He was particularly successful in the 1960s and 1970s as member and co-founder of the bands The Move, Electric Light Orchestra and Wizzard. As a songwriter, he contributed a huge number of hits to the repertoire of these groups. He was not only known for playing guitar, but also many other instruments, both in studio and on the stage. On some of his albums he has played every instrument himself.
His first group in Birmingham in the early 1960s was Gerry Levine and the Avengers. Then he went on with Mike Sheridan & The Nightriders (the band later to become The Idle Race, in which his musical partner Jeff Lynne made his first steps). From this, and a variety of other Birmingham-based groups, the most talented musicians formed The Move, and Roy became their musical leader. The Move quickly entered the charts, and were famous for spectacular stage shows. After the departure of Move's singer Carl Wayne, Roy was pushed into the front position. He acquired a wild image wearing some sort of Indian disguise. Since Move members could not agree on the musical direction, and perhaps also because of their weird stage shows, the musical potential of the group was underestimated. Wood therefore developed plans to realize his ambitions in separate projects.
He loved sound experiments, and complex arrangements, and was in this respect one of the most progressive musicians of his time. He was a proponent of combining rock'n'roll music with other styles, such as classical music, or the big band sound. In his bands, string and brass players were integrated members. When The Move was still on tour, he founded, together with his band colleagues Jeff Lynne and Bev Bevan, the Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), which was later led to big commercial success by Lynne. ELO broadened the basis of a rock band by adding a string section.
ELO's early live performances were chaotic, and after increasing musical and personal differences with Jeff Lynne, Roy left and formed a new group, Wizzard, which assembled cellists, brass players and a bigger rhythm section, with several drummers and percussonists. In parallel, he also released several solo albums, exploring further musical directions. His 1973 album, Boulders, was an almost entirely solo effort, right down to the sleeve artwork. A second solo album Mustard (1975), including contributions by Phil Everly and Annie Haslam, was less successful.
The line-up of albums was always fascinating, because of the large number of instruments Roy, and his band members, were playing. Roy himself is mentioned as singer as well as player of guitars, bass guitar, sitar, cello, double bass, saxophones, clarinet, trombone, tuba, recorders, oboe, French horn, banjo, mandolin, bassoon, drums, percussion, vibraphone, bagpipes and keyboards.
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Forever
Roy Wood Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Walk out the door
And If I ever change her
Just couldn't take any more
And I wonder who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, Forever.
How can you tell your sweetheartIt's turned out hard to be true
She's just a mama's baby
Maybe I'll find a girl new
But I wonder who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, Forever.
Up, down like a roller coaster
With your feet set on the ground
There ain't no use in me turning you down
Ah ah
I found my teenage heartaches
Here right next door to a dream
This movie ends tomorrow
I'll need a new movie queen
And I wonder who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, Forever
Ooh ooh, Forever
Ah ah, oh darling
Ooh ooh, Forever
Ah ah, ooh ooh
I saw my brand new baby
Walk out the door
And if I ever change her
Just couldn't take any more
And I wonder who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, Forever.
Oh yeah and I wonder
Who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, Forever.
I wonder who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, Forever
Ah ah, oh
And I wonder who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, oh oh oh oh....
The song Forever by Roy Wood is a heart-wrenching track that portrays the feelings of a person who has just been left by their lover. The lyrics start with a powerful statement where the singer reveals that they have just seen their brand new baby walk out the door. The use of 'baby' in the context of a lover suggests that they were deeply attached to the person and that their departure would leave wounds that would be hard to heal. The singer then confesses that they couldn't change her behavior towards him and hence decided to let go. The lines "If I ever change her, just couldn't take any more," in this context, indicate that the singer was ready to compromise on their principles and beliefs for the sake of the person he loved.
However, the track then takes a turn towards self-doubt where the singer wonders who the person who could replace his lover would be. He questions if he would be able to trust again or if the new person would hurt him the same way his lover did. The track ends on a note of resignation and this time, the singer finally lets go of his lover by saying, "Oh yeah, and I wonder who she'll be if she'll put the hurt on me, forever, forever."
Overall, the lyrics of Forever take us on an emotional journey of love, hurt, self-doubt, and finally, resignation. Roy Wood uses heart-wrenching lyrics and catchy melodies that make the song a classic even today.
Line by Line Meaning
I saw my brand new baby
Walk out the door
I watched my new love leave me, an action that made me feel abandoned and heartbroken.
And If I ever change her
Just couldn't take any more
If I were to ever lose her forever, I don't know how I could handle such pain.
And I wonder who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, Forever.
I think about what my future partner might be like, and how they might also emotionally hurt me indefinitely.
How can you tell your sweetheart
It's turned out hard to be true
She's just a mama's baby
Maybe I'll find a girl new
But I wonder who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, Forever.
It's difficult to explain to a lover when the relationship inevitably fails - though I may be able to start over, my fear of being hurt again remains.
Up, down like a roller coaster
With your feet set on the ground
There ain't no use in me turning you down
Ah ah
The relationship feels like a wild ride with highs and lows, but it's hard to turn away despite the challenges.
I found my teenage heartaches
Here right next door to a dream
This movie ends tomorrow
I'll need a new movie queen
Though I was heartbroken in my youth, I've finally found someone who fit my ideals. But, like a movie, every story has an end, and I'll need someone new soon.
Ooh ooh, Forever
Ah ah, oh darling
Ooh ooh, Forever
Ah ah, ooh ooh
The repetition of 'forever' and 'ooh ooh' shows that the singer is stuck in a cycle of heartbreak and longing.
Oh yeah and I wonder
Who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, Forever.
Again, the artist ponders his future, questioning whether or not he'll experience more pain in his relationships.
I wonder who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, Forever
Ah ah, oh
And I wonder who she'll be
If she'll put the hurt on me
Forever, oh oh oh oh....
The song ends with the same thoughts of future hurt and heartbreak that pervade the lyrics.
Contributed by Joseph J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@carolparker7782
Neil Sedaka meets The Beach Boys.
@vincenthewlett4329
written produced all instuments played by Mr Roy Wood.......bloody brilliant and disgustingly ignored by the british music industry......bloody scandal imo...........