Stronger Through the Years
Roxy Music Lyrics


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Through the undercover hour
Bad and bleak
To be brief, too much sorrow
And flesh is weak
No more feelings
No more tears

The river's wide enough
Flowing stronger through the years
Silver lips, kisses borrowed
Glances steal
To quick, how they quiver
Too late they're sealed
No more feelings
No more tears





The river's wide enough
Flowing stronger through the years

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Roxy Music's "Stronger Through the Years" paint a picture of a dark and difficult time in one's life, where there is a sense of hopelessness and despair. The "undercover hour" suggests that there is something hidden or secretive going on, perhaps a struggle that the singer is going through internally. The next line, "bad and bleak," reinforces this sense of darkness and negativity. The line "to be brief, too much sorrow" suggests that the singer is trying to distance themselves from their pain, but it is overwhelming and difficult to ignore. The line "and flesh is weak" suggests that the singer is human, and can only endure so much.


The next few lines suggest a feeling of numbness or detachment. "No more feelings, no more tears" could mean that the singer has reached a point of emotional numbness where they cannot feel anything anymore. It's possible that they have gone through a traumatic experience that has left them drained emotionally.


The chorus provides a glimmer of hope, however. "The river's wide enough, flowing stronger through the years" suggests that even though the singer has gone through a difficult time, they are still moving forward and gaining strength. The river is a symbol of life and the passage of time, and even though it may be wide and treacherous, the singer is still able to navigate it and grow stronger along the way.


Overall, the lyrics of "Stronger Through the Years" suggest a journey through difficult times and a sense of resilience and perseverance in the face of adversity.


Line by Line Meaning

Through the undercover hour
Amidst hidden or obscure times


Bad and bleak
Undesirable and hopeless


To be brief, too much sorrow
Simply put, there is an overwhelming amount of grief


And flesh is weak
The body is vulnerable to temptation or frailty


No more feelings
There are no longer any emotions


No more tears
There are no longer any tears to cry


The river's wide enough
The current is vast and plentiful


Flowing stronger through the years
The current is getting more powerful as time goes on


Silver lips, kisses borrowed
A precious, fleeting kiss taken from someone else


Glances steal
One's gaze can take or rob something from another person


To quick, how they quiver
Too fast or too soon, the tremble of desire persists


Too late they're sealed
It's too late to undo what has already been done


No more feelings
There are no longer any emotions


No more tears
There are no longer any tears to cry


The river's wide enough
The current is vast and plentiful


Flowing stronger through the years
The current is getting more powerful as time goes on




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRYAN FERRY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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