The story behind "Into the Night" charting twice is this: In 1989, KZZP, a radio station in Arizona, ran a segment titled "Where Are They Now?" The most popular question was, 'Whatever happened to the guy who sang "Into The Night?"' Scott Shannon, then program director for Pirate Radio in Los Angeles, added "Into The Night" to its playlist. Radio stations across the country followed suit and "Into The Night" was once again a hit.
Due to the success of "Into The Night," Curb Records signed Mardones and he recorded "Into The Night '89." The track appeared on his self-titled release (known as the "Blue Album" by his fans.) Not long after that, Benny appeared on a Showtime tribute to Roy Orbison, alongside such luminaries as Bob Dylan, John Fogerty, Johnny Cash, and K.D. Lang. Elvis Presley's band was the house band for the evening. When Mardones came on stage to sing "Running Scared," few people knew his name, but when he finished the song he received a standing ovation.
Even though his lone hit charted twice, Mardones is still considered a "one-hit wonder." He continues to have a substantial fan following in Syracuse, New York. Mardones' band is known as the Hurricanes.
Raised in Savage, Maryland, he latterly resided in Southern California. He had one son, Michael, who was born in 1985.
External Links:
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Interview with Benny Mardones
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When the Lights Go Out
Benny Mardones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They see gold records and pictures on the wall
They see us kiss and holding hands
But we’re in public, they don’t understand
When the lights go out
And nobody’s around
We’re sleeping in separate rooms
When the lights go out
And love disappears
We’re living a lie
I’m thinking that I’ve gotta get out of here
When the lights go out
I hear the bell, I open the door
We welcome our friends, like so many times before
I take their coats, she fixes them drinks
We laugh and joke like nothing is wrong, because that’s what they think
When the last car pulls out of sight
We don’t talk, we don’t even turn and say goodnight
When the lights go out
And nobody’s around
We’re sleeping in separate rooms
Where love can’t be found
When the lights go out
And love disappears
We’re living a lie
I’m thinking that I’ve gotta get out of here
When the lights go out
I want to go back to the way it used to be
I was head over heels for you, you were crazy in love with me
When the lights go out
And nobody’s around
We’re sleeping in separate rooms
Where love can’t be found
When the lights go out
And love disappears
We’re living a lie
I’m thinking that I’ve gotta get out of here
When the lights go out
Benny Mardones's song When the Lights Go Out is a poignant realization of the stark differences between a couple's public and private lives. The first verse of the song emphasizes how the outside world perceives the couple to have a perfect life. The world sees them as successful and happy, but they cannot fathom the harsh reality of the couple's relationship. The chorus conveys the message that when the world shuts down, and the couple is left with mere silence; they are merely existing together without any love in their relationship. The second verse illustrates how the couple puts up a facade in front of their friends, pretending to be happy and love-filled. But, in reality, they share mutually constrained silences.
The bridge of the song is symbolic of Benny's desperation to go back to the time when they were happy and in love. The lyrics "I want to go back to the way it used to be, I was head over heels for you, you were crazy in love with me" portrays the despair he feels for the lost love. The final verse is a repetition of the emotions he feels when the lights go out. It reflects the magnitude of the difference between the couple's public and private life.
The song is a perfect example of how things are not always as they seem. Life behind closed doors can be drastically different from the one portrayed in the public eye. It highlights how love can drift away, leaving relationships stranded without any hope of revival.
Line by Line Meaning
People think we have it all
People believe we are successful and perfect.
They see gold records and pictures on the wall
They see our achievements hanging on the wall.
They see us kiss and holding hands
They spot us being intimate in public.
But we’re in public, they don’t understand
But they don't know the secrets we keep in private.
When the lights go out
When it's just us two in the dark.
And nobody’s around
And no one is here to see us.
We’re sleeping in separate rooms
We're not sharing a bed or a room.
Where love can’t be found
Where love is absent or lost.
And love disappears
And our love fades away, diminishes.
We’re living a lie
We're not being honest with ourselves and the world.
I’m thinking that I’ve gotta get out of here
I'm thinking of leaving this relationship, this situation.
I hear the bell, I open the door
I welcome friends into our home.
We welcome our friends, like so many times before
We greet them nicely, like we usually do.
I take their coats, she fixes them drinks
We provide them with comfort and hospitality.
We laugh and joke like nothing is wrong, because that’s what they think
We pretend that everything is fine, like we usually do in front of them.
When the last car pulls out of sight
When all our friends have gone home.
We don’t talk, we don’t even turn and say goodnight
We don't communicate, we don't even offer basic greetings.
I want to go back to the way it used to be
I want to go back to the time when we were truly in love with each other.
I was head over heels for you, you were crazy in love with me
We were both deeply in love with each other in the past.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave, Anthem Entertainment
Written by: JAMES ERVIN, BENNY MARDONES, COREY COX, JAMES K ERVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind