turns out this was the last of Roxy’s brilliance….it was their last great album…then they joined the ranks of forgettable 80s band foregoing their brilliant uniqueness……..to blend with the rest of the pack and put out pop pablum.
Brian Branscombe
@Anthony Mclean yeah..your right,I should have checked that before writing, I think I was getting confused with "love is the drug".
Anthony Mclean
@Brian Branscombe No it was written by Ferry..
Brian Branscombe
It was written by MacKay
David Sigalow
It's amazing how so may Roxy songs from those first five albums still sound ahead of their time.
Fredrick Burlakoff
The best female backup singers on this tour. Seeing Roxy in the 70’s was always a big deal.
margus kiis
Doreen Chanter and Jacqui Sullivan
Chris Marsh
What? Really? They're even worse than the ones who ruined T. Rex's last few albums. A wailing row.
Mark R
Utterly brilliant and Bryan Ferry’s best ever vocal…. in my humble opinion 😀