The album also earned the artist a Grammy Award in March 1988 in the category of 'Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male'. In that same year, D'Arby earned three Soul Train Award nominations for 'Male Album of the Year' (from releasing 'Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D'Arby'), 'Male Single of the Year' (from releasing "Wishing Well"), and 'Best New Artist'. Receiving immense critical praise for a work that became RIAA certified as mutli-platinum, fans worried that he may have peaked too early, but they found D'Arby determined to continue down his own unique musical path.
D'Arby was born in Manhattan, New York, and he joined the army after leaving college, serving in Elvis Presley's old regiment in Germany. He was formally discharged by the army in 1983 after going absent without leave. While in Germany, he also worked with the group The Touch, releasing an album of material called 'Love On Time' in 1984. That album was later re-issued in 1989 as 'Early Works'.
D'Arby's follow-up studio album, 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh', came out in 1989. It sold over two million copies and earned praise from fans. Many critical reviews, however, were mixed and faulted D'Arby for what they saw as wandering about musically with a purpose, and the artist's acrimonious disputes with his record label grated on him. Note that the album is often alternatively known as 'Neither Fish Nor Flesh: A Soundtrack of Love, Faith, Hope & Destruction',
The expectations placed on D'Arby's shoulders from his early success caused him to undertake some needed soul searching. It took four more years and a move to Los Angeles, California until his next project, 1993's 'Symphony or Damn', was released. Also known as 'Symphony or Damn: Exploring the Tension Inside the Sweetness', the work proved somewhat of a commercial comeback and peaked at #4 on the U.K. album charts while receiving many supportive reviews.
D'Arby had moved into more and more of a musical vibe influenced by gritty rock, often inspired by blues. In 1995, D'Arby released 'Vibrator', which largely followed his previous work in its musical direction. Sadly, his commercial prospects were judged by many critics to be waning.
During the mid-90s, the relations between the artist and his label, Columbia Records, had became strained to the braking point, leading to the artist's departure in 1996. This was followed by four-years on Java Records, during which he recorded an album titled 'Terence Trent D'Arby's Solar Return'. Said work, however, was never released. In 2000, he bought the rights to his unreleased album and left the record company as well as Lippman Entertainment, which was his then-management-team.
In 1999, D'Arby was briefly hired by INXS to replace his friend, late vocalist Michael Hutchence, so the band could play at the opening of facilities for the Sydney Olympics.
In 2001 D'Arby changed his name to Sananda Francesco Maitreya. The same year, he settled in Munich, Germany, and started his own independent record label, Treehouse Pub. The year also marked his first album release in six years, Wildcard (the unreleased "Solar Return"). The album, first available for free through his website, was later released through a one-album distribution deal with Universal Music.
In 2002 Maitreya moved to Milan, Italy, and began working on his next project, Angels & Vampires - Volume I.
In July 2005 Maitreya started working on Angels & Vampires - Volume II, he released chapter after chapter online as soon he finished recording the songs. In April 2006 he released the finished album; again via his website.
Since 2006, Maitreya has released five more studio albums, alongside touring and the release of a few live albums and various live shows to his YouTube channel. In 2020, Maitreya was featured on The Avalanches' single Reflecting Light which would later be on their 'We Will Always Love You' album, later that same year.
Trivia:
D'Arby/Maitreya appeared in in the TV series "Shake, Rattle And Roll" where he played the part of Jackie Wilson. His music has also been included on several movie soundtracks, most notably 1991's Frankie and Johnny.
Roly Poly
Terence Trent D'Arby Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Glamorous arrogance thrilled me
In the melancholy winter time
(Uncle Bill please give me time)
But this war of attrition
To prove your world ambition
Worries me
Weight you want to lose
Well if you listen to confusion
Long enough it starts to make sense
Can you hear me talking to ya?
[Chorus:]
Roly poly
Holy holy
Time is tight
Get it right
Aren't you lonely?
Roly poly
Holy holy
Time is tight
Get it right
Aren't you lonely?
Your fatalist's closet
Where blood stained deposits hide deeply
Underneath the cusp of venus fly
A terrible beauty
You are my dear of
Aphrodisiacs and diamonds
But your lonely tears trail
Your penis envy eyes
And now stop worrying about your
Weight it looks alright to me dear
Can you hear me talking to ya?
[Chorus]
All your somethings
Are turning into nothings
As you reach for
Something greed inspired
And all the hopes that
I once held as your lover
Are falling down as
My manhood loses fire
Your kinship with money
A Queen bee with honey
Suits you
As you now belong to the ever
Changing guard
A signpost for progress
A fine token lioness
Leaves me
'Cause as you say dear i'm just a
Face without a card
Well if you listen to confusion
Long enough it starts to make sense
Can you hear me talking to ya?
[Chorus]
The song "Roly Poly" by Terence Trent D'Arby is a reflective piece in which the singer expresses his concern for a lover who is too consumed with self-image and ambition. The opening lines reveal the singer's attraction to the lover's "dangerous charm" and "glamorous arrogance," but he is worried about the lover's preoccupation with proving herself in the world. He suggests that listening to confusion can make sense, perhaps implying that the lover is confused about priorities.
The chorus employs the repetition of "roly poly" and "holy holy" in a kind of incantation, as if the singer is trying to reach the lover on a deeper level. He questions whether she is lonely, suggesting that her ambition and materialism may leave her feeling unfulfilled. The second verse delves into the lover's psyche, referencing a "fatalist's closet" and "penis envy eyes," painting a picture of a woman deeply unhappy despite her external beauty and success.
Line by Line Meaning
Your dangerous charm and your Glamorous arrogance thrilled me
I was drawn to you by the combination of your dangerous charm and glamorous arrogance
In the melancholy winter time (Uncle Bill please give me time)
This happened in the sad winter season and I need time, Uncle Bill
But this war of attrition To prove your world ambition Worries me And you're too concerned with the Weight you want to lose
However, your constant battle to prove your ambition to the world makes me worried. You are also overly concerned about losing weight
Well if you listen to confusion Long enough it starts to make sense Can you hear me talking to ya?
When you listen to confusion for long enough, it can start to seem logical. Can you hear what I'm saying?
[Chorus:] Roly poly Holy holy Time is tight Get it right Aren't you lonely? Roly poly Holy holy Time is tight Get it right Aren't you lonely?
Refrain: Time is running out, you need to get your life on the right track. Are you not feeling lonely?
Your fatalist's closet Where blood stained deposits hide deeply Underneath the cusp of venus fly
You keep your fatalist thoughts hidden away, beneath your confident facade
A terrible beauty You are my dear of Aphrodisiacs and diamonds But your lonely tears trail Your penis envy eyes
Your aura is that of a beautiful, mysterious thing. Although you have everything, including sexual allure and wealth, you cry tears of loneliness and envy others
And now stop worrying about your Weight it looks alright to me dear Can you hear me talking to ya?
Please stop stressing about your weight; you look fine to me. Can you hear me?
[Chorus]
Refrain
All your somethings Are turning into nothings As you reach for Something greed inspired And all the hopes that I once held as your lover Are falling down as My manhood loses fire
Everything you've built is slipping away from your grasp as you chase after wealth without conscience. Furthermore, My love for you fades as I grow older
Your kinship with money A Queen bee with honey Suits you As you now belong to the ever Changing guard A signpost for progress A fine token lioness Leaves me 'Cause as you say dear i'm just a Face without a card
Your love for money is a perfect combination, and you fit in with the ever-changing high society. You are regarded as a symbol of progress, but I'm just a nobody who can't further your goal
Well if you listen to confusion Long enough it starts to make sense Can you hear me talking to ya?
When you listen to confusion for long enough, it can start to seem logical. Can you hear what I'm saying?
[Chorus]
Refrain
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: TERENCE TRENT D'ARBY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind