Avalon by Roxy Music Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Enigma of Timeless Romance
Lyrics
I’m so tired
Then I see you coming
Out of nowhere
Much communication in a motion
Without conversation or a notion
Avalon
When the samba takes you
Out of nowhere
And the background’s fading
Out of focus
Yes the picture’s changing
Every moment
And your destination
You don’t know it
Avalon
Dancing, dancing
Dancing, dancing
When you bossanova
There’s no holding
Would you have me dancing
Out of nowhere
Avalon
Avalon
Ooh-ooh
Avalon
Avalon
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Avalon
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Avalon
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Avalon
Ooh-ooh, ooh-ooh
Avalon
Ooh
Avalon
Avalon
Avalon
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Avalon
At the crest of the New Romantic wave, Roxy Music etched their ethereal ballad ‘Avalon’ into the collective consciousness of the early ’80s. The song, cloaked in lush synthesizer textures and Bryan Ferry’s plaintive crooning, spins a tapestry of longing, mystery, and seduction. Yet, beneath the velvet layers and samba-infused rhythms, lies a complex narrative, one that explores human connection in the fleeting moments of life.
Decades since its release, ‘Avalon’ remains an enigmatic gem within Roxy Music’s discography, beckoning listeners into a reverie of romance and the intangible. But what deeper meanings simmer beneath the surface of this chart-topping serenade? Join us as we unravel the poignant symbolism, metaphoric nuance, and lyrical finesse that crown ‘Avalon’ as an immortal ode to the beauty of ephemeral encounters.
A Mystical Invitation to Love’s Lost Paradise
Avalon, the title and recurring mantra of the song, is not a mere figment of lyrical imagery. It is a mythic nod to the fabled island of Celtic legend where King Arthur was taken to heal after battle. As a symbol, Avalon represents an elusive, utopian realm where bliss and beauty reign supreme—qualities mirrored in the song’s soothing, dreamy soundscape.
Through invoking this legendary oasis, Roxy Music conjures a narrative of desire for a transcendent connection that feels both within reach and just beyond the veil. It’s a yearning for a perfection that might only exist in the innocence of a dance or the echo of a melody, hinting at a deeper pursuit of interconnectedness and ideal love.
The Siren Call of Samba and the Dance of Destiny
The tapestry of cultures woven into ‘Avalon’ is unmistakable – the samba rhythm, a pulsating undercurrent that invites movement and exudes sensuality. The Latin influence is both a bold diversion from Roxy Music’s typically European sophistication and a vital clue to deciphering the song’s essence.
Much like the samba’s roots—a blend of African and Brazilian heritage, representing a mosaic of traditions—’Avalon’ becomes a sensorial crossroad where individuals lose themselves to find each other. It is escapism through rhythm, a path to a shared yet fleeting reality where the only certainty is the moment of the dance.
Deciphering the Enigma: Avalon’s Hidden Message
Behind its soft veil of romance, ‘Avalon’ touches upon a timeless human condition: the sense of disorientation and search for direction in life’s dance. As the lyrics unveil, ‘the picture’s changing / every moment,’ reflecting the ever-transforming landscape of our existence.
One could argue that Avalon is, in fact, a metaphor for life’s journey. The song embodies the notion that we are all dancers spinning to a tune we don’t fully understand, guided by impulses and desires as we search for a sign, a person, or a place that feels like a destination but is essentially a mirage of our own yearning.
Lost in the Reverie: The Ephemeral Quality of Experience
Roxy Music brilliantly captures the transient nature of human experiences in ‘Avalon.’ The lyrics resonate with the bittersweet acknowledgement that all parties come to an end, that all dances fade, and in the aftermath, there’s a fatigue that comes from the pursuit of pleasure and connection.
This convoluted journey toward a metaphorical ‘Avalon’ echoes how we clutch at these moments, these dances, as lifelines in a vast sea of uncertainties. Ferry’s sultry croon is laced with both sorrow and surrender to the impermanence of it all, anchoring the song’s haunting spell on its listeners.
The Memorable Lines That Define a Generation
Lyrically simple yet evocative, ‘Avalon’ ensnares with lines like ‘Now the party’s over / I’m so tired.’ It is a stark admission of vulnerability, a universal truth about the human condition that resonates across ages and life’s many parties.
Meanwhile, ‘And your destination / You don’t know it,’ reinforces the core ambiguity of the narrative, nudging at the subconscious to embrace the unknown and celebrate its beauty. This is the lyrical genius of Roxy Music, crafting verses that linger in the mind like a haunting, yet mellifluous, refrain from a symphony of human experiences, inviting introspection and eternal resonance.
