He has been active in the 00s and since, touring both as a single artist and as a member of the rotating supergroup 'Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band'. Before fronting the band titled in his name, Squire was the frontman of the power pop group Piper. Said band had some underground fame in the 70s before Squire left for bigger things.
Squier started off his solo career with May 1980's 'The Tale of the Tape'. Although a commercial breakthrough eluded him, the release spent three months on Billboard's album chart and gained a large fan response. Working with songwriter impresario Desmond Child and Kiss co-guitarist Bruce Kulick, his album also brought him praising critical reviews, noting his talent for meeting catchy pop hooks with aggressive guitars and vocals.
His 1981 follow-up, 'Don't Say No', shot his career into the stratosphere. It hit the Top Five on the Billboard album chart and remained on the chart for over two years (a total of 111 weeks). Getting RIAA certified as triple-platinum, singles such as "Lonely Is The Night" and "The Stroke" became staples of arena rock radio. His music from this album has popped up in variety of places such as in the comedy film 'Blades of Glory' and in the popular Guitar Hero video game series.
Squier's third album, 'Emotions in Motion', also picked up both critical praise, with Allmusic calling it a "slice of AOR heaven", and commercial acclaim. The album itself peaked at #5 on the Billboard 200 chart while singles such as "Everybody Wants You" and "Learn How To Live" achieved top 40 rock stardom. Squier also achieved notability both for his album cover, devised by famous artist Andy Warhol, and for his popular music videos, played often on MTV.
Massively successful touring with artists such as Queen had Squier labeled as one of the best hard rock artists of the decade. Still, 'what goes up, must come down', as the saying goes, and his next album would spell his downfall. 1984's 'Signs of Life' came out with initial good press, viewed as perhaps lacking the rock crunch of his previous affairs but still involving some catchy tunes. Single "Rock Me Tonite", released in June 1984 as the lead single, became his highest charting U.S. song, peaking at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and hitting the Top 10 on the Cash Box singles chart. It also returned him to #1 on the Top Rock Tracks chart in August of 1984.
Nevertheless, the music video for the song was the beginning of the end for this part of Squier's career. Popularly regarded as one of the worst ever music videos ever made, if not the worst, it shows Squier putting on a pink tank top and making effeminate dance moves around a bed with pastel-colored satin sheets while badly miming to the song, rolling around on the floor in several parts. Many viewers who saw it thought that it depicted the singer on drugs or pretending to be flamboyantly gay. It was directed by Kenny Ortega, who was the third director to be considered for the job.
After an acrimonious break from his label and also making other changes, Squier re-grouped and released 'Enough Is Enough' on September 27, 1986. Signed to Capitol Records, he achieved some success, with the album having peaked at #61 on the Billboard album chart, but failed to meet expectations. Some critics charged that the stress that he had been put under took its toll on his songwriting. Future releases over the next few years failed to change things as his popularity slid downwards, and he ultimately quit the music industry for several years in the 90s.
As stated before, he has been active in the 00s and since, touring both as a single artist and as a member of the rotating supergroup 'Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band'. More recently, a few live albums have come out featuring his music. He also has had several low-key tours.
In The Dark
Billy Squier Lyrics
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Down in the hole some emotions are hard to hide
It's your decision, it's the chance that you take
It's on your head, it's a habit that's hard to break
Do you need a friend, would you tell no lies
Would you take me in, are you lonely in the dark
In the dark
In the dark
You never listen to the voices inside
They fill your ears as you run to a place to hide
You're never sure if the illusion is real
You pinch yourself but the memories are all you feel
Can you break away from your alibies
Can you make a play, will you meet me in the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark, ah ah ah
Don'tcha need me, hey, hey
Don'tcha need me, oh yea
Don'tcha need me, hey, hey
Don'tcha need me, oh yea
You take no interest, no opinion's to dear
You make the rounds and you try to be so sincere
You guard your hopes and you pocket your dreams
You'd trade it all to avoid an unpleasant scene
Can you face the fire when you see me there
Can you feel the fire, will you love me in the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark
In the dark, ah ah ah ah
The lyrics of Billy Squier's song "In The Dark" depict a person who is struggling to find their way while facing difficult emotions alone. In the first verse, the singer acknowledges the challenges of being alone and how it can be difficult to conceal one's feelings. The second verse portrays a person who is running from their emotions, denying them and avoiding situations where they might have to confront them. The chorus of the song urges the listener to consider opening up and letting someone else in, particularly with the repetition of the question "are you lonely in the dark?"
The third verse suggests that the person depicted in the song has trouble connecting with others, and maybe prioritizes socializing over genuine connection. They might be afraid of sharing their true opinions or thoughts for fear of rejection. The final chorus repeats the question from the previous choruses, but emphasizes the idea of facing one's fears and allowing oneself to be vulnerable with someone else.
Overall, "In The Dark" is a song about loneliness, fear, and the difficulty of opening up to others. The lyrics encourage listeners to confront these emotions and consider reaching out for help rather than running from their problems.
Line by Line Meaning
Life isn't easy from the singular side
Being alone can be difficult and challenging
Down in the hole some emotions are hard to hide
When feeling down, it can be challenging to conceal emotions
It's your decision, it's the chance that you take
You are in control of the decisions you make and the risks you take
It's on your head, it's a habit that's hard to break
You bear the responsibility of your choices, even if it's difficult to change your behavior
Do you need a friend, would you tell no lies
Are you looking for a genuine friend who you can trust and confide in?
Would you take me in, are you lonely in the dark
Are you willing to let me be there for you when you're feeling lonely or struggling?
You never listen to the voices inside
You tend to ignore your intuition and inner voice
They fill your ears as you run to a place to hide
Your intuition becomes stronger when you try to avoid your problems
You're never sure if the illusion is real
You're not always certain if what you perceive is genuine or imagined
You pinch yourself but the memories are all you feel
You try to confirm reality, but the memories persist
Can you break away from your alibis
Can you stop making excuses and be truthful?
Can you make a play, will you meet me in the dark
Are you willing and able to take a risk and come out of your comfort zone?
Don'tcha need me, hey, hey
Don't you require my presence and support?
Don'tcha need me, oh yea
Don't you long for my connection and help?
You take no interest, no opinion's too dear
You don't seem to care or have strong feelings about anything
You make the rounds and you try to be so sincere
You go through the motions and try to be authentic, but it may not be genuine
You guard your hopes and you pocket your dreams
You keep your aspirations close to your heart and may not share them with others
You'd trade it all to avoid an unpleasant scene
You would give up everything to avoid conflict or discomfort
Can you face the fire when you see me there
Are you able to confront challenges when I'm with you?
Can you feel the fire, will you love me in the dark
Can you embrace the intensity and passion of our connection, even in difficult times?
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BILLY SQUIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind