Lyrically, the song is a sinister monologue, part critique of the emptiness of opulence, partly a love song to an inflatable doll. Musically this is complemented by a cycling four-bar chord progression, led by a 'cinema organ' style Farfisa part. After the lyrical conclusion "I blew up your body/but you blew my mind!", the song climaxes with an extended instrumental section, with the lead taken by guitarist Phil Manzanera.
On the original vinyl LP, the song was the last one on side A, and appeared to fade out into the run-out groove, only to return, heavily processed with phase shifting techniques. This audio pun is preserved on the CD release.
The song is one of the most iconic and popular in the Roxy Music catalogue, having been performed by them for instance on the BBC Old Grey Whistle Test show, and regularly in live sets, as featured on Roxy Music's live albums Viva! and Concerto. The band's live performance on an edition of the German Beat Club shows Mackay playing the organ part, with Ferry on rhythm guitar. Eno replaces the studio phase-shifting process with tape delay techniques.
In Every Dream Home a Heartache
Roxy Music Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And every step I take
Takes me further from heaven
Is there a heaven?
I'd like to think so
Standards of living
They're rising daily
But home oh sweet home
From bell push to faucet
In smart town apartment
The cottage is pretty
The main house a palace
Penthouse perfection
But what goes on
What to do there
Better pray there
Open plan living
Bungalow ranch style
All of it's comforts
Seem so essential
I bought you mail order
My plain wrapper baby
Your skin is like vinyl
The perfect companion
You float my new pool
De luxe and delightful
Inflatable doll
My role is to serve you
Disposable darling
Can't throw you away now
Immortal and life size
My breath is inside you
I'll dress you up daily
And keep you till death sighs
Inflatable doll
Lover ungrateful
I blew up your body
But you blew my mind
Oh those heartaches
Dreamhome heartaches
The lyrics of Roxy Music's song "In Every Dream Home A Heartache" are complex and open to interpretation. The song seems to be a commentary on modern living and consumerism, and how the idea of the perfect home and perfect partner may not bring happiness or fulfillment. The opening lines of "In every dream home a heartache, and every step I take takes me further from heaven" implies that despite the luxury and comforts of the modern home, people feel disconnected and not at peace. The singer questions if there is a heaven, and then contemplates the meaning of home, which is only a saying.
The middle part of the song describes how the idea of a dream home is marketed to us as we aspire to live in smart town apartments, grand houses, or penthouse perfection. The comfort of an open plan living and the feel of the bungalow ranch-style are said to be essential, and people start buying things through mail orders. The singer talks about how he bought an inflatable doll and refers to her as "my plain wrapper baby" who is his "perfect companion" and serves his every need. However, even with all these comforts, the singer cannot help but feel heartache and loneliness. He is also aware that the disposable doll cannot be thrown away and will stay with him even if he does not want it.
The ending of the song repeats the phrase "Inflatable doll, lover ungrateful, I blew up your body, but you blew my mind." This is a statement on how we are sold the idea of a perfect partner or a perfect home, but these things cannot bring true fulfillment or happiness. The singer may have found the perfect partner in his inflatable doll, but there is no emotional connection, and he feels unfulfilled, leading to heartache.
Line by Line Meaning
In every dream home a heartache
Every luxurious home comes with its own share of troubles and heartaches.
And every step I take
Every move towards luxury and perfection takes me away from true happiness.
Takes me further from heaven
The more I pursue materialistic pleasures, the farther I get from spiritual bliss.
Is there a heaven?
I wonder, is there a place of eternal happiness and contentment or is it just a myth?
I'd like to think so
However, I would prefer to believe that such a place exists.
Standards of living
The levels of comfort and luxury that people aspire to achieve.
They're rising daily
The desire for materialistic pleasures is increasing day by day.
But home oh sweet home
But despite all of that, there's nothing quite like the comfort and warmth of one's home.
It's only a saying
Yet, the saying cannot come true for everyone.
From bell push to faucet
From the basic necessities to the most luxurious amenities, people want it all in their homes.
In smart town apartment
Even apartment complexes in posh townships are not left behind in providing every comfort imaginable.
The cottage is pretty
Small houses in the countryside may not have all the latest amenities, but they have a charm of their own.
The main house a palace
Big houses, on the other hand, look like grand palaces.
Penthouse perfection
High-rise penthouses are considered the epitome of luxury and sophistication.
But what goes on
But one wonders what actually happens inside these fancy homes.
What to do there
What do the people living in these homes actually do to keep themselves entertained?
Better pray there
One might as well pray that they do not fall victim to the heartaches that come along with such luxury and comfort.
Open plan living
Houses with open floor plans are a recent trend in providing a spacious and contemporary feel.
Bungalow ranch style
Single-story houses with a sprawling layout are popularly referred to as ranch-style houses.
All of it's comforts
Every possible comfort that one could ask for in a house.
Seem so essential
These comforts have become an essential part of our lifestyle.
I bought you mail order
I ordered you from a catalog or online portal.
My plain wrapper baby
But despite the lack of extravagance, you are my darling.
Your skin is like vinyl
Your skin has a smooth, shiny texture, just like vinyl.
The perfect companion
You are the perfect partner for me, in every sense of the word.
You float my new pool
You add to the pleasure of enjoying the new swimming pool I just installed.
De luxe and delightful
You are a luxurious and delightful partner to have.
Inflatable doll
You are nothing but an inflatable doll to me, a mere object of pleasure.
My role is to serve you
My sole purpose in this relationship is to fulfill your every desire.
Disposable darling
You are replaceable, a temporary escape from my mundane existence.
Can't throw you away now
Despite your disposability, your presence in my life has become a constant, something that I cannot get rid of easily.
Immortal and life size
You are like an everlasting figure in my life, one that will always be in my thoughts.
My breath is inside you
My presence permeates through every breath you take, making me an inseparable part of your life.
I'll dress you up daily
I will make sure that you always look your best, as if you were a real person.
And keep you till death sighs
You will remain with me until the very end of my life, never to be replaced by anyone else.
Lover ungrateful
You, my love, are ungrateful for all that I have done for you, making me feel disrespected and devalued.
I blew up your body
I inflated your plastic body to make it look like a real person, trying to convince myself that you are more than a mere object.
But you blew my mind
But you, my inflatable companion, have managed to capture my mind, making me feel alive and happy despite your lifeless existence.
Oh those heartaches
These heartaches and troubles that come with materialistic pleasures are never-ending and unavoidable.
Dreamhome heartaches
These heartaches are a testimony to the fact that our desires for materialistic pleasures are never fully satisfied, leaving us with an eternal sense of longing and dissatisfaction.
Lyrics © Red Brick Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRYAN FERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind