Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb, 1940-10-14, in Lucknow, India) m… Read Full Bio ↴Sir Cliff Richard (born Harry Rodger Webb, 1940-10-14, in Lucknow, India) moved as an 8-year-old to the UK, where it would be 10 more years before he and his group The Drifters emerged in the UK charts for the first time with 'Move It'. Cliff was heavily influenced by Elvis, imitating him shamelessly during the first couple of years of his career. Something which he openly admits, and fully acknowledges that without Elvis, he and many others would never have happened. 'Move It' was a classic British Rock 'n' Roll song, peaked at number two, and was followed by a long string of hits like 'Living Doll' and 'Please Don't Tease'. By then The Drifters turned into The Shadows. After 'A Girl Like You' from 1961, the bond between Cliff and The Shadows loosened a bit, and solo singles of Cliff like 'When The Girl In Your Arms Is The Girl In Your Heart' started to appear alongside Cliff & The Shadows singles like 'Do You Wanna Dance'.

'Congratulations' was a global hit as it became a much bigger hit than 'La, La, La', which beat Cliff in the 1968 Eurovision song contest. Shortly after 'Congratulations', which was one of his solo efforts, Cliff recorded his last single with The Shadows. Again in 1973, with 'Power to All Our Friends', he entered the Eurovision song contest--this time reaching 3rd place.

The most sold artist in British Pop history - with over 40 top hits.

Worked with Stock Aitken Waterman in 1989 and the single "I Just Don't Have The Heart".

Sixty appearances at Wembley, plus sellout tour to celebrate 50 years in the business.

First hit: Move It, 1958, first no. 1: Living Doll

As big as he is in the UK, he has only had 3 Top 10 hits in the USA with the biggest still being his breakthrough 1976 single "Devil Woman" which made it all the way to #6.

Has also worked with Elton John, Mark Knopfler, Julian Lennon, Freddie Mercury, Stevie Wonder, Phil Everly, Janet Jackson, Sheila Walsh, Van Morrison, and Olivia Newton-John.

Mean Streak
Cliff Richard Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, you stand there honey, with you hands on your hips
Well, it's stoppin' your feeling, baby, button your lips
Yeah, you stand there honey with the devil in your eyes
You say you're gonna leave me, but I know it's a lie

Uh uh honey, you got a mean streak
Uh uh baby, you got a mean streak
Well, if you wanna stay with me, be my lovin' honey

You must lose your mean streak

You look so cute and you walk so nice
Oh but your hide is as mean and as cold as ice
Well, I found my heart, it was a big kind of faster
And I know I was living in disaster

Uh uh honey, you got a mean streak
Uh uh baby, you got a mean streak
Well, if you wanna stay with me, be my lovin' honey
You must lose your mean streak

Well, you're standing there honey, and you're looking so pretty
Well, I'm gonna leave you standing there in a pity
Well, you took my love and you threw it away
And I know what's gonna happen to you someday

Uh uh honey, you got a mean streak
Uh uh baby, you got a mean streak
Well, if you wanna stay with me, be my lovin' honey
You must lose your mean streak

Yeah, mean streak
Oh baby, mean streak

Oh honey, mean streak
Oh, mean streak

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cliff Richard’s “Mean Streak” describe the singer’s frustration with his lover’s cold and mean behavior. The song begins with the singer addressing his lover, who stands “with [her] hands on [her] hips.” He accuses her of “stoppin’ [his] feeling” and orders her to “button [her] lips.” Although she threatens to leave him, he knows she’s lying. He informs her that if she wants to stay with him, she must lose her “mean streak.”

The singer then notes that although his lover looks cute and walks nicely, her “hide is as mean and cold as ice.” He concedes that he was once living in a disaster, but he has since found his heart beating faster. The song ends with the singer indicating that he will leave his lover. He predicts that someday, she will receive her comeuppance because of her mean streak.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, you stand there honey, with you hands on your hips
You're standing there confidently with your hands on your hips.

Well, it's stoppin' your feeling, baby, button your lips
But your attitude is preventing any warmth or passion, so you need to zip it.

Yeah, you stand there honey with the devil in your eyes
You're looking at me with bad intentions in your eyes.

You say you're gonna leave me, but I know it's a lie
Even though you threaten to leave me, I know it's just an empty threat.

Uh uh honey, you got a mean streak
Your behavior is cruel and hurtful.

Well, if you wanna stay with me, be my lovin' honey
If you want to stay with me, you need to be kind and loving.

You must lose your mean streak
You must change your cruel behavior.

You look so cute and you walk so nice
You appear sweet and charming.

Oh but your hide is as mean and as cold as ice
But your true nature is cold and cruel.

Well, I found my heart, it was a big kind of faster
I fell in love with you quickly.

And I know I was living in disaster
But I quickly realized that falling in love with you was a mistake.