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.
Lonely Is The Night
Billy Squier Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Your demons come to light and your mind is not your own
Lonely is the night when there's no one left to call
You feel the time is right, say the writing's on the wall
It's a high time to fight when the walls are closin' in
Call it what you like it's time you got to win
Lonely, lonely, lonely your spirit's sinkin' down
Red lights, green lights, stop and go jive
Headlines, deadlines jammin' your mind
You been stealin' shots from the side
Let your feeling's go for a ride
There's danger out tonight, the man is on the prowl
Get the dynamite, the boys are set to howl
Lonely is the night when you hear the voices call
Are you ready for a fight, do you wanna take it all?
Slowdown, showdown waitin' on line
Show time, no time for changin' your mind
Streets are ringin', march to the sound
Let your secrets follow you down
Somebody's watchin' you baby, so much you can do
Nobody's stoppin' you baby, from makin' it too
One glimpse'll show you now baby, what the music can do
One kiss'll show you now baby, it can happen to you
No more sleepin', wastin' our time
Midnight creepin's, first on our minds
No more lazin' 'round the TV
You'll go crazy, come out with me
Feelin' lonely
Lonely is the night
Feelin' lonely
Lonely is the night
Lonely, lonely, lonely
The lyrics of Billy Squier's Lonely Is The Night depicts a person's state of mind when they are left alone with their thoughts. When one is alone with nothing but their thoughts, it becomes easy for their demons to come to light and their same thoughts can start weighing heavily on them. These thoughts often build toward a climax that needs a release. This buildup of negative thoughts and emotions can leave one to feel like they are sinking. The song suggests that it's during these lonely and dark times that one needs to push back and get ready to fight. It’s time to take control and win back what was lost. Even though other people in town might seem like strangers, one should not fear the night because the man is on the prowl. One should get the dynamite, the boys are set to howl.
The song's lyrics call on the listeners to make a change in their life or their situation. Life is not about what one wants but what one grabs, and this song captures that feeling perfectly. With lines like "no more sleeping waste our time, midnight creeping's first on our minds" the song suggests that it's the time to stop being lazy and make things happen; it's time to take control of one's life. The song also highlights the importance of music and how it can change one's perspective about things. One glimpse of what the music can do, one kiss, can show one that anything can happen, and it can happen to them too.
Line by Line Meaning
Lonely is the night when you find yourself alone
When you are by yourself at night, you feel isolated and lack companionship.
Your demons come to light and your mind is not your own
At times like this, your subconscious fears and worries manifest and take over your thoughts.
Lonely is the night when there's no one left to call
When all of your contacts are unavailable, you feel forgotten and helpless.
You feel the time is right, say the writing's on the wall
You sense that now is the moment to take action, as if it is already predetermined by fate.
It's a high time to fight when the walls are closin' in
When you feel trapped and constrained, that is the best time to summon the courage to face your challenges.
Call it what you like it's time you got to win
You have to label your objective and grab it with fervor, without any excuses.
Lonely, lonely, lonely your spirit's sinkin' down
Repeating the word 'lonely' emphasizes how much your mentality is deteriorating and how much you crave for emotional support.
You find you're not the only stranger in this town
It becomes apparent that you are not the only person feeling alienated in this place.
Red lights, green lights, stop and go jive
The hustle and bustle of the city's traffic represents changeable circumstances and unpredictability.
Headlines, deadlines jammin' your mind
The news and deadlines overwhelm your thoughts with pressure and stress.
You been stealin' shots from the side
You have been sneaking attempts, possibly at your goals, from less obvious or less prominent directions.
Let your feeling's go for a ride
Allow yourself to follow your emotions unrestrained and free.
There's danger out tonight, the man is on the prowl
The evening atmosphere is ominous, and someone or something is lurking around as a threat.
Get the dynamite, the boys are set to howl
You need to invoke your fighting spirit and get ready to make noise and cause a commotion.
Lonely is the night when you hear the voices call
When you feel like you are in the dark, uncertain voices in your head cause you to question every decision you make.
Are you ready for a fight, do you wanna take it all?
Are you prepared to confront the situation and emerge as the winner with every possible reward?
Slowdown, showdown waitin' on line
You must slow down and not act hastily; there is time before the final confrontation.
Show time, no time for changin' your mind
It's the moment to expose your intentions and ideas to the world, not to be indecisive.
Streets are ringin', march to the sound
Street noise and commotion evoke revolutionary and protest symbolism, inviting you to join the movement.
Let your secrets follow you down
You should not hold back or shy away as you carry your private thoughts and feelings with you.
Somebody's watchin' you baby, so much you can do
Other people's eyes are on you, but you have a lot of power and plenty of room for maneuver.
Nobody's stoppin' you baby, from makin' it too
You have all the freedom to pursue your dream and make your wishes come true.
One glimpse'll show you now baby, what the music can do
By listening to this song and understanding its message, you'll see what power music has to motivate and inspire you.
One kiss'll show you now baby, it can happen to you
Just as a single kiss represents love and passion, a single victory or success can show you how achievable your goals are.
No more sleepin', wastin' our time
It's time to stop being idle and wasting precious time and energy and take significant steps.
Midnight creepin's, first on our minds
Despite appearing late in the night, your goals and priorities are at the top of your mind and of utmost importance.
No more lazin' 'round the TV
Watching television can keep you stagnant and unproductive, so it's time to get up and make progress instead.
You'll go crazy, come out with me
If you don't take action now, it is certain that you will dwell on your negative emotions and become insane. Thus, it is the perfect time to ask someone out and explore a new side of life.
Feelin' lonely
Expressing the same sentiment embodied in the song's title.
Lonely is the night
Repeating the same chorus to create an ambiance and to place more emphasis.
Feelin' lonely
Repeating the same chorus to provide a musical resolution.
Lyrics © Spirit Music Group
Written by: WILLIAM H SQUIER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind