The album, The Jazz Age, was released on 26 November 2012 as a 10" vinyl, 12" vinyl, on CD and as a digital download on BMG Rights Management. The album is co-produced by Ferry and Rhett Davies, with arrangements by Colin Good. The artwork for The Jazz Age album consists of illustrations by the renowned French poster artist Paul Colin (1892–1985).
Reason Or Rhyme
The Bryan Ferry Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the evening of your years
No other love could stem the tide
Of the loneliness I hide
Open your heart and let me live
All the promises I could give
The sun and moon and all the stars
In a world of fading sadness
An emerald ring, a photograph
That look in your eyes the brush of your cheek
These are the moments in life that I seek
No reason or rhyme, no presence of mind
Just a dance to the music of time
Why must you shed such tender tears
In the evening of your years
No other love could stem the tide
Of the loneliness I hide
Inside out, upside down
Obscured by clouds, or underground
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass
Wherever you are, whenever you speak
These are the moments in my life that I seek
No reason or rhyme, by chance or design
Just a dance to the music of time
Open your heart and let me live
All the promises I could give
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass
No reason or rhyme, by chance or design
Just a dance to the music of time
The lyrics to The Bryan Ferry Orchestra's song "Reason or Rhyme" appears to be a love song, revolving around the idea of why someone is shedding "tender tears" in the evening of their years. The singer of the song is asking the person to open their heart to them so they can live, promising to offer the sun, moon, and all the stars. The song seems to be about wanting to be with someone through their sadness and loneliness, and cherishing the small moments shared in life.
The line "no reason or rhyme" seems to suggest that the singer is willing to love the person regardless of any specific reasoning or planning - they simply want to dance to the music of time with them. The second verse adds further depth to this idea, with the singer acknowledging that life can be obscured by clouds or underground, but the person they address is still someone who they see as being walking amongst the stars. The song seems to be a plea for the person to open themselves up to love and companionship, and to appreciate the moments shared together, even if there is no clear reason or explanation.
Line by Line Meaning
Why must you shed such tender tears
I'm curious why you cry so softly
In the evening of your years
As you grow older and wiser
No other love could stem the tide
Nothing else can stop the waves of sadness
Of the loneliness I hide
That I keep locked inside
Open your heart and let me live
Allow me to enter your life
All the promises I could give
I have so much I can offer
The sun and moon and all the stars
The universe itself bows to you
They bow down to you whenever you pass
Honoring your presence wherever you go
In a world of fading sadness
Amidst a realm of dimming despair
An emerald ring, a photograph
A precious jewel and a treasured memory
That look in your eyes the brush of your cheek
The expressions on your face, so gentle and sweet
These are the moments in life that I seek
These are the experiences I wish to cherish
No reason or rhyme, no presence of mind
Without any explanation or logical sense
Just a dance to the music of time
It all comes down to enjoying the fleeting moments of life
Inside out, upside down
Completely turned around and confused
Obscured by clouds, or underground
Hiding from view, beneath the surface
Wherever you are, whenever you speak
Your mere presence and voice are cherished
No reason or rhyme, by chance or design
The beauty of life cannot always be explained
Just a dance to the music of time
We must embrace every moment and simply enjoy the ride
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRYAN FERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Honey Bee
Beautiful song..❤️
Why must you shed such tender tears
In the evening of your years
No other love could stem the tide
Of the loneliness I hide
Open your heart and let me live
All the promises I could give
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass
In a world of fading sadness
An emerald ring, a photograph
That look in your eyes the brush of your cheek
These are the moments in life that I seek
No reason or rhyme, no presence of mind
Just a dance to the music of time
Why must you shed such tender tears
In the evening of your years
No other love could stem the tide
Of the loneliness I hide
Inside out, upside down
Obscured by clouds, or underground
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass
Wherever you are, whenever you speak
These are the moments in my life that I seek
No reason or rhyme, by chance or design
Just a dance to the music of time
Open your heart and let me live
All the promises I could give
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass
No reason or rhyme, by chance or design
Just a dance to the music of time
Jacobus iane
Why must you shed such tender tears
In the evening of your years
No other love could stem the tide
Of the loneliness I hide
Open your heart and let me live
All the promises I could give
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass
In a world of fading sadness
An emerald ring, a photograph
That look in your eyes the brush of your cheek
These are the moments in life that I seek
No reason or rhyme, no presence of mind
Just a dance to the music of time
Why must you shed such tender tears
In the evening of your years
No other love could stem the tide
Of the loneliness I hide
Inside out, upside down
Obscured by clouds, or underground
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass
Wherever you are, whenever you…
No reason or rhyme, by chance or design
Just a dance to the music of time
Open your heart and let me live
All the promises I could give
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass
No reason or rhyme, no presence of mind
Just a dance to the music of time.
Mars
Wow... the almost discordant sound of the trumpet and honky tonk elements superimposed over the gut wrenching melancholia of the main notes, coupled with the tenderness in Ferry's voice and lyrics... frankly, one of the most moving pieces of music I have ever heard.
Pavane Oliveiro
This is perfect. The perfect musical distillation that allows for the poignancy of these lyrics. My heart strings are breaking. The Bryan Ferry Orchestra and what Bryan Ferry is doing now is just so utterly beautiful. From the first minute of Roxy up to this very minute everything is fantastic but somehow this album is the most beautiful. We have grown up with him and now this feels so intimate. The perfect touch. He has made a perfect harmony with this album. How generous he has been sharing all his brilliance with us. How lucky we are.
Silverprint1441
💜
David Flett
You've said it all. How lovely. God bless you
Newell bate
I agree you could not have said it better
Helene Steinberg
Yes a unique style that feels so so right!
chumati
No para de sorprenderme este pedazo artista ❤
Honey Bee
Beautiful song..❤️
Why must you shed such tender tears
In the evening of your years
No other love could stem the tide
Of the loneliness I hide
Open your heart and let me live
All the promises I could give
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass
In a world of fading sadness
An emerald ring, a photograph
That look in your eyes the brush of your cheek
These are the moments in life that I seek
No reason or rhyme, no presence of mind
Just a dance to the music of time
Why must you shed such tender tears
In the evening of your years
No other love could stem the tide
Of the loneliness I hide
Inside out, upside down
Obscured by clouds, or underground
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass
Wherever you are, whenever you speak
These are the moments in my life that I seek
No reason or rhyme, by chance or design
Just a dance to the music of time
Open your heart and let me live
All the promises I could give
The sun and moon and all the stars
They bow down to you whenever you pass
No reason or rhyme, by chance or design
Just a dance to the music of time
primeq
there's something special about how clean, precise and perfect the trumpet playing is. Ferry and his orchestra have mastered the art. Reminds me of something my father-in law told me about growing up and living in the East end of London from the early 40s, and big band musicians he met. It was about how intensely they had to practice to keep their place. A trumpeter he knew said he had to practice 6+ hours a day just to keep his seat. As the second trumpet . . . . ouch . .. . in a mid-range big band too, not one of the big names
Catherine Atkinson
Reminds me of my life just a photograph