All I want is the same room
Where I waited before
Take me back to my old room
It's not there any more
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Every day every hour
Keeps me where I remain
Let me back to my old room
I could start once again
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Here I am in my new room
And it's here I must stay
No return to my old room
It's been taken away
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Take me back to room one
Well, Anywhere is drawing to a close. Unfortunately it was always going to end somewhere. So it must have been decided a certain kind of mood must be contained in the final track. But what, exactly?
The album so far has hinted at deeply held feelings of alienation and loneliness. Here, we see those sentiments continued through to their natural outcome - a desire to return to an earlier time. A better place. A place of security.
I know people have understood "Room One" to mean the womb, ie, a return to the womb. It's totally understandable given the mood of Mansfield's musik. But the song apparently describes in a more literal sense the childhood flat that Tony had overlooking Clapham Common in South London. But let's not allow that to spoil our imagination...
There is a very distinctive atmosphere to this track. The classic NM electronic 'rhythm box' percussion is nicely set off by the acoustic strums. All the usual touches are evident, such as vocal pre-echo.
The sonar effects take on one of their 'biggest' appearances here, towards the end. And all too soon we're approaching the end. A big 'cacophony' of analogue sound, of tape being fast reversed.
Almost suggestive of one's whole life being replayed right before them. Yes, a return to the womb indeed...
Beautifully evocative, and a very fitting end to a fantastic album.
97/100
(Richard M)
Are there sectoins in this song where Tony changes the tape speed (esp at thebeginning) cos that's what it sounds like to me. It's a kinda sad sounding song, which reminds me of The Safe Side. I like the bit where he sings Someone Said the Magic Words Today, harking back to the last song on From A to B.
(Rich E)
A more melancholy feel is introduced for the end track of the original vinyl album. An upbeat metronomic beat cleverly counterpoints downbeat whimsical synths and another fantastic vocal performance by Tony with what I view as some definitive use of the reverse echo technique.
Their trademark sounds abound on this track. Strummed guitar, held synth-pads and some wonderful synth motifs, and most notably the submarine pings during the lush ending where all but the kitchen sink seems to be thrown in.
Is "Room One" the womb? The lyrics seem to yearn for normality and safety, a theme echoed on 'The Safe Side' and surely both positionally and thematically this is no coincidence. I've always viewed 'Safe side' as a sibling to this track.
It's a brilliant downbeat ending to the album, an album I rate overall as one of the greatest, if not *the* greatest synthpop album of all time.
On with the bonus tracks!
(Graham G)
The lyrics, a longing for the past. A beautiful collage of vocals, acoustic strums, rhythmic bass, backwards reverb, simple keyboard melodies, drum machines and real drums. This song has me swaying my head back and forth like Stevie Wonder playing his keyboard.
Great ending, starting with the sonar pongs we all love and tricky fast tape scrubs going backwards. This about somes it up, going backwards that is: "Take me back to room one."
(Nuppy)
This track brings back sad memories of 1981. I was nearly 16 and my mother had just passed away from cancer in May. This album and in particular this track helped me through that time. I did indeed want to be taken Back To Room One, back to a better time. I could totally relate to Tony's sense of isolation and felt he had written this song just for me.
There's not much point trying to describe this song as that has been done much better by others! I did always wonder what the tape rewinding bit at the end was? Was it the whole album being played?
It's also strange that people think of this as the last track which I suppose it is! I only had the tape version for years so I always considered the tracks Under Attack & And as album tracks.
(Vince W)