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.
Rollin' Home
Status Quo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
For the sake of better pay
In a foreign land twelve centuries back in time
Where the sun keeps burning down
On the hole drilled in the ground
And I dream of the girl I left behind
Well I signed the dotted line
And I thought in a few years time
But everything went wrong
And I just don't know how long
They will make me stay to pay for my crime
And I wish I was
Rollin' home, rollin' home
Home to the place I long to be
Oh, oh, oh, rollin' home, rollin' home
There's someone waiting there for me
There's a law that rules this land
That I just didn't understand
I didn't know that I was doing wrong
But they don't seem to care
And they all do it when they're over there
But here your face is justice of their god
And I wish I was
Rollin' home, rollin' home
Home to the place I long to be
Oh, oh, oh, rollin' home, rollin' home
There's someone waiting there for me
All the money that I've saved
To pay for better days
Just can't make up for how I miss you so
There's no consolation prize
Oh, but when I close my eyes
I'm dreaming of you in our new home
And I wish I was
Rollin' home, rollin' home
Home to the place I long to be
Oh, oh, oh, rollin' home, rollin' home
There's someone waiting there for me
Rollin' home there's someone waiting for me
Rollin' home there's someone waiting for me
"Rollin' Home" is a song by the British rock band Status Quo from their 1986 album In the Army Now. The lyrics describe the emotions of a soldier who has left his home in search of a better life and work, but finds himself in a foreign land and missing his loved one. The soldier regrets his decision to leave and wishes to return home to the place where he longs to be.
The lyrics also touch upon a theme of injustice as the soldier is punished for a crime he didn't understand in a land where the laws are different from what he is used to. He realizes that there's no consolation prize for the money he has saved up, and the only thing he wants is to be reunited with his loved one. The chorus of the song expresses his yearning for home, and the hope that someone is waiting for him there.
The song highlights the struggles and sacrifices that soldiers face when they leave their homes and fight a war in a foreign land. It also highlights the difficulties of adapting to a new culture and the emotional toll it can take on a person. The song is a heartfelt expression of a soldier's longing to return to the place he calls home, and be reunited with his loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
I left my home one day
Narrator left his home to find a better paying job.
For the sake of better pay
Narrator left his home for a job that paid better than his old one.
In a foreign land twelve centuries back in time
Narrator traveled to a place that felt like it was twelve centuries back in time.
Where the sun keeps burning down
The sun is always hot and shining in this foreign place.
On the hole drilled in the ground
The sun shines on the hole drilled in the ground where the artist works.
And I dream of the girl I left behind
Narrator thinks about the girl he left back at home.
Well I signed the dotted line
Narrator signed a contract for his job.
And I thought in a few years time
Narrator thought he'd be done with his job in a few years and head back home.
I'd be home and we can start a brand new life
Narrator thought he'd be back home soon and start a new life with his girl.
But everything went wrong
Unexpected things happened that changed the course of the artist's plans.
And I just don't know how long
Narrator doesn't know how long he will be away from home.
They will make me stay to pay for my crime
Narrator has been punished for something he didn't know was wrong and is stuck in this foreign place.
And I wish I was
Rollin' home, rollin' home
Home to the place I long to be
Oh, oh, oh, rollin' home, rollin' home
There's someone waiting there for me
Narrator wishes he could leave and go back home where his loved one is waiting for him.
There's a law that rules this land
There are strict laws that are enforced in this foreign place.
That I just didn't understand
Narrator wasn't aware of the laws and rules of this place.
I didn't know that I was doing wrong
Narrator was unknowingly breaking the law.
But they don't seem to care
Officials don't seem to care about the artist's ignorance.
And they all do it when they're over there
Others may break the same laws in the foreign place, but officials only punish those who they catch.
But here your face is justice of their god
Justice seems to be arbitrary and decided based on the officials' whims rather than having a solid basis.
All the money that I've saved
To pay for better days
Just can't make up for how I miss you so
Narrator's savings haven't made up for how much he misses his loved one.
