The reflex
The reflex
The reflex
The reflex

You've gone too far this time
But I'm dancing on the Valentine
I tell you somebody's fooling around
With my chances on the danger line

I'll cross that bridge when I find it
Another day to make my stand, oh woah
High time is no time for deciding
If I should find a helping hand, oh woah

Why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it

Oh, why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it

The reflex is a lonely child, who's waiting by the park
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover, isn't that bizarre?
And every little thing the reflex does
Leaves you answered with a question mark

I'm on a ride and I want to get off
But they won't slow down the roundabout
I sold the Renoir and TV set
Don't wanna be around when this gets out

So, why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it

Why don't you use it?

The reflex is a lonely child, who's waiting in the park
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover, isn't that bizarre?
And every little thing the reflex does
Leaves an answer with a question mark, play

So, why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it
Buy time, don't lose it

The reflex is a lonely child, who's waiting by the park
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark
And watching over lucky clover, isn't that bizarre?
And every little thing the reflex does
Leaves me answered with a question mark

Oh, the reflex, what a game, he's hiding all the cards
The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark


Lyrics submitted by Boonechic_21, edited by willty

The Reflex Lyrics as written by John Taylor Andy Taylor

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The Reflex song meanings
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  • +8
    My Interpretation

    "The Reflex" means a gambling addiction.

    This song is about card-player with a gambling addiction. "I sold the radio and the TV set" is typical behavior; dad is pawning the things in the house to pay off debts or get money to get back in the game."Watching over four-leaf cover" (CLUBS) and "dancing on the valentine" (HEARTS).

    Your family suffers, because you're not there: "The reflex is a lonely child who is waiting by the park" He didn't pick up the kids when he was supposed to!

    He's sneaking through the house at night in the dark, pinching stuff to pawn for his gambling addiction. "The reflex is a door to finding Treasure in the dark."

    Gamblers are supersticious, looking for 4-leaf clovers, rubbing their rabbits foots, kissing the blarney stone. "And watching over lucky clover Isn't that bizarre" to them!

    They put everything one a sure thing and then are stunned when they lose it all. "Every little thing the reflex does Must be answered with a question mark."

    "The Reflex" is that rush when a gambler feels lucky and he can't help but play one more hand!! But you end up losing.

    Duran Duran's Simon LeBon had a father and a grandfather who were serious gamblers.

    chaseseqon January 10, 2014   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I always thought previously that the lyrics sounded a complete load of nonsense when hearing the song, but reading them, I think there is a deliberate meaning, even if Simon le Bon didn't think about the song for too long: the "reflex" is about his inspiration, muse or philosophy, which is based on living for today, optimism (the lucky clover), taking risks, mystery (hiding all the cards), living the high life (he needed to sell the Renoir and the TV set), sex (treasure in the dark), some bright-eyed innocence (the only child in the park) and relying on reflex action rather than dwelling too long on things or being cautious.

    finnegan63on March 08, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I always thought this song was about shooting up drugs. Here are a few lyrics that make me think that:

    High time is no time for deciding If I should find a helping hand

    So why don't you use it? Try not to bruise it (like your arm) Buy time don't lose it The reflex is an only child he's waiting in the park (a pusher waits in the park)

    I'm on a ride and I want to get off (you want to quit but you can't) But they won't slow down the roundabout I sold the Renoir and the TV set (sold stuff for $) Don't want to be around when this gets out

    buckybuckyon April 13, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Nah, not masterbation. Definately sex. "But I'm dancing on the valentine" "If I should find a helping hand" "So why don't you use it?" "The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark"

    Clearly another life form is invloved.

    Ana Byrdon May 06, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Masturbation? Please.

    I think the drug theory is plausable, but there is so much irrelevant stuff.

    My take? I rekon this song started off with a glimour of meaning, and went of at a tangent. As with many songs, this song has lyrics that are tailored simply to fit with the last one.

    'Why don't you use it, try not to bruise it, buy time don't loose it' is typical lyrical padding out. I know, I use it a lot in my own songs. I personally Imagine this song being written around the 'Ta Na Na Na' hook, which is a stroke of genius and possibly the best device the band ever used. Its the single thing that turned me on to Duran Duran - for a long while their image put me off. Unfortunately I feel Duran's whole image set them up to date very quickley, right from being named after the evil mastermind out of 'Barberella' to the random ameteur video camera in the 'A View To Kill', and I think it detracts from their music somewhat. Wait a second, I'm getting off the subject. Yeh, I think the lyrics really were built around the phrase 'The Reflex'. It is a brilliant name for a song, but there's very little you can draw from it, so very cleverly, Duran have simply not bothered to write lyrics, just string toghether a load of phrases that are whatever you make them. So as we have seen, you can derive anything you want from it. Like Bohemian Rhapsody, everybody has a theory, but if Mercury had ever let out what that was about it would be a complete anticlimax. This song is a blank canvas on which you can paint anything you like.

    I like the masturbation theory, but there is no indication for that. As masturbation songs though, how about Pictures Of Lily by The Who? What a fantastic record.

    Sam Harrisonon December 15, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Just finished Andy Taylor's "Wild Boy: My Life In Duran Duran" and it is a really great, honest, and fun read. He notes that "The Reflex" is his favorite song, but is quite open to interpretation. He thought it was about a young boy, but could be about anything. It was produced by Bernard Edwards of Chic, and had a very cutting edge repeat/stutter effect that the record company objected to, calling it "too black." So the remix is actually what the band wanted the song to sound like originally. My favorite Duran song, as well. Cheers! \m/ \m/

    JayCeezyon October 30, 2008   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    This may be a little crass - but I always thought "reflex" was just another word for "boner".

    So why don't you use it? - Come on girl, take it. Try not to bruise it - But be gentle with it. Buy time don't lose it - And hurry up before I lose it.

    The reflex is an only child he's waiting in the park - He's always ready and willing. The reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark - Treasure in the dark = Female anatomy. And watching over lucky clover isn't that bizarre - Lucky clover = Female anatomy carpeting. Every little thing the reflex does leaves you answered with a question mark. Sex confuses everything.

    Just my interpretation.

    topazbluegirlon May 15, 2009   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    In "Wild Boy: My Life In Duran Duran" Andy Taylor says:

    "when Simon wrote the lyrics to "The Reflex," there was a lot of speculation that the song was about Nick. According to the song, "The Reflex is in charge of finding treasure in the dark." that's what Nick would do: he was genius at finding little bits of treasure in a song.(Nick's also an only child like in "the Reflex", although Simon denies the lyrics are about him)"

    So, obviously the song is about Nick.

    fighttothedeathon May 17, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    If you don't know what the songs about and it was made in the 80's your best bet is Masterbation. Maybe hes pondering touching himself but afraid to bruise it, or its a little boy jus reaching puberty and his discovering himself. Who knows. I do know though this song is great.

    l0ki86on July 01, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think this song is definitely not about masturbation, it's about how doubt is totally useless and confidence will get you much further. the "reflex" seems to be a metaphor for something that's rushing away that you gotta catch.

    _maria_on April 09, 2004   Link

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