They began as a rock and roll freakbeat band called The Spectres. By 1967, with very little commercial success, they discovered psychedelia and changed their name to Traffic (later Traffic Jam, to avoid confusion with Steve Winwood's Traffic.) At this time the line-up also included organist Roy Lynes and drummer John Coghlan. Late in 1967 they recruited second guitarist Rick Parfitt and became The Status Quo, scoring Top 10 singles with Pictures Of Matchstick Men and Ice in The Sun. "Pictures of Matchstick Men" remains the only Top 40 hit single the group has ever charted in the United States. They have never achieved the same level of success there, that they have enjoyed in their home country.
After their second album Spare Parts they decided to change into a heavy boogie rock band. During the seventies they became one of the UK's leading rock bands, gaining a faithful following due to their excellent live gigs. They showed a great amount of energy during this decade and in the early 80s. They and are best known for songs from this era such as Paper Plane (1972), Caroline (1973), Down Down (1975), John Fogerty's Rockin' All Over The World (1977) and Whatever You Want (1979). Down Down topped the UK charts in January 1975 (their only British No. 1 single to date).
Lynes left in 1971, to be replaced initially by guest keyboard players on album, including Jimmy Horowitz and John Parker, and later on a more permanent basis on record and stage by ex-The Herd and Judas Jump member Andy Bown, though as he was contracted as a solo artist with EMI, he was not credited as a full-time member until 1982. Coghlan left in late 1981, to be replaced by Pete Kircher from 1960s band Honeybus. This short-lived lineup played its last gig in 1984 at the Milton Keynes Bowl, and reformed briefly to open the Live Aid charity event at Wembley in July 1985.
That year Rossi recorded and released two solo singles with longtime writing partner Bernie Frost. Parfitt was also working on a solo album which is still unreleased, although some tracks have been re-recorded by Status Quo and released as 'B' sides. Bass player John Edwards and drummer Jeff Rich, both ex-Judie Tzuke Band and Climax Blues Band, assisted Parfitt in the studio.
In the summer of 1985 Rossi, Parfitt and Bown, along with Edwards and Rich started work on a new album. Lancaster, who was living in Australia at the time, took out a legal injunction to stop the band using the Status Quo name on any records. The injunction was lifted after a court hearing in January 1986. Lancaster had had increasing musical differences with the group, notably during the sessions for the 1983 album Back to Back over two tracks which became hit singles for the group around that time. He had written Ol' Rag Blues, but was angered when the producers chose to release a version with Rossi singing lead vocal in preference to the one sung by himself, and he objected to Marguerita Time, which he thought unduly corny and too pop-oriented for them. He remained in Australia, forming a band called Party Boys, who had no success in Britain.
The commercially successful In The Army Now album was released in 1986, and the band continues to this day with the revised personnel. Rich left in 2000 and was replaced by Matthew Letley. Andrew Bown took a year off at the same time for family reasons and was replaced on stage by Paul Hirsh, formerly of Voyager.
According to Songfacts.com, Quo's 29th studio album, Quid Pro Quo, was released in a deluxe format exclusively at Tesco on 30 May 2011. The regular edition was released elsewhere a week later on 7th June. The LP debuted at #10 in the UK charts, the band's best chart placing for an original album since Don't Stop peaked at #2 in 1996.
Although Quo still release new material every few years, recent years have seen them release a series of greatest hits compilations and covers albums. One of the band's most recent original albums, Heavy Traffic, shows a return to classic form not seen since the late 1970s.
Status Quo have often been characterized, perhaps unfairly, as producing very simple songs, always in the same format: 4/4 rhythm, three chord structure. However, the recordings from their first decade demonstrate a diversity in musical style and complexity to rival most of the late 60s UK bands, and several of their singles and album tracks from later show considerable subtlety, not least the mainly acoustic 1979 single Living On An Island, and the 1980 album track, later a single, Rock'n'Roll, which is ironically one of the least rock'n'roll-like songs they have ever recorded.
They have a loyal group of fans in the United Kingdom, where they have enjoyed more hits than any other group in rock and roll history (over 60 as of mid-2005), as well as a big following in Europe, notably in The Netherlands.
