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.
Mom
Bonnie Tyler Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't know if I want to go down there
From here it looks like a little blue bowl
But it's a great big place and I'm so small
Why can't I stay here with you?
Did I make you mad, don't you want me to?
God said oh child of course I do but I've got life all planned for you.
There's someone down there waiting whose only goal in life
Is making sure you're always gonna be alright
A loving angel tendered tough and strong
It's almost time to go and meet your mom
Now you'll never have a better friend
Or a warmer touch to tuck you in
She'll kiss your bruises your bumps and scrapes
'Cause when you're hurt her heart will break
So hush now little baby, don't you cry
'Cause there's someone down there waiting whose only goal in life
Is making sure you're always gonna be alright
A loving angel tendered tough and strong
It's almost time to go and meet your mom.
And when she's talking to you make sure you listen close
She's gonna teach you everything you'll ever need to know
Like how to mind your manners, to love and laugh and dream
She'll put you on the path it will be you...
Hush now little baby, don't you cry
There's someone down there waiting whose only goal in life
Is making sure you're always gonna be alright
A loving angel tendered tough and strong
Come on child it's time to meet your mom.
The song "Mom" by Bonnie Tyler is a heartwarming tribute to the bond between a mother and her child. Based on the lyrics, the song seems to be written from the perspective of God, who reassures a nervous baby about to be born that they will be okay and loved by their mother. The little baby expresses their fears to God about going down to Earth, which seems like a big scary place. However, God comforts the child by telling them that a loving angel will be there to guide and protect them, and that their mother will be their best friend and ally.
The song goes on to describe the special role that mothers play in their children's lives. They are the ones who are always there to kiss boo-boos, listen to their problems, and offer guidance and support. The lyrics suggest that mothers are a source of unconditional love, and will always be there to help their children navigate life's ups and downs. The song ends with an invitation for the child to "come on" and meet their mom, suggesting a joyful reunion between mother and child.
Overall, "Mom" is a touching tribute to the powerful bond between mothers and their children. It highlights the important role that mothers play in their children's lives, and speaks to the universal experience of relying on a mother's love and support.
Line by Line Meaning
A little baby told God I'm kind of scared
A newborn baby asks God with fear and uncertainty
Don't know if I want to go down there
The baby is unsure about leaving the safety and comfort of being with God
From here it looks like a little blue bowl
The baby's current viewpoint of Earth is a small, insignificant place
But it's a great big place and I'm so small
The baby realizes that Earth is much bigger than it seems and they feel small and vulnerable in comparison
Why can't I stay here with you?
The baby questions why they can't just stay in God's presence where they feel safe
Did I make you mad, don't you want me to?
The baby worries that they did something to upset God, causing them to want to leave them behind
God said oh child of course I do but I've got life all planned for you.
God reassures the baby that they are loved, but they have a purpose and destiny on Earth
So hush now little baby, don't you cry
God tells the baby to be quiet as someone special is waiting for them on Earth
There's someone down there waiting whose only goal in life
There is a person on Earth who is dedicated to protecting and caring for the baby
Is making sure you're always gonna be alright
Their only objective is ensuring the baby's wellbeing and safety
A loving angel tendered tough and strong
The person waiting for the baby is a kind and caring angel with the strength to protect them from harm
It's almost time to go and meet your mom
The baby is about to be born and meet their mother for the first time
Now you'll never have a better friend
The mother will always be a source of comfort and support for the baby
Or a warmer touch to tuck you in
The mother's touch is gentle and comforting, creating a safe and cozy environment
She'll kiss your bruises your bumps and scrapes
The mother will lovingly care for the baby's injuries and soothe their pain
'Cause when you're hurt her heart will break
The mother feels the baby's pain and is affected by it emotionally
And when she's talking to you make sure you listen close
The mother will impart wisdom and knowledge to the baby, so they should pay attention
She's gonna teach you everything you'll ever need to know
The mother will guide and educate the baby through life
Like how to mind your manners, to love and laugh and dream
The mother will teach the baby important values such as respect, love, humor, and the ability to aspire
Come on child it's time to meet your mom.
The song ends with a reminder that it's time for the baby to be born and join their mother on Earth.
Contributed by Nathaniel G. 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.