Face Down
Wild Horses Lyrics


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Fire escapes and flashing lights
Police raids and fistfights
Just like it was ten years ago
Elvis Presley on the radio
Peroxide blondes in nice blue jeans
Stiletto heels, just seventeen
'Cos two would dance and meet a boy
Falls in love with Foxy Roy, what a boy

Those fifteen suits, all custom made
Knows all the tunes in the hit parade
Made his money in the retail trade
No one around him put him in the shade
He's down to Brighton for the weekend
[?] a convoy and cavalcade
Takes his Jenny for a pillion ride
Ends up in hospital with broken pride

Face down
No sound
Knows what it's all about
Face down
Hard ground
He's got his work cut out
Over and over and over again

(solo)

Fire escapes and flashing lights
Police raids and fistfights
Just like it was ten years ago
Elvis Presley on the radio

Ten years later he's a different man
He married Jenny, got his family planned
His big excitement now's a pint or two
Still he remembers just like me and you

Face down
No sound
Knows what it's all about
He's face down
Hard ground
He's got his work cut out
Face down
No sound
Knows what it's all about
He's face down
Hard ground




He's got his work cut out
Over and over and over and over again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Wild Horses's "Face Down" paint a picture of a rough and tumble world full of fire escapes, flashing lights, police raids, and fistfights. The opening verse takes us back in time, evoking a sense of nostalgia for the way things used to be, with Elvis Presley on the radio and peroxide blondes in nice blue jeans. The chorus repeats the refrain "face down, hard ground" reflecting the violent and dangerous nature of this world.


The second verse introduces us to a character named Foxy Roy, a boy who falls in love with one of the dancing girls in a local club. The lyrics tell us that Roy is a member of a gang of fifteen men, all of whom wear custom-made suits and know all the tunes in the hit parade. Roy made his money in the retail trade, and he enjoys taking his girlfriend Jenny for a pillion ride on his motorbike.


The final verse tells us that ten years later, Roy has settled down and married Jenny, and his big excitement is now drinking a pint or two. However, the memories of his youth and the dangerous world he used to inhabit are still with him, as reflected in the chorus repeating "face down" and "hard ground."


Overall, the lyrics to "Face Down" offer a snapshot of a bygone era, full of danger and excitement, told through the lens of nostalgia and reflection.


Line by Line Meaning

Fire escapes and flashing lights
The singer is describing a scene of chaos and danger, with fire escapes and flashing lights suggesting some kind of emergency or danger.


Police raids and fistfights
The danger is confirmed by the line, 'police raids and fistfights,' indicating that something illegal may be taking place.


Just like it was ten years ago
The singer notes that this scene is not new, but a repeat of something that happened ten years ago.


Elvis Presley on the radio
The reference to Elvis Presley on the radio locates the scene in a specific time period, likely the 1950s or 60s.


Peroxide blondes in nice blue jeans
The artist describes the appearance of some of the people at the scene, highlighting their glamorous or fashionable appearance.


Stiletto heels, just seventeen
The singer notes that some of the women there are very young, but dress very provocatively.


'Cos two would dance and meet a boy
This line suggests that some of these young women are there to dance and flirt with the boys or men at the scene.


Falls in love with Foxy Roy, what a boy
The line 'falls in love with Foxy Roy' indicates that one of the young women has taken a particular interest in a boy named Roy.


Those fifteen suits, all custom made
The scene shifts to another location where the artist describes a group of wealthy men, noting their sharp and expensive suits.


Knows all the tunes in the hit parade
The artist suggests that these men are cultured and knowledgeable, with an interest in pop music and popular culture.


Made his money in the retail trade
The singer further describes these wealthy men, suggesting that they are successful businessmen who have made their fortune in retail.


No one around him put him in the shade
This line suggests that the men in question are very successful and powerful, with no one able to match their achievements.


He's down to Brighton for the weekend
The scene shifts to another location, this time on the coast, with Brighton being a seaside resort town in England.


[?] a convoy and cavalcade
This line is unclear, but may suggest that the wealthy man in question is attending an event or travelling in style with a group of people.


Takes his Jenny for a pillion ride
The wealthy man is spending time with his partner, named Jenny, taking her for a ride on the back of his motorbike.


Ends up in hospital with broken pride
This line suggests that something goes wrong with the ride, and the man ends up in the hospital with some kind of injury and shame.


Face down
The refrain of the song begins with the line 'face down,' which seems to suggest a moment of defeat, vulnerability, or humiliation.


No sound
This line deepens the moment of defeat, suggesting that the character is unable to speak or cry out.


Knows what it's all about
The singer suggests that this moment of defeat or humiliation is a familiar one, and that the character understands it well.


Hard ground
The image of 'hard ground' reinforces the idea of a painful fall or failure.


He's got his work cut out
This line suggests that the character has a difficult task ahead, possibly in the form of recovering from his injuries or regaining his self-respect.


Over and over and over again
The repetition of this phrase at the end of the refrain suggests that the character will continue to face moments of defeat and humiliation again and again.


(solo)
This line suggests that the music will shift to a solo, instrumental section.


Ten years later he's a different man
The story jumps ahead ten years to check in on one of the characters, indicating that time has passed and things have changed.


He married Jenny, got his family planned
The character in question, who was in the hospital ten years ago, has now settled down and started a family with his partner Jenny.


His big excitement now's a pint or two
The character's interests and priorities have shifted since the earlier scene of chaos, with his idea of a good time now being a simple drink or two.


Still he remembers just like me and you
The lyrics conclude by suggesting that even though the character has moved on, he still remembers the events of ten years ago, just as the singer (and the listener) do too.




Writer(s): Brian Robertson, James Bain

Contributed by Lincoln B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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