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Roxy Music | David Bowie
Virginia Plain | John, I’m Only Dancing
VIRGINIA PLAIN
Bryan Ferry
Make me a deal and make it straight
All signed and sealed, I’ll take it
To Robert E. Lee I’ll show it
I hope and pray he don’t blow it ’cause
We’ve been around a long time
Just trying to try to try to make the big time
Take me on a roller coaster
Take me for an airplane ride
Take me for a six-day wonder but don’t you
Don’t you throw my pride aside besides
What’s real and make-believe?
Baby Jane’s in Acapulco we are flying down to Rio
Throw me a line I’m sinking fast
Clutching at straws can’t make it
Havana sound we’re trying
A hard-edge-the-hipster jiving
Last picture shows down the drive-in
You’re so sheer you’re so chic
Teenage rebel of the week
Flavours of the mountain steamline
Midnight blue casino floors
Dance the cha-cha through till sunrise
Open up some exclusive doors, oh wow!
Just like flamingos look the same
So me and you, just we two
Got to search for something new
Far beyond the pale horizon
Some place near the desert strand
Where my Studebaker takes me
That’s where I’ll make my stand—but wait
Can’t you see that Holzer mane?
What’s her name, Virginia Plain?
FROM ‘MARA, MARIETTA’
Part Five Chapter 7
And from London too she brought back music: Not the radio fare of ‘Nights in White Satin’ and ‘A Whiter Shade of Pale’, but ‘John, I’m Only Dancing’ and ‘Virginia Plain’.
In case you’re wondering what ‘Holzer mane’ in ‘Virginia Plain’ means, check out this Tate article.
JOHN, I’M ONLY DANCING
David Bowie
Well Annie’s pretty neat, she always eats her meat
Joe is awful strong, bet your life he’s putting us on
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
Oh move me, touch me
John, I’m only dancing
She turns me on, but I’m only dancing
She turns me on, don’t get me wrong
I’m only dancing
Oh shadow love was quick and clean,
Life’s a well-thumbed machine
I saw you watching from the stairs,
You’re everyone that ever cared
Oh lordy, oh lordy, you know I need some loving
Move me, touch me
John, I’m only dancing
She turns me on, but I’m only dancing
She turns me on, don’t get me wrong
I’m only dancing
Dancing
Won’t someone dance with me?
Touch me