In 1995 “Roll to Me” peaked at #10 in the Billboard 100, #5 in Canada and #22 on the UK charts. One of the many power-pop songs of the 90s.
Ironically it was the band’s biggest hit and they did not like the song. Del Amitri toured the US when this became a hit, but they played the song reluctantly, often telling the audience that it was something they had to do. Del Amitri wasn’t able to get a foothold in the States, and this was their last hit there.
They are a Scottish alternative rock band formed in Glasgow in 1980. In 2002 the band went on hiatus and reformed in 2014 and are now still together.
Roll to Me
Look around your world pretty baby
Is it everything you hoped it’d be
The wrong guy, the wrong situation
The right time to roll to me
Roll to me
Look into your heart pretty baby
Is it aching with some nameless need?
Is there something wrong
And you can’t put your finger on it?
Right, then roll to me
And I don’t think I have ever seen
A soul so in despair
So if you want to talk the night through
Guess who will be there?
So don’t try to deny it pretty baby
You’ve been down so long you can hardly see
When the engine’s stalled and it won’t stop raining
It’s the right time to roll to me
Roll to me
Roll to me
And I don’t think I have ever seen
A soul so in despair
So if you want to talk the night through
Guess who will be there?
So,
Look around your world pretty baby
Is it everything you hoped it’d be
The wrong guy, the wrong situation
The right time to roll to me
The right time to roll to me
The right time to roll to me…oooh
PowerPop... An Eclectic Collection of Pop Culture 
I didn’t know this group was Scottish. I liked this song, but always thought it sounded too much like another band; maybe Counting Crows. Too bad we haven’t heard more from Del Amitri here in the US. I think I would have liked them.
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I thought they were out of California…it surprised me also.
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It’s the only song I know by them but I like it and remember it well. Interestingly, the band I write about today (The Silencers) are Scottish and get compared to Del Amitri often, though they don’t sound like this song. But if “roll to me” isn’t characteristic of them, that might explain it. I should check out some more of their music
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I liked it also when it came out. I didn’t know they were Scottish and I couldn’t believe they didn’t like the song. They almost have to play it every night now…lol
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I never liked this song. I never new the band’s name as I was sure it was some other band that used an accordion & a harmonica, a lot. Had a really big lead singer…IDK.
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You mean Blues Traveler?
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That’s it! I thought they did that song. Same smell…
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Same smell… that gets stored away with Hinky
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I honestly don’t remember where that one came from.
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You are giving me a new arsenal of sayings.
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Happy to entertain…😁
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Hey…how have you been?
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Email…
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Ok
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This sounds like Elvis Costello music. Great tune and I like they transitions/bridge(s).
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It does doesn’t it. He could have written this 100% — the middle eight especially sounds like Elvis (think I even recognise it…) and the verse too. It’s just that last four notes out of the verse that Elvis wouldn’t sing. Good track all the same.
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Jeremy thanks for the detailed comment. I usually only get as far as impressions and appreciate your explaining how.
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they = the
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I didn’t know the song but, wow, that middle part does sound like Elvis Costello!
When I remember Del Amitri I think of Nothing Ever Happens, a folk-pop ballad I still listen to from time to time. If you give it a try, maybe you’ll like it too.
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I listened to it… you can tell they are Scottish in that song…good song. Thanks for passing that along.
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