In September 2005 a contestant on the long-running BBC television quiz programme Mastermind chose Status Quo as his specialist subject. That same year they took part in the long running ITV soap opera Coronation Street in a storyline which involved them being sued by the layabout Les Battersby.
In December 2005 it was announced that Parfitt was undergoing tests for throat cancer. All subsequent dates of the UK tour were cancelled as a result. However on 20th December it was further announced that the growths found in Parfitt's throat were benign and had been removed.
Quo have even been the subject of a Doctoral Thesis, purporting to demonstrate that their music composition skills could be favourably compared to the likes of the classical music composers, such as Beethoven!
In Autumn 2008 German techno legend Scooter released new single Jump that rock together with Status Quo.
On 1 February 2016, it was officially announced that Status Quo, in addition to the spring and summer dates already scheduled, would tour Europe starting in October. The final dates would take place in the UK towards the end of the year, after which the group would retire from playing 'electric' tours.
On 28 October 2016, Rick Parfitt permanently retired from live performances after suffering a heart attack earlier the same year. On 24 December 2017, he died in hospital in Marbella, Spain as a result of severe infection, after suffering an injury to his shoulder. Parfitt's funeral was held at Woking Crematorium on 19 January 2017. Irish guitarist Richie Malone, who had substituted for Parfitt during some 2016 live shows, took his place on rhythm guitar.
Roll Over
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seeing the note written in ink pinned to the door
Taking a drink cool from the fridge from the table
I drank a toast you were the most the night before
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over it's a long way where I've been
Roll over lay down and let me in
When I get home tomorrow night after this morning
Show me the care you showed in the note the night before
Maybe I won't take a drink from the table
Reckon I'll lay me straight down the floor
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over it's a long way where I've been
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over lay down
When I get home tomorrow night after this morning
Show me the care you showed in the note the night before
Maybe I won't take a drink from the table
Reckon I'll lay me straight down the floor
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over it's a long way where I've been
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over lay down
The song Roll Over Lay Down by Status Quo is a classic rock and roll number that primarily speaks of a man's desire to be let into his lover's life. The singer of the song had a wild night and returned early in the morning only to find a note from his lover pinned to the door. The note shows that the man was cared for and appreciated by his lover the night before. The man, in turn, raises a glass and toasts to his lover while expressing his desire to be let in, both figuratively and literally.
The chorus of the song, "Roll over lay down and let me in" is repeated several times and is a metaphor for the man's desire to be let into his lover's life. The lyrics also emphasize the distance the man has traveled before returning home as he goes on to sing, "Roll over, it's a long way where I've been."
The song's final verse repeats the same sentiment as the first, with the man expressing his desire to be cared for by his lover again. The lyrics suggest that he might not take a drink from the table when he returns, implying a sense of introspection and the desire for a deeper, more meaningful connection.
Overall, Roll Over Lay Down is a song that captures the spirit of rock and roll, with its catchy lyrics and lively instrumental. It speaks of the wildness and charm of youth while also exploring themes of desire and emotional connection.
Line by Line Meaning
When I got home that night early one morning
Arriving home very late, or very early in the morning, I found a note on the door written in ink.
Seeing the note written in ink pinned to the door
The person found a handwritten note, attached to the door with a pin.
Taking a drink cool from the fridge from the table
After reading the note, the person took a cold drink from the fridge, which was on the table.
I drank a toast you were the most the night before
The person raised their glass in honor of the person who wrote the note, acknowledging that they were 'the most' the previous night.
Roll over lay down and let me in
The singer is asking someone to move over and make room for them in bed.
Roll over it's a long way where I've been
The singer is implying that they have been through a lot, and asking the person in bed to make room for them.
When I get home tomorrow night after this morning
The person is saying that they will be back home later, after a long night of being out or possibly after a long day of work.
Show me the care you showed in the note the night before
The person is asking the other person to show them the same kindness and thoughtfulness that they showed in the note left on the door.
Maybe I won't take a drink from the table
The person is suggesting that they might not immediately reach for a drink from the table when they get home.
