'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.
Silhouettes
Cliff Richard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The lyrics of the song "Silhouettes" by Cliff Richard talks about a man who takes a walk and passes by his lover's house late at night. He notices that all the shades were drawn and the dim light from within casts two silhouettes on the shade. He sees his lover with another man, embracing each other and kissing, which makes him question why he is not the guy whose silhouette is on the shade. The man couldn't hide his tears and decided to ring his lover's bell, demanding to be let in. He threatens to beat down the door if his demands are not met. As he waits outside the porch, he sees the two strangers who have been two silhouettes on the shade and realizes that he is on the wrong block.
The man rushes to his lover's house with wings on his feet, expressing his love for her and vowing that they will be two silhouettes on the shade for all their days. The lyrics of the song reflect the emotions of a man who has been cheated on, and he seeks a way to express his desire to be with his lover again. The song is a tale of love that experiences ups and downs but ultimately ends in reconciliation.
Line by Line Meaning
Took a walk and passed your house late last night
I went for a walk and passed by your house late at night
All the shades were pulled and drawn way down tight
All the window shades were closed tightly
From within, the dim light cast two silhouettes on the shade
Inside, a dim light made two shadowy figures on the window shade
Oh what a lovely couple they made
They looked like a beautiful couple
Put his arms around your waist, held you tight
He held you close with his arms around your waist
Kisses I could almost taste in the night
I could feel the passion of their kisses
Wondered why I'm not the guy who's silhouette's on the shade
I wondered why I wasn't the one in the window with you
I couldn't hide the tears in my eyes
I couldn't stop myself from crying
Lost control and rang your bell, I was sore
I couldn't control my emotions and rang your doorbell despite the pain
Let me in or else I'll beat down your door
I demanded to be let in or threatened to break down the door
When two strangers who have been two silhouettes on the shade
When two strangers who were once silhouettes on the window shade
Said to myself "you're on the wrong block"
I realized I was at the wrong place
Rushed out to your house with wings on my feet
I ran to your house as fast as I could
Loved you like I'd never loved you my sweet
I loved you with all my heart like never before
Vowed that you and I would be two silhouettes on the shade
I promised that we would be together like the silhouettes in the window
All of our days, two silhouettes on the shade
Forever we would be like the shadowy figures in the window
Lyrics ยฉ BMG Rights Management, RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Written by: Bob Crewe, Frank C. Slay Jr.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brian Vincent
Hi David.
Whilst your comment is genuinely meant as a compliment and you clearly admire Cliff, it is an often repeated compliment that would never be expressed by a true and career informed Cliffite.
Cliff is not England's Elvis.
He is the WORLD'S Cliff !!!!!
Elvis was a gospel singer within four years, albeit a good one. We all know Elvis Prickly scuppered Cliff's chances in the USA. He was petrified of Cliff.
His influence on EMI and major play stations and TV chat shows in the USA was enormous, and the Cliff exclusion zone was actively put into play and even reinforced after Elvis died. Elvis Prickly must have been beside himself when "Devil Woman" stormed the USA billboard at number six in 1976. Cliff was in his 36th year, lean, and looking 26, whilst Elvis would be dead within a year, causing McDonald's to suffer a share price drop of 25%, and forcing bathroom manufacturing Companies in the USA to reinforce their bathroom floor tiling.
It is sad indeed that the biggest musical crime in global history is that of the USA being deprived of 62 years of our Cliff. And all at the hands of their laughingly titled "King of Rock and Roll". (Tell that to Eddie Cochran fans)!
USA citizens would have loved Cliff's pop/rock style, his unparalleled ability to deliver a ballad, and above all, his warmth, kindness and humanity. Not forgetting Cliff was always a better singer than Elvis anyway !!!!!!!!!!!!!
How sad and ironic that Cliff chooses to reside in the USA in order to secure practical anonymity. When you consider Cliff's record sales statistics and his placing in the global sales rankings, it beggars belief that he attained this with practically no exposure in the biggest record sales market in the world, the USA. (The same fate that befell the superb Julio Iglesias, incidentally, whose global sales possibly exceed our Cliff).
I feel sorry for the USA fans, as they are genuinely discovering Cliff after all these years, but having to reverse engineer his career rather than have experienced his growth and development through the glorious decades that followed.
Alongside Sir Bobby Charlton, Cliff has proudly cemented his joint status with Bobby as our greatest national treasure and institution.
Interestingly, a lot of UK artists that dislike Cliff are quick to point out his lack of USA recognition. Such artists, who shall be here and gone quickly after brief success, (admittedly within the USA as well as Europe), would be wise to check out Cliff's billboard success. Even Cliff overlooks his USA strike rate, but it is spread over such a long period he remains largely unknown there. I am sure these so called artists of today would much prefer a career span such as our Cliff has achieved.
Elvis could not lace Cliff's boots and mention of his name on a Cliff related YouTube upload is not to be encouraged.
Daphne Cotterill
There will never be any one like Sir Cliff...Thank you Sir Cliff..
You are simply the best
Suzanne Robbins
I remember being about ten years old when the first version came out in the 50โs....I would sing it with my friend as we played with a ball...bouncing it back, and forth to the words...funny what we remember! I loved Cliffโs version the best of all! He sings it beautifully! The dancers just added the feeling to the music!
Brian Vincent
Great performance our Cliff!!!!
The genius that is Sir Cliff Richard.
Marie Hanadi
๐โค๏ธโค๏ธ
sebash07
This song is so cool. Cliff sings it so well ๐ฅฐ๐๐ฅฐ
Eugene Barry
Such a great talent with his distinctive voice and charm. Still got it and looks fabulous. Thanks for the music Sir Cliff
Helen Bosworth
What a fabulous song ๐
AnneCherch
Super song. Lovely video. Cliff at his best as always. Love him forever.๐
ZusanRy
Bring back beautiful memories; I was at the concert, June 1989; the weather was very hot! Cliff was/is as always Fantastic, Fabulous! Thank you Sir Cliff! God bless you always! ๐๐บ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ต
Adrian M.
๐๐๐โ๏ธ๐๐ฌ๐ง๐ธ Belle chanson. Ma chanson prรฉfรฉrรฉe de tous les temps. Merveilleuse interprรฉtation de Sir Cliff Richard. J'ai toujours aimรฉ, aimรฉ et apprรฉciรฉ les chansons รฉternelles de Cliff Richard.๐๐๐โ๏ธ๐๐ฌ๐ง๐ธ๐น