The Rollers recorded three albums in a grasp towards artistic legitimacy between 1978 and 1981. His (Faure's) first outing with the band, "Elevator", turned out to be an incredible collection of finely tuned power pop. At the time, audiences failed to take notice.
Realizing that they needed to move quickly on another album, outtakes from the "Elevator" sessions were salvaged, embellished and eventually used for the bulk of their follow up, "Voxx". Arista chose not to release "Voxx' in the states or in the UK. Presuming that since BCR's biggest fanbase was in Japan, the Asian market was their natural target.
"Ricochet", The Rollers' final offering is (was), at best, a lukewarm affair. Aside from a handful of strong tracks, the album is relatively forgettable. Within a few years, the original lineup reunited to the delight of their massive Japanese following. (Exerpted from Robots for Ronnie
Elevator
The Rollers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Waiting for their celebration, waiting for the call
Ride up to the tenth floor where the mannequins are high
Taking their erection with your eye.
Ride, my elevator
Don't say no, my escalator, ride
Ride, my elevator
Ride, my elevator, ride.
Making out your every movement, taking in your mind
Taking in their animation, eyes that were so blind
Time has passed so slow, now the mannequins are free
Take a look around, what do you see ?
Ride, my elevator
Don't say no, my escalator, ride
Ride, my elevator
Come with me, my oscillator
Ride, my elevator, ride.
Ride, my elevator
Don't say no, my escalator, ride
Ride, my elevator
Come with me, my oscillator
Ride, my elevator, ride.
Ride, my elevator
Don't say no, my escalator, ride
Ride, my elevator
Come with me, my oscillator
Ride, my elevator, ride.
Ride, ride, elevator, ride
Ride, ride, elevator, ride
Ride, ride, elevator, ride
Ride, ride, elevator, ride
The Rollers' "Elevator" is a song that depicts a group of people waiting for something to happen. They're impatiently waiting for their celebration, but it seems that they're stuck in one place, with their backs against the wall. As they're waiting, they take a ride up to the tenth floor, where they encounter mannequins that are set up in a provocative manner. The lyrics suggest that they're taking pleasure in looking at these mannequins, even though they're aware that it's inappropriate.
The chorus of the song is inviting the listener to join in the ride. The elevator doesn't stop, and it's going higher and higher. The ride is an escape from their mundane reality, and the song suggests that by taking this ride, they'll encounter something exciting and unexpected. The lines "Come with me, my oscillator" imply that the ride is not just a physical journey, but it's also an emotional or spiritual one.
The overall meaning of the song is somewhat ambiguous. It seems to suggest that the riders are stuck in a boring and uneventful life, and they're looking for something to make them feel alive. The provocative imagery of the mannequins and the suggestive language hint at a sexual undertone. Perhaps the elevator ride is a metaphor for a sexual experience. Alternatively, it could be interpreted as a call to take risks and embrace the unknown.
Line by Line Meaning
Laughing at their situation, backs against the wall
Despite being in a difficult situation, they are enjoying it and finding it amusing. They have limited options and feel trapped.
Waiting for their celebration, waiting for the call
They are hoping for a moment of joy or accomplishment that they are expecting to happen soon, but they are not sure when exactly it will happen.
Ride up to the tenth floor where the mannequins are high
They are going up in the elevator to a higher floor where the mannequins are displayed. The mannequins are elevated on a platform, implying that they are above the people observing them.
Taking their erection with your eye.
They are observing the mannequins in a sexual manner, metaphorically showing that they are taking pleasure from looking at them.
Making out your every movement, taking in your mind
They are watching and paying attention to every little detail of someone's actions and mannerisms. They are trying to understand the person's thoughts and feelings.
Taking in their animation, eyes that were so blind
They are observing someone's actions and mannerisms and finally able to see things that were previously hidden or unnoticed by them. They realize that they had been blind to certain aspects of the person before.
Time has passed so slow, now the mannequins are free
They feel like time has been moving very slowly, but now things are changing. They are noticing that the mannequins that used to be static and confined are now able to move freely.
Take a look around, what do you see ?
They are asking someone to look at their surroundings and really observe what is happening. They are trying to get the person to pay attention and notice things they might have missed before.
Ride, my elevator
They are encouraging someone to take a ride in the elevator with them.
Don't say no, my escalator, ride
They are urging someone to not refuse their offer and instead take a ride on the elevator with them.
Come with me, my oscillator
They are inviting someone to join them in a rhythmical, back-and-forth motion, much like that of an oscillator.
Ride, my elevator, ride.
They are repeating their initial invitation for someone to ride the elevator with them.
Ride, ride, elevator, ride
They are repeating their invitation, emphasizing the fun and excitement of riding the elevator together.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERIC FAULKNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ClassicRockFilms
Duncan really added a lot of musicality to the band
@user-sl7gg9ms6d
think so
@patriciasnyder2268
@@user-sl7gg9ms6d, I like that response 🙂
@GenkiSugiru
I've never seen the "Rollers" perform with Duncan and I was totally unaware of this lineup before today. This is an excellent line up. Duncan is great. And the songs and music are good and quite evolved from their earlier sound. A shame they didn't get more air play and coverage during this era.
@ailianapushkar5338
They were all very talented. Eric is amazing . Duncan was a good addition.
@RHall381
Awesome. Duncan was an excellent addition to the band when Les left. Yes, their sound turned more "grown up," but they changed with the times, which was good. I loved both bands equally!
@williambeckman324
They obviously were in tune to what was on the Horizon.
I loved the "Strangers in the Wind" LP with some rocking songs in between a nicely sequenced "Adult, Contemporary Pop, feel album.
With the departure of Les, the group did a fantastic recreation of themselves with the introduction of Duncan!
@leeanne4638
Leslie was fired, after the Japan incident.
@patriciasnyder2268
I’ve heard that with the departure of Les, the band came crashing down! I can see here that that simple isn’t true! 3 additional years with Duncan. Although to me, The Bay City Rollers, or Rollers will always be with Les Mckeown as the lead singer🎤 ! After Les’s departure the band just wasn’t there for me 😮. Hearing about Tam Patton makes me want to cry for them 😢. Although at the same time I’m not that surprised 😯. I had a friend who was a freelance photographer, and he used to get me backstage at concerts, just never the Bay City Rollers. I did have 2 friends who did meet and went to the hotel with them (no not that). Anyway I was told by my friend that he thought something was wrong 😑.
@patriciasnyder2268
@@leeanne4638, What was “the Japan incident”??