Music Video
Love Is the Drug — Roxy Music Lyrics
Soundtrack: Baby Reindeer
Love Is the Drug Song Lyrics
[Intro]
T'ain't no big thing
To wait for the bell to ring
T'ain't no big thing
The toll of the bell
[Verse 1]
Aggravated
I spare for days
I troll downtown
The red light place
I jump up, bubble up
What's in store?
Love is the drug
And I need to score
Showing out, showing out, hit and run
Boy meets girl
Where the beat goes on
[Pre-Chorus]
Stitched up tight
Can't shake free
Love is the drug
Got a hook on me
[Chorus]
Oh, catch that buzz
Love is the drug
I'm thinking of
Oh, can't you see
Love is the drug for me
Oh, oh
Oh, oh
[Verse 2]
Late that night
I parked my car
Staked my place
In the singles bar
Face to face
Toe to toe
Heart to heart
As we hit the floor
[Pre-Chorus]
Lumbered up, limbo down
The locked embrace
The stumble round
I say "go", she say "yes"
Dim the lights, you can guess the rest
[Chorus]
Oh, catch that buzz
Love is the drug
I'm thinking of
Oh, can't you see
Love is the drug
Got a hook in me
[Chorus]
Oh, get that buzz
Love is the drug
I'm thinking of
Oh, can't you see
Love is the drug for me
[Outro]
Ohh, ohh
Ohh, ohh
Ohh, ohh
Ohh, ohh
Ohh, ohh
Ohh, ohh, oh
Ohh, oh, ohh
Ohh, oh, ohh, oh
Love is, love is
Love is the drug
Track Listing
›Love Is the Drug
Roxy Music
›You Don't Have to Say You Love Me
Dusty Springfield
›Sweet Dreams (Of You)
Patsy Cline
›Helen Fry
The Felice Brothers
›Happy Together
The Turtles
›I Talk to the Wind
King Crimson
›My Name Is Trouble
Keren Ann
›Yellow Pearl
Phil Lynott
›Cars
Gary Numan
›Smalltown Boy
Bronski Beat
›A Soft Seduction
David Byrne
›I Go to Sleep
Peggy Lee
›Matelot
The Renegades
›Alone Again (Naturally)
Gilbert O'Sullivan
›Venus
Shocking Blue
›Pleasant Street
›Come Wander with Me
Jeff Alexander
›Sposa son disprezzata
Oya Ergün
›I'll Come Running (to Tie Your Shoe)
Brian Eno
›Catch the Wind
Donovan
›Spread Your Love
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
›Teacher
Jethro Tull
›Serenade für Streicher, Op. 22, B. 52: III. Scherzo: Vivace
Antonín Dvořák, Josef Suk, Jaroslav krček
›One
Harry Nilsson
›Never My Love
The Association
›Angel of the Morning
Evie Sands
›Rainy Day
Susan Christie
›Waiting
Alice Boman
›Moon in the Mind
Ed Askew
›If Not for You
George Harrison
›Sol Levante
Laura Masotto, Mari Samuelsen, Scoring Berlin
›Gobaith
Catrin Finch, Seckou Keita
›Life Story
Ólafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm
›Farewell, Farewell
Fairport Convention
December, 01st 2024
Song Details and Overview
- Featuring Artist(s): N/A
- Producer(s): Chris Thomas
- Writers: Bryan Ferry & Andy Mackay
- Release Date: September 26, 1975
- Album: Siren
- Genre: Glam Rock, Progressive Pop, Funk, Disco-Rock
- Label: E.G. Records
- Notable Instrumentation: Bassline, Saxophone, Synthesizers
- Chart Performance: #2 (UK), #30 (US Billboard Hot 100)
- Language: English
Exploring the Meaning of "Love Is the Drug"
Roxy Music’s *Love Is the Drug* uses the metaphor of addiction to explore the highs and lows of romantic obsession. The song narrates a vivid and nightlife-filled journey of a protagonist searching for love, equating the intoxicating effects of romance to the dependency and euphoria associated with a drug. The interplay of rhythm, catchy basslines, and Bryan Ferry’s crooning vocals creates an infectious energy, underscoring the tension between desire and its consequences.
Key Themes and Narrative
The track captures the essence of a frenetic and glamorous urban quest. Bryan Ferry envisions the protagonist as a young man driving through the city, seeking excitement and connection in the nightlife—a symbolic search for validation and intimacy.
Structure and Symbolism
- [Intro]: The song opens with the phrase "T'ain't no big thing," setting a casual, almost nonchalant tone that contrasts with the escalating intensity of the verses. The "toll of the bell" evokes a feeling of impending climax or consequence.
- [Verse 1]: The protagonist navigates the city, drawn to the allure of the "red-light place." This section introduces the analogy of love as a drug, with its highs likened to a score in addiction culture.
- [Pre-Chorus]: Lines like "Stitched up tight / Can't shake free" reinforce the idea of entrapment, portraying the inescapable grip of passion.
- [Chorus]: The hook, "Love is the drug, and I need to score," punctuates the song's central metaphor, emphasizing the euphoric, compulsive nature of romantic attraction.
- [Verse 2]: The protagonist moves closer to his goal in a singles bar, described with kinetic imagery of dance and physical connection, heightening the track's sensuous vibe.
- [Outro]: Repeated "Ohh, ohh" lines mirror the lingering effects of an addictive experience, leaving listeners in a hazy aftermath.
Similar Songs
The exploration of love as a drug or addictive experience has resonated across decades of music. Here are some comparable tracks:
- David Bowie - *Fame* (1975): Similar glam-rock vibes exploring obsession and allure.
- Grace Jones - *Love Is the Drug* (1980): A bold reinterpretation with her signature attitude.
- The Human League - *Don't You Want Me* (1981): Focuses on the emotional highs and lows of love.
- Chic - *Good Times* (1979): Inspired by *Love Is the Drug*’s groove.
- Fleetwood Mac - *Everywhere* (1987): Offers a softer take on the all-encompassing nature of love.
Chart Performance and Awards
"Love Is the Drug" was a commercial and critical success. Highlights include:
- Peaked at #2 on the UK Singles Chart
- Reached #30 on the US Billboard Hot 100
- Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll"
- Ranked #26 in Stylus Magazine’s "Top 50 Basslines of All Time"
Quotes
“The image I had in mind for the song was a young guy getting into his car and zooming off into town, looking for action at a club.”
Bryan Ferry
“‘Love Is The Drug’ kind of selected itself and always sounded like something special.”
Andy Mackay
Conclusion
With its pioneering mix of glam rock and dance elements, *Love Is the Drug* stands as a timeless anthem of passion and excess. Its influence resonates through genres, inspiring both contemporaries and future generations in new wave, funk, and pop music.
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