Fellow Philanderers,

'Mother of Pearl' is just so good, W2 sometimes thinks that if there has to be a finest then perhaps this is it.

That said, there is just so much to examine — this phd in 'Roxology' is proving exhausting!

Beaucoup de choses sont intéressantes:

How involved was Simon Puxley in the writing process? When we reflect on the sheer flood of creativity in those early years it makes you wonder if there wasn't some sort of creative caisse de resonance?
The process was evidently the music first and then our hero wrote the lyrics. Maybe bouncing them off Puxley was an integral part of the story? The good Doctor was no mean wordsmith in his own right and perhaps he played a bigger part than we know? Maybe he was more of a seventh band member?

Did the irony in his lyrics stand in the way of wide spread success in the US? And if so, how did 'Roxy' gain such strong blue collar support in the UK? It's interesting to contemplate because this level of sophistication in modern music was and remains rare. 'The Velvets' had it and one or two others but it certainly wasn't a mass sport. Maybe it's because they came along at a time of great social mobility?

'More Than This' there is much and I hope that somebody is beavering away with the biography.

Meanwhile maybe we should just 'Turn the lights down low'.

Salutations,

W2

I think the lyrics to She Sells get overlooked in these conversations about Lyrics. To me they are among Bryan's finest.

Anyone guess the significance in the history of Roxy Music of this line:

"hold back the night with your sigh (insert song title)"

J.O'B.

Its "Always Unknowing" - was it the last song ever recorded by Roxy Music? - certainly the only Roxy song dropped for a Ferry solo (TTYO) ???

JO'B

I love She Sells lyrics and music - all those little time switches - the way the violins hit the soundstage - oh the clavinet too with the oboe and clavinet with the funky bass and drums - and then the final hurrah - wonderful wonderful - Roxy at their kinetic best - its on my Best Of !!!!!!

Rx

Cher Richard,
Mais oui, tu a reason — maybe you already have a phd in 'Doxology'?
Good catch albeit, not IWNSHO our hero's best lyric.
regards,
W2

I'm intrigued. You're tantalising me. Spill the beans john.

Ps another good lyric : "executive leather, upholstered tightly" especially with the bondage backing vocal track on the alphaville sessions. Frankly there are a thousand and one fantastic couplets/verses/songs of sublime quality in the canon.

I do rather love BF's clever lyrics over the years (huge understatement), but every so often one of his overtly soulful numbers grabs RoxySiren's interest...isn't this one marvellous ?:

When she walks in the room
Then you know
Why your date says it's late
Time to go
And you know you can't leave
You must stay
Till her laughter has drifted away
So you talk to the walls
Always know
Cause they've seen it all
And heard it all before
And your fair weather friends
Fail to speak
They're so afraid still waters run deep
And they don't understand or perceive
That you can't see the woods for the trees
Christmas trees you were sure
Weren't the sort
To build up your hopes
Then sell you short
Yeah to build you up
And sell you short
All your life you were taught to believe
Then a moment of truth, you're deceived
All the wine in your life's all dried up
Is now the time to give up?
Like the soft paper cup that you squeeze
So you take this and that and then some more
And you make your way through the door
You make up your way through the door
Through the door
Through the door
When she walks in the room

Hipsters & Debauched Dilettantes,

'She Sells' is certainly an interesting proposition and another testimony to the strength of that early creativity and, IWNSHO, an incredibly English song as was so much of his formative stuff.

It's incredible how his lyrics incorporate a sense of personal style, a combination of cheek and chic, pose and poise. In some regards he is really the Noel Coward of art rock.

Another thing that W2 finds amazing is Ferry's capacity to create a sense of place with his songs.

W2 remembers listening to 'Can't Let Go' for the first time. It was clear that we were all in LA before he even mentioned Bel-air.

The same is true of N.Y.C. If you ignore the fact that the title gives the game away, the song just has such a great New York feel to it.

He really is the chameleon of rock. We are so lucky to have him.

Salutations,
W2

Hipsters,
The ever tasteful RoxySiren is correct — it's not just the ironic our hero does well. A more beautiful ode than this it's difficult to imagine.
I think there was a fabulous brass band instrumental version of this arranged for one of Ferry's friends funeral. Although this post is about lyrics, the music alone on that one was stunning.
Another arrangement that should be committed to vinyl.
Regards,
W2

Isabella Blow's remembrance service, as I recall.
It is a fantastic piece.