The Reflex

"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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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/

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.

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.

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.

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.