There's no consolation prize
Oh, but when I close my eyes
I'm dreaming of you in our new home
Although there is no real comfort or prize, the artist still dreams of being with his loved one in a new home.
Rollin' home there's someone waiting for me
Narrator longs to go back home where his loved one is waiting for him.
Rollin' home there's someone waiting for me
Narrator reiterates his desire to return home to the one he loves.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALAN CHARLES LANCASTER, FRANCIS DOMINIC NICHOLAS ROSSI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ray Phillips
I left my home one day
For the sake of better pay
In a foreign land twelve centuries back in time
Where the sun keeps burning down
On the hole drilled in the ground
And I dream of the girl I left behind
Well I signed the dotted line
And I thought in a few years time
I'd be home and we can start a brand new life
But everything went wrong
And I just don't know how long
They will make me stay to pay for my crime
And I wish I was
Rollin' home, rollin' home
Home to the place I long to be
Oh, oh, oh, rollin' home, rollin' home
There's someone waiting there for me
There's a law that rules this land
That I just didn't understand
I didn't know that I was doing wrong
But they don't seem to care
And they all do it when they're over there
But here your face is justice of their god
And I wish I was
Rollin' home, rollin' home
Home to the place I long to be
Oh, oh, oh, rollin' home, rollin' home
There's someone waiting there for me
All the money that I've saved
To pay for better days
Just can't make up for how I miss you so
There's no consolation prize
Oh, but when I close my eyes
I'm dreaming of you in our new home
And I wish I was
Rollin' home, rollin' home
Home to the place I long to be
Oh, oh, oh, rollin' home, rollin' home
There's someone waiting there for me
Rollin' home there's someone waiting for me
Rollin' home there's someone waiting for me
andre f
Tell me whatever you want..they really rock ! No darkness, nothing depressive, just straight ahead rock&roll, really enjoyable and refreshing. Keep on SQ !
Ray Phillips
I left my home one day
For the sake of better pay
In a foreign land twelve centuries back in time
Where the sun keeps burning down
On the hole drilled in the ground
And I dream of the girl I left behind
Well I signed the dotted line
And I thought in a few years time
I'd be home and we can start a brand new life
But everything went wrong
And I just don't know how long
They will make me stay to pay for my crime
And I wish I was
Rollin' home, rollin' home
Home to the place I long to be
Oh, oh, oh, rollin' home, rollin' home
There's someone waiting there for me
There's a law that rules this land
That I just didn't understand
I didn't know that I was doing wrong
But they don't seem to care
And they all do it when they're over there
But here your face is justice of their god
And I wish I was
Rollin' home, rollin' home
Home to the place I long to be
Oh, oh, oh, rollin' home, rollin' home
There's someone waiting there for me
All the money that I've saved
To pay for better days
Just can't make up for how I miss you so
There's no consolation prize
Oh, but when I close my eyes
I'm dreaming of you in our new home
And I wish I was
Rollin' home, rollin' home
Home to the place I long to be
Oh, oh, oh, rollin' home, rollin' home
There's someone waiting there for me
Rollin' home there's someone waiting for me
Rollin' home there's someone waiting for me
Jay Khwaja
In Memory of Rick Parfitt (1948 - 2016), Keep Rocking Forever 😢🎸🕊
Ashwen Rengma
One of the greatest rock and roll band... I really like the song.
Jack O'Mahony
That’s what you call ROCK N ROLL🤟🏻❤️
Keith Brown
Can't beat a bit of status quo 🙂
Juru
Status quo for ever. Rip Parfit .
norman thomson
This takes me back to the early eighties when i was in Jeddah SA. working for" Saudia." We played a lot of darts, partied, and loved the "Quo", and I too dreamed of the girl i left behind. Any former expats out there still remember "Sharbatley Village" and "Saudia City" ?. This classic brings it all back, Happy days !!! Great video, many thanks for posting.
My Love
Oh my god ,my childhood is back
psychoweasel
What are you talking about???
This is MY childhood ! 🙂