Isaak's music can be described as a blend of country, blues, rock'n'roll, pop and surf rock.
He signed a contract to Warner Brothers Records in 1984 for his first album "Silvertone". Isaak's contract was renewed in 1988 when Warner moved him to their Reprise Records label.
His best-known song is "Wicked Game". Though released on the 1989 album "Heart Shaped World", an instrumental version of the song was later featured in the David Lynch film 'Wild at Heart' (and also years later in the 2000 film The Family Man). An Atlanta radio station DJ began playing the full version and it quickly became a nation-wide top ten hit. The music video for the song was directed by Herb Ritts and was a big MTV and VH1 hit; shot in black and white, it starred Isaak and model Helena Christensen rolling on the beach, embracing and whispering in each others' ears.
In 1999, Isaak's "Baby Did A Bad, Bad Thing" was featured in Stanley Kubrick's final film 'Eyes Wide Shut', starring Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman.
In 2001, Chris Isaak starred in his own television show, 'The Chris Isaak Show'. It aired from March 2001 to March 2004 in the United States on the cable television network Showtime. This adult comedy show featured Chris Isaak and his band playing themselves with the episode plots based on fictional accounts of the backstage world of Chris Isaak - the rock star next door.
In 2004, his track "Life Will Go On" was featured on the 'Chasing Liberty' soundtrack, which starred Mandy Moore and Matthew Goode.
He hosted a talk show on the Biography cable channel in the United States in 2009 that offered a unique twist - each guest was a musical artist, and both Chris and the artist performed various songs throughout each show. Eight episodes aired in early 2009, featuring guests Trisha Yearwood, Stevie Nicks, Glen Campbell, Michael Buble, Chicago, The Smashing Pumpkins, Yusuf Islam (Cat Stevens), and Jewel.
Isaak has also appeared in numerous films, mostly playing minor cameo roles, though he starred with Keanu Reeves and Bridget Fonda in the 1993 Bernardo Bertolucci-directed 'Little Buddha', and also played a major role in David Lynch's 'Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me' (1992). Other motion pictures include 'Married to the Mob' (1988), 'The Silence of the Lambs' (1991), 'That Thing You Do!' (1996), and 'A Dirty Shame' (2004). He also guest-starred on the Super Bowl Sunday (1996) edition of the television sitcom Friends and on the HBO miniseries, From the Earth to the Moon (HBO).
Chris is also an amateur boxer, avid surfer and a former Golden Gloves champion.
Always Got Tonight
Chris Isaak Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell me darling what it is you want to do
If you want me, you know I could be with you
We always got tonight, always got tonight
You say you're happy that you found somebody new
Now you're leaving, gone for a day or two
Think it over, I can make it up to you
Ain't no stars up in the sky, I wonder why I feel so blue
Over you
It doesn't matter what you say, I feel this way
Feel like it's true, when I look at you
Take it easy, tell him that you'll telephone
If he calls back, just pretend you're all alone
If you love me, then it is really wrong
We always got tonight, always got tonight
There ain't a cloud up in the sky
I don't know why I feel so blue
Without you
You tell me now you want me too
It doesn't matter what you do
I'm here for you
Ain't no stars up in the sky, now you're gone
Doesn't matter what you do on your own
You told me once that you were mine, you were wrong
I'm alone
Skip the bad times, tell me how it's gonna be
What we do now, really isn't up to me
Let me come by, this much I can guarantee
We always got tonight, always got tonight
Ain't no stars up in the sky, I wonder why I get so blue
Over you
Doesn't matter what you say, I feel this way
Feel like it's true, when I look at you
Doesn't matter what you say, now you're gone
Doesn't matter what you do on your own
I told you once that you were mine, I was wrong
Now you're gone
Always got tonight, we always got tonight baby
Oh, yeah
In Chris Isaak's song "Always Got Tonight," the singer is asking his love interest to make a decision about their relationship. The lyrics imply that she has found someone else, making it difficult for the singer to continue pursuing her. However, he offers to make it up to her and suggests that they have tonight to be together. The chorus repeats the line "always got tonight," indicating that the singer is willing to be with her tonight and leave their future open.
In the second verse, the singer expresses his sadness over losing her but remains committed to her. He advises her to tell her new love interest that she will be alone if he calls back, leaving the door open for them to be together. The bridge repeats the feeling of sadness and yearning as the singer wonders why he feels so blue without her. The song ends with the phrase "Always got tonight, we always got tonight baby," implying that the hope of being together is still there.
Overall, "Always Got Tonight" is a song about fleeting love and the need to seize opportunities when they arise. The singer is willing to put aside his hurt feelings and be with his love interest tonight, despite not knowing what their future holds. The lyrics convey a sense of desperation and longing, making it a romantic and emotional ballad.
Line by Line Meaning
Here's to good times, baby now it's up to you
Cheers to having a good time, but now it's your decision what we do next.
Tell me darling what it is you want to do
Please let me know what you'd like to do, my love.
If you want me, you know I could be with you
If you want me, know that I am available to be there for you.
We always got tonight, always got tonight
No matter what, we always have tonight to enjoy each other's company.
You say you're happy that you found somebody new
You've mentioned that you've found someone new and are happy with that person.
Now you're leaving, gone for a day or two
You're leaving for a brief period of time.
Think it over, I can make it up to you
Please take some time to think, and if you decide to come back, I'll do what I can to make things right.
We always got tonight
No matter what happens, we always have tonight to be together.
Ain't no stars up in the sky, I wonder why I feel so blue
Despite the lack of stars in the sky, I feel down and can't help but wonder why.
Over you
It's because of you that I feel this way.
It doesn't matter what you say, I feel this way
Regardless of what you say, my feelings remain the same.
Feel like it's true, when I look at you
When I see you, my feelings are validated and feel true.
Take it easy, tell him that you'll telephone
Relax and tell your new partner that you will call him when he reaches out to you.
If he calls back, just pretend you're all alone
If he calls and I'm with you, please pretend that you're alone so he doesn't get suspicious.
If you love me, then it is really wrong
If your new partner loves you, it's not right for us to continue seeing each other.
There ain't a cloud up in the sky
The sky is clear and cloudless.
You tell me now you want me too
You've now told me that you want to be with me as well.
It doesn't matter what you do
Regardless of your actions and decisions, I will always be here for you.
I'm here for you
I am always here to support and care for you.
Now you're gone
Now that you're no longer with me.
Doesn't matter what you do on your own
Even though you're not with me, your actions on your own don't matter to me - I still care.
You told me once that you were mine, you were wrong
You once said that you were mine, but you were mistaken or lying.
I'm alone
I'm now alone without you and feeling the effects of that.
Skip the bad times, tell me how it's gonna be
Let's not focus on the negative aspects - please tell me how things will be between us from here on.
What we do now, really isn't up to me
Ultimately, the decision of what we do is up to you.
Let me come by, this much I can guarantee
Please let me come see you, and I can guarantee that we'll have tonight together.
Oh, yeah
Expressing agreement or excitement.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CHRIS ISAAK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind