Born in Skewen, South Wales, Tyler rose to prominence with her first hit single "Lost in France" in 1976. She signed a management deal with British songwriters Ronnie Scott and Steve Wolfe, who wrote and co-produced Tyler's first four studio albums between 1977 and 1981. "It's a Heartache" became Tyler's first US hit, with worldwide sales in excess of 6 million.
In 1982, Tyler signed with CBS/Columbia and began working with producer-songwriter Jim Steinman. He wrote her biggest career hit, "Total Eclipse of the Heart", and produced its parent album, "Faster Than the Speed of Night" (1983), and the follow-up, "Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire" (1986). Both albums were noted for their bombastic pop-rock production and melodramatic lyrics. Tyler's next album, "Hide Your Heart" (1988), was produced by Desmond Child and included several tracks that later became hits for other artists, including "The Best" for Tina Turner and "Save Up All Your Tears" for Cher.
Tyler leaned further into a commercial pop sound in the 1990s. She signed with Hansa Records and recorded her next album, "Bitterblue" (1991), with an assortment of producers including Giorgio Moroder, Roy Bittan and Dieter Bohlen. Her subsequent albums "Angel Heart" (1992)" and "Silhouette in Red" (1993) were recorded almost exclusively with Bohlen.
Towards the end of the 90s, Tyler moved to East West Records and recorded the albums "Free Spirit" (1995) and "All in One Voice" (1998). She continued to experiment with cross-genre sounds in the 2000s, recording the covers album "Heart Strings" (2003) with the City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra. In 2004, Tyler began recording in Paris with producer Jean Lahcène, beginning with a re-recording of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" which topped the charts in France and Belgium. Tyler promoted her subsequent albums "Simply Believe" (2004) and "Wings" (2005) with a world tour and the release of her first concert film Bonnie on Tour.
Tyler spent the following eight years concentrating on her live work before returning to the studio for "Rocks and Honey" (2013). The album includes her UK Eurovision entry "Believe in Me". In 2018, Tyler reunited with David Mackay, who produced Tyler's first two albums in the 1970s, for her latest releases "Between the Earth and the Stars" (2019) and "The Best Is Yet to Come" (2021).
Tyler has contributed to several film soundtracks. Her most notable recording is "Holding Out for a Hero" which featured in Footloose, and has since become synonymous with action sequences, having later appeared in Shrek 2, Loki, and in numerous movie trailers. In 1984, Tyler sang the track "Here She Comes" for Giorgio Moroder's restoration of Fritz Lange's Metropolis, a recording which led to Tyler's third Grammy nomination.
Lord Help Me
Bonnie Tyler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the middle of a sweet dream
Tell me what I am supposed to do
When I wake up in the middle of the night
When you've got those blue eyes
I try to fight the fire but I'm consumed
It's a game that I'll never seem to wear
Lord help me I'm falling love
Lord help me there's no way out but I can't get enough
I'm standing on the ship that's going down
You said swing the chair and precede
Well I'm down on my knees
Lord help me
Oh Lord help me
I can't help but a river that's right
Because I've been treated right, treated wrong
But maybe this time I've seen the light
Turn another cheek to the other danger signs
But now it's too late I have to say I've been over my head
It's a heavenly mess I'm in,
I swear I wouldn't but here I go again!
Lord help me I'm falling love
Lord help me there's no way out but I can't get enough
I saved myself but I don't know how
You said swing the chair and precede
Down on my knees
Lord help me
Oh Lord help me
You said swing the chair and precede
Can't you see that I'm down on my knees
Tonight I'm begging please!
Lord help me I'm falling in love
Lord help me there's no way out but I can't get enough
I'm standing on the ship that's going down
You said ask and I shall be redeemed
Well I'm down on my knees
Lord help me!
Oh lord help me!
Lord help me!
Yeah.
In Bonnie Tyler's song Lord Help Me, the artist sings about the helplessness one feels when they fall hopelessly and uncontrollably in love. The first verse speaks of the singer waking up in the middle of the night from a sweet dream, only to be consumed by the thought of the person they love. The second verse speaks of the singer's past experiences with love, both good and bad, but despite knowing the danger signs, they willingly fall into the trap again.
The chorus emphasizes the singer's inability to control their feelings, as they beg for help from the Lord. The ship going down represents the singer's life, which they feel is ruined because of their uncontrollable feelings. The line "You said swing the chair and proceed" could refer to a game of musical chairs, where the singer is waiting for their turn to be with their love interest, even if it means causing harm to themselves.
Overall, the song depicts the helplessness and vulnerability one feels when in love, even if it's not right for them. It speaks of the constant struggle of trying to control one's emotions and decisions, especially when it comes to matters of the heart.
Line by Line Meaning
I wake up in the middle of the night
I frequently awaken in the middle of the night
In the middle of a sweet dream
During a wonderful and enjoyable dream
Tell me what I am supposed to do
Demanding help or guidance
When I wake up in the middle of the night
Whenever I frequently wake up in the middle of the night
When you've got those blue eyes
Referring to someone who has compelling blue eyes
I try to fight the fire but I'm consumed
Struggling to control intense emotions that are overwhelming
It's a game that I'll never seem to wear
It's a game I won't ever succeed in winning
I swear I wouldn't but here I go again
Making an oath that has been broken
Lord help me I'm falling love
Asking for assistance in coping with romantic feelings
Lord help me there's no way out but I can't get enough
Asking for help to overcome desire that seems impossible to control
I'm standing on the ship that's going down
In a situation that is getting worse by the minute
You said swing the chair and precede
Referring to advice given by someone
Well I'm down on my knees
Feeling hopeless and helpless
I can't help but a river that's right
Comparable to being swept away by a stream's current
Because I've been treated right, treated wrong
Received both positive and negative treatment from others
But maybe this time I've seen the light
Realizing something profound
Turn another cheek to the other danger signs
Ignoring other risks or warning signs
But now it's too late I have to say I've been over my head
Admitting to being unprepared for something that has already caused difficulties
It's a heavenly mess I'm in
Feeling as if a clean and perfect state is unattainable
You said swing the chair and precede
Recalling a previous suggestion or encouragement from someone
Can't you see that I'm down on my knees
Pleading with someone for help or assistance
Tonight I'm begging please!
Asking for something in a desperate tone
You said ask and I shall be redeemed
Recalling a statement where redemption or assistance is promised
Oh lord help me!
An emphatic call for assistance
Lord help me!
A repeated request for help
Contributed by Leah N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Philip Kassabian
on Straight From The Heart
Yet another excellent Bonnie Tyler song.
Philip Kassabian
on Holding Out for a Hero
A great and fantastic song by Bonnie Tyler.