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 try try try tryin' to
Make the big time

Take me on a roller coaster
Take me for an airplane ride
Take me for a six day wander 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 flyin' down to Rio

Throw me a line I'm sinking fast
Clutching at straws can't make it
Havana sound we're trying
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
Flavors of the mountain streamlines
Midnight blue casino floors
Dance the cha-cha through till sunrise
Opens up 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?


Lyrics submitted by Forevergreen

Virginia Plain Lyrics as written by Bryan Ferry

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Virginia Plain song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I believe the song is about the whirl and excitement of a new pop band trying to get a record deal and "make the big time".

    Robert E. Lee was also the name of Roxy Music's Attorney (they will show their signed and sealed contract to him).

    Virginia Plain is a type of tobacco.

    "For Your Pleasure" was the motto on the package of a brand of cigarettes.

    DeadlyBozoon January 23, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Oh, God knows.

    The last two words are about cigarettes. That much is clear. And words 17-19 are about generals in the American Civil War. The end of verse four contains some cutting satire about conformity in flamingo society. Um.

    Basically, all the words mean something. It's just the order they're put into that is less clear. I suspect the idea was for it work on a non-rational level, and it acheives that marvelously; furthermore, Manzanera's solo sounds like he's strangling his guitar with an ostrich, which is sublime.

    It's almost certainly about Glamour, of some form.

    Axaxaxas_mloon November 19, 2004   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    Song is awesome. Film clip is awesome. Hideous sea hag in the audience. Bryan doing amusing hand movements and Eno looking like a complete girl.

    Love it.

    DarkenRahlon September 22, 2006   Link
  • +2
    Song Meaning

    The song title was based on lead singer Bryan Ferry's 1964 painting of the same title (he was an art student at the time). It features a huge packet of Virginia Slims cigarettes with a picture of Andy Warhol superstar Baby Jane Holzer on the front, standing in the middle of a plain.

    Building on what others above have commented regarding description of glam life style and travel, Robert E Lee's most famous horse was named Traveler. By the way, Lee's last words were, "Strike the tent."

    Net net meaning: "The South will rise again -- and party!" Coincidentally, 2 years after this song was released, President Gerald Ford came into power and eventually restored Lee's American citizenship.

    azarton February 15, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i can't believe i'm just the 4th comment, this song is at the top of the list for glam rock.

    jessieagogoon July 15, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Rio o o o o o - Hilarious

    exaltoon March 19, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Great song with one of the coolest endings ever.

    Starton February 20, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    The weird thing about this song for me, is that around the time it first came out, I was going out with a girl whose name, believe it or not, was Virginia Plain. Her parents must have been mad.

    scottmeon March 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    well put, that bit about the guitar solo. i dont care, i love this song unconditionally.

    halo26on February 24, 2005   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    In my opinion the best Roxy song.

    As previously stated, this song is about the glam lifestyles of the young jet-setting rich and fashionable. From travels to Rio and Acapulco, dancing the cha-cha on blue casino floors and then getting bored with it and looking for what's next ("So me and you, just we two got to search for something new").

    To quote Zoolander: "Oh yeah? I've never even heard of it. Me and my friends have been been too busy bathing off the southern coast of St. Barts with spider monkeys for the past two weeks. Tripping on acid changed our whole perspective on shit. So, I guess, uh, I guess you can dere-lick my balls, capitan."

    And lastly - my guess is that the Robert E Lee thing was a non sequitur not intended to make any sense to anyone.

    j1eron February 09, 2010   Link

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