Reckon I'll lay me straight down the floor
The person is saying that they will probably just lie down on the floor to rest when they get home.
Roll over lay down and let me in
The singer is asking someone to move over and make room for them in bed.
Roll over it's a long way where I've been
The singer is implying that they have been through a lot, and asking the person in bed to make room for them.
Roll over lay down and let me in
The singer is asking someone to move over and make room for them in bed.
Roll over lay down
The singer is urging the other person to roll over and lay down so that they can rest and be close to each other in bed.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALAN CHARLES LANCASTER, FRANCIS DOMINIC NICHOLAS ROSSI, BOB YOUNG, COUGHLAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Diego Dark
When I got home that night early one morning
Seeing the note written in ink pinned to the door
Drinking the drink cold from the fridge on the table
I drank a toast you were the most the night before
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over it's a long way where I've been
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over lay down
When I get home tomorrow night after this morning
Show me the care you showed in the note the night before
Maybe I won't take a drink from the table
Reckon I'll lay me straight down on the floor
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over it's a long way where I've been
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over lay down
When I get home tomorrow night after this morning
Show me the day, show me the note the night before
Maybe I won't take a drink from the table
Reckon I'll lay me straight down on the floor
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over it's a long way where I've been
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over lay down
Kees de Wit
When I got home that night early one morning
Seeing the note written in ink pinned to the door
Drinking the drink cold from the fridge on the table
I drank a toast you were the most the night before
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over it's a long way where I've been
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over lay down
When I get home tomorrow night after this morning
Show me the care you showed in the note the night before
Maybe I won't take a drink from the table
Reckon I'll lay me straight down on the floor
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over it's a long way where I've been
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over lay down
When I get home tomorrow night after this morning
Show me the day, show me the note the night before
Maybe I won't take a drink from the table
Reckon I'll lay me straight down on the floor
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over it's a long way where I've been
Roll over lay down and let me in
Roll over lay down
Alan Strom
G'day, I took my younger Brother to see QUO in 2006 at The Hordern Pavilion in Sydney.
All my life he has criticised and put shit on QUO for being basic 12 Bar Blues Rock.
Then at this gig he became an expert on everything QUO, the music being played as the build up to the band coming on stage, he told me in a cheeky yet surprised voice was "Pictures of Matchstickmen"
He told me that ROLL OVER LAY DOWN was QUO's quintessential song.
Do we really need people telling us what we already know about the Band that we love!!!!!
He's never going to admit it, though I know he enjoyed the concert.
QUO fans know already that QUO are so confident and so brilliant and great that they support ordinary bands like QUEEN.
On this night in 2006 QUO blew DEEP PURPLE away!!!
Félix Benichou
I was six year old. One day my elder brother came back home with a new record, it was Hello ! He passed away when he was young but since then I still play this song with my Telecaster. Roll over lay down song is still my mind...
Flannigan79
Meilleur qu'in the army now
Ray Stirton
Bless you brother. I have a memory of this first listening and cool memories 👍🎸🎸🎸
Wing Chun - Simple kung fu
A sad memory with a beautiful tribute. Best wishes and good luck to your family.
Marcelo Bessa
UMA DE MINHAS BANDAS DE CABECEIRA !!!!!
CLASSSSICASSSSO !!!!!
Benedict Moss
I love how the Bass hits you between the eyes.
Ronald Sexton
They stand alone as pioneers with a sound all their own. Rick will always be one of the greatest .
Alan Strom
Yes, they are unique, one of a kind.
Luckily for us we share the Planet at the same time as them.
They are easily the most honest and genuine Rock band of all time.
It's a crying shame that Rossi had to destroy and dismantle the FRANTIC FOUR with his out of control cocaine egomania.
Lancaster and Parfitt are my two fave members.
Neil McGuire
one of the best backing guitar players gone, I have it all from Ma Kelly's Greasy Spoon up till now on vynil saw them 7 or 8 times here in Ireland jeesus what a live band, goosebumps everytime" The Best Rock and Roll Band in the land"
burner
Im irish myself bud love them i grew up with them always playing in my uncles room 247 as a kid growing up i loved them from the start