Mes Amis,

W2 finds all of this completely fascinating.

So much has informed Ferry's own writing that it is little wonder that he feels the need to retreat from time to time and do some 'ready mades' — it must be quite exhausting when he puts pen to paper!

His self penned work is a great illustration of the taciturn artist who stands outside looking in. To somebody who never belongs. Who forever travels but never arrives. His work is such a collage of so many different influences and this is what keeps it so fresh and interesting.

At one level you can take him as the stylish crooner of straight forward love songs. At another he is the amused observer of what pertains to be high society or the so called jet-set. Not taking it too seriously, coming up with some great parallels and observations whilst gently mocking the shallowness of it all. He is clearly a man with a great sense of humour and somebody who can laugh at himself.

The different chapters in his career are dominated by some of those influences more than others but one things for sure, it's never dull!

Any other favourite lyrics out there?

Salutations,
W2

Really interesting thread. Always liked

'Dressed to Kill
And guess who's dying.'

One of my favourite set of lines in a Roxy song are in Take A Chance With Me

There are three lines that the middle line seems to belong to the line either side of it....confused?? let me explain:

"People say I'm just a fool
All the world, even you
Should learn to love the way I do"

Is that:
People say I'm just a fool, all the world, even you

or is it:
All the world, even you should learn to love the way I do"

probably both.

J.O'B.

WS2 you said a lot with this gem:

"Who forever travels but never arrives."

Yes that is BF. He knows how far he's come (those incessant references to "pit ponies" but all the trappings of a Tory Country Life are something he costumes, he never truly feels that he's "become."

Hmm I'd go with the second JO'B

One thing I like about a great number of Ferry's lyrics are the absence of a traditional chorus
Virginia Plain, Pyjamarama, Dreamhome, Manifesto are just a couple of examples

Pyjamarama

Couldn't sleep a wink last night
Oh how I'd love to hold you tight
They say you have a secret life
Made sacrifice your key to paradise
Never mind, take the world by storm
Just boogaloo a rhapsody divine
Take a sweet girl just like you
How nice if only we could bill and coo
I may seem a fool to you for everything I say or think or do
How could I apologies for all those lies
The world may keeps us far apart but up in heaven, angel
You can have my heart
Diamonds may be your best friend
But like laughter after tears
I'll follow you to the end


Manifesto

I am for a life around the corner
That takes you by surprise
That comes leaves all you need
And more besides
I am for a life and time by numbers
Blast in fast 'n' low
Add 'em up, account for luck
You never know
I am into friendship and plain sailing
Through frenzied ports o' call
O shake the hand to beat the band
With love is all
Or nothing to the man who wants tomorrow
There's one in every town
A crazy guy, he'd rather die
Than be tied down
I am for the man who drives the hammer
To rock you 'til the grave
His power drill shocks
A million miles away
I am for the revolution's coming
I don't know where she's been
For those who dare because it's there
I know I've seen
Now and then I've suffered imperfection
I've studied marble flaws
And faces drawn pale and worn
By many tears

I am that I am from out of nowhere
to fight without a cause
Roots strain against the grain
With brute force you'd better
Hold out when you're in doubt
Question what you see
And when you find an answer
Bring it home to me.

Manifesto was inspired by a poem called I Am For An Art by Claes Oldenberg

http://www.vivaroxymusic.com/songs_312.php

J.O'B.

Great lyric and great track

Regarding insomnia, Pyjamarama hits it right off the bat - "Couldn't sleep a wink last night" How could I have forgotten that!

Also, Pyjamarama and Manifesto are both songs in which the title does not appear in the song lyrics. Hmmm.

Manifesto is great - the man who drives the hammer and "shocks a million miles away" It seems that Manifesto marks a high water/turning point in terms of extended, engaging wordplay. He never wrote like that again as far as I can tell...

Thats a good list to produce - songs that dont have the title in them - as a start

Remake/Remodel
Ladytron
2HB
Chance Meeting
Sea Breezes