With his backing group The Shadows, he dominated the British popular music scene in the late 1950s and early 1960s, before and during the The Beatles' first year in the charts. A conversion to Christianity and subsequent softening of his music led to his having more of a pop than rock image. Although never able to achieve the same impact in the United States as in Britain (in spite of several chart hits there), Richard has remained a popular music, film, and television personality in the UK and also retains a following in several other countries.
During the last six decades, Cliff Richard has charted many hit singles, and holds the record (along with Elvis Presley) as the only act to make the UK singles charts in all of its active decades (1950s–2000s). According to his website, he has sold 250 million records over the course of his career. In the British charts alone, Richard has had more than 150 singles, albums and EPs make the top 20.
Mean Streak
Cliff Richard & The Shadows Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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 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
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.
Well, you're standing there honey, and you're looking so pretty
Even though you look beautiful standing there.
Well, I'm gonna leave you standing there in a pity
I'm going to leave you feeling sorry for yourself.
Well, you took my love and you threw it away
You took my love and rejected it.
And I know what's gonna happen to you someday
I know that one day you'll regret treating me so poorly.
Yeah, mean streak
Your cruel behavior is evident.
Oh baby, mean streak
Your cruel behavior is affecting our relationship.
Oh honey, mean streak
Your cruel behavior is hurting me.
Oh, mean streak
Your mean streak is unacceptable.
Contributed by Alexander T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Richard Harrison
Cliff in his pre-shadows phase. Excellent stuff. I believe the guitarist was Joe Moretti (who did the soloing on Shakin All Over) and the Double bassist was Liquorice Lockin.
Anthony Kerr
Hank Marvin play guitar
Misses no Name
👑💛Timeless,and ever great💛👑