The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Now the ballroom's empty
Everybody I have known
Has been and gone
With the music over
Here am I
A shadow echoing on
Spin me round
Now there must be something
In what they say of all things
Great and small
There's dozen roses
Lying almost dying
To say all
Spin me round
A nether world dancing toy
I'm wired for sound
Does it matter to me
Who turns the key?
Now if life is for living
Then the way is clear
But I don't understand
Why the dream has ended
Yet I can't wake up
Lend a hand
Spin a round
Everybody I have known
Has been and gone
With the music over
Here am I
A shadow echoing on
Spin me round
Now there must be something
In what they say of all things
Great and small
There's dozen roses
Lying almost dying
To say all
Spin me round
A nether world dancing toy
I'm wired for sound
Does it matter to me
Who turns the key?
Now if life is for living
Then the way is clear
But I don't understand
Why the dream has ended
Yet I can't wake up
Lend a hand
Spin a round
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Roxy Music went through a lot of changes in the 70s, and by 1979, when Spin Me Round was written, there was a kind of emotional exhaustion to the songwriting (hence the reference to Avalon, repeated successful ideas). The music is much sparser than the early albums, and there are not so many instrumental lines playing off each other. Just plaintive sadness in every sound. Ferry might have been wishing for a time gone by. When songs were on turntables, spinning, when life was a glamorous whirl. Jerry Hall had left Ferry. He may have been expressing a longing for a pinnacle that has been reached and could not be recreated, even with spinning...