"Sunglasses at Night" is the platinum-selling song recorded by Corey Hart. It was the first single to be released off his debut album, 1983's First Offense, and rose to #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song is considered by many to be a classic of 1980s New Romantic music, combining synthesizer pop, obscure lyrics and an almost Gothic ambiance in a hypnotic epic.
The original lyrics for the song were about a totalitarian society that made everyone wear their sunglasses at night; however under pressure from Hart's record company to make something more marketable, the song was altered to be more "romantic".
The video, however, reflects the original vision of a police state, with scenes of Hart, sans-sunglasses, being strong-armed by police officers and paraded past various citizens wearing their regulation shades. Near the end of the video, Hart is brought to the office of a female police officer, played by Laurie Brown, who later became the host of The NewMusic as well as a VJ on MuchMusic
In popular culture
The song is featured in the 2002 video game Grand Theft Auto: Vice City as part of the New Wave radio station Wave 103.
The song made #50 in VH1's 50 Most Awesomely Bad Songs of all Time.
The song also made #23 in Blender magazine's 50 Worst Songs Ever.
The popular Canadian teen drama Degrassi: The Next Generation, which is known for naming each episode after an '80s hit song, named an episode after this song. The episode faced the issue of addiction to gambling.
In the song "Nappy Heads - (Remix)" from Fugees album Blunted on Reality, Wyclef sings "I wear my sunglasses at night, to spy on my girlfriend.." at 4:12 and 4:22
This song is played in the now infamous Youtube video, "My New Haircut".
Ludacris sampled the song in his new mixtape 'The Preview', hosted by DJ Drama, on a song titled 'Secret Song' featuring Tity Boi.
Miley Cyrus sampled the song in See You Again.
Cover versions
Tiga
The song was covered in electro style by Tiga and Zyntherius in 2001,
The Federation
In 2006 it was covered by rap group The Federation with rappers E-40 and Keak Da Sneak, retitled as "I Wear My Stunna Glasses at Night", a reference to the popularity of "Stunna Shades" within the hyphy movement.
D.J. Size
In 2007 another cover was made after this song by Dj Size feat. J. Lourenzo.
Francis Soto
In 2007 covered his Song was made after this song by Francis Soto as nu metal Version.
Cheekyboy/Laptop punk
In 2007 Cheekyboy a mashup artist from the UK released an extremely popular mashup / remix of Justin Timberlake's Sexyback using elements of this song.
Sunglasses at Night
Corey Hart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So I can, so I can
Watch you weave then breathe your story lines
And I wear my sunglasses at night
So I can, so I can
Keep track of the visions in my eyes
It cuts my security
Has she got control of me?
I turn to her and say
Don't switch the blade on the guy in shades, oh no
Don't masquerade with the guy in shades, oh no
I can't believe it
'Cause you've got it made with the guy in shades, oh no
I wear my sunglasses at night
So I can, so I can
Forget my name while you collect your claim
And I wear my sunglasses at night
So I can, so I can
See the light that's right before my eyes
While she's deceiving me
She cuts my security
Has she got control of me?
I turn to her and say
Don't switch the blade on the guy in shades, oh no
Don't masquerade with the guy in shades, oh no
I can't believe it
Don't be afraid of the guy in shades, oh no
It can't escape you
'Cause you got it made with the guy in shades, oh no
Oh no
I say
I wear my sunglasses at night
I wear my sunglasses at night
I wear my sunglasses at night
I say it to you now
I wear my sunglasses at night
I wear my sunglasses at night
I wear my sunglasses at night
I cry to you
I wear my sunglasses at night
I wear my sunglasses
The lyrics of Corey Hart’s song “Sunglasses at Night” talk about a person who wears sunglasses at night so they can observe someone’s movements and facial expressions without being noticed. The line “So I can, so I can watch you weave then breathe your story lines” highlights the person's intention to closely observe someone's expression and movements without being noticed. He wears his sunglasses to conceal his identity and intentions. The title intends sarcastic meaning because wearing sunglasses at night is an unnecessary and impractical practice.
The meaning of the song is not limited to these lines only. The lyrics also indicate the singer's vulnerability to the whimsical behavior of his love interest. The phrase, “While, she’s deceiving me, it cuts my security” represents the singer's paranoia, implying the uncertainty he feels in the relationship, and the idea that his love interest is hiding something from him. The lyric "Has she got control of me?" expresses his apprehension that he is manipulated by his love interest. Additionally, the lyrics suggest that the singer allows his love interest to take control of him, represented in the line "Forget my name while you collect your claim."
Overall, the song is about mistrust, self-doubt, and vulnerability. It reflects the singer's struggle to trust his love interest, which is shown through the metaphor of wearing sunglasses at night to keep his intentions and emotions hidden.
Line by Line Meaning
I wear my sunglasses at night
I put on my sunglasses during the nighttime
So I can, so I can
Watch you weave then breathe your story lines
It allows me to watch you carefully and listen to your life stories
And I wear my sunglasses at night
So I can, so I can
Keep track of the visions in my eyes
It also helps me keep track of the mental images that I have in my mind
While, she's deceiving me
It cuts my security
Has she got control of me?
I turn to her and say
Someone is deceiving me and it makes me feel unsecured. I even start to question if they have control over me.
Don't switch the blade on the guy in shades, oh no
Don't masquerade with the guy in shades, oh no
I can't believe it
'Cause you've got it made with the guy in shades, oh no
Don't try to deceive or manipulate me because I have my sunglasses on, and I can see through your trickery
I wear my sunglasses at night
So I can, so I can
Forget my name while you collect your claim
It also helps me to forget about myself, while you take credit or benefit from something.
And I wear my sunglasses at night
So I can, so I can
See the light that's right before my eyes
It allows me to see something that is right in front of me, but might not be apparent to others
While she's deceiving me
She cuts my security
Has she got control of me?
I turn to her and say
Someone is still deceiving me, and it cuts deeper to my core, further questioning if they have control over me.
Don't switch the blade on the guy in shades, oh no
Don't masquerade with the guy in shades, oh no
I can't believe it
Don't be afraid of the guy in shades, oh no
It can't escape you
'Cause you got it made with the guy in shades, oh no
Don't play games with me, don't be scared, because you can't get away from me when I have my sunglasses on.
Oh no
I say
I wear my sunglasses at night
I wear my sunglasses at night
I wear my sunglasses at night
I emphasize that I really do wear my sunglasses at night
I say it to you now
I wear my sunglasses at night
I wear my sunglasses at night
I wear my sunglasses at night
I repeat it to you so you understand how important it is that I have my sunglasses on
I cry to you
I wear my sunglasses at night
I wear my sunglasses
I tell you with a cry that my sunglasses are crucial to me
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Corey Hart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Strideo1
Corey Hart wears his sunglasses at night so he can:
-Watch you weave then breathe your story lines.
-Keep track of the visions in his eyes.
-Forget his name while you collect your claim.
-See the light that's right before his eyes.
@lukamakhashvili7406
If you're listening to this is 2021, you're a legend.
@ulutepesefa
We are legends 😎
@thegrandsandwich4998
Im sandwich and a legend
@hamishlipscomb3803
I am
@Ransan611
Legends lives forever
@mr.wiseass7756
80s music is the best
@jjjlove2260
This is the kind of song that just randomly comes in my head out of nowhere every few months.
@susanf110
When I got my sunglasses on an it's getting dark 😎
@shuwap
lmao same
@galileevaccaro7687
I’m sorry, how can you read my mind like that?