Roxy Music are an English rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry—who becam… Read Full Bio ↴Roxy Music are an English rock band formed in 1970 by Bryan Ferry—who became the band's lead vocalist and principal songwriter—and bassist Graham Simpson. The other longtime members are Phil Manzanera (guitar), Andy Mackay (saxophone and oboe), and Paul Thompson (drums and percussion). Other members included Brian Eno (synthesizer and "treatments") and Eddie Jobson (synthesizer and violin). Although the band took a break from group activities in 1976 and again in 1983, they reunited for a concert tour in 2001, and have toured together intermittently since. Ferry frequently enlisted band members as session musicians for his solo releases.

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)

Spin Me Round
Roxy Music Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Now the ballroom's empty
Everybody I have known
Has been and gone
With the music over
Here am I
A shadow echoing on
Spin me round

Now there must be something
In what they say of all things
Great and small
There's dozen roses
Lying almost dying
To say all
Spin me round

A nether world dancing toy
I'm wired for sound
Does it matter to me
Who turns the key?
Now if life is for living
Then the way is clear
But I don't understand
Why the dream has ended
Yet I can't wake up

Lend a hand
Spin a round

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Roxy Music's song "Spin Me Round" are captivating and deep, as they convey the feeling of being lost and forgotten. The song starts with the ballroom being empty, and everyone the singer knows has left. The music is over, and the singer is left as a shadow, just echoing on. Then the chorus comes, "Spin me round," indicating that the singer is asking to be distracted from his loneliness and misery.

The second verse has a philosophical tone, talking about how there must be something in what they say about life and death, as represented by the dying roses. The singer is a toy meant for the netherworld's dance, wired for sound to entertain everyone, but does it matter who is operating the toy? Then, almost in a plea, the singer lets us know that if life is meant for living, then it needs to be clear to him, but he can't comprehend why the dream has ended. He asks someone to lend him a hand and spin him around.

The song is a metaphorical tale about the excesses of the music scene and the price many musicians pay to be stars. People come and go, and the music eventually stops, leaving the artist alone and forgotten. The spinning of the singer is also symbolic. It represents the dizzying romance and the spinning feeling of life. It is an escape from the tedious reality that eventually ends.

Line by Line Meaning

Now the ballroom's empty
The event has ended and all attendees have left.

Everybody I have known
Everyone that has been a part of my life is no longer around.

Has been and gone
The people from my past are now memories.

With the music over
The end of the music signifies the end of the event.

Here am I
I am the only one left.

A shadow echoing on
My presence is the only thing lingering in the empty room.

Spin me round
The singer is asking to be twirled around, in an attempt to regain some excitement.

Now there must be something
There is likely some truth to the common sayings about everything in life.

In what they say of all things
The sayings are references to life's larger truths.

Great and small
These sayings refer to aspects of life, big and small.

There's dozen roses
There are many flowers present.