The words "I just died in your arms tonight" originally came to Van Eede while he was having sex with his girlfriend, "death" being an often-used metaphor for orgasm. Writing down the phrase, Van Eede later used it as the hook to "(I Just) Died In Your Arms."
Released on August 15, 1986 (UK) January 4, 1987 (US)
Length 4:41
Label Virgin
Producer Terry Brown, John Jansen, Cutting Crew
Died in Your Arms
Cutting Crew Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It must have been something you said
I just died in your arms tonight
I keep lookin' for somethin' I can't get
Broken hearts lie all around me
And I don't see an easy way to get out of this
Her diary, it sits by the bedside table
Who would've thought that a boy like me could come to this
Oh I, I just died in your arms tonight
It must've been something you said
I just died in your arms tonight
Oh I, I just died in your arms tonight
It must've been some kind of kiss
I should've walked away
I should've walked away
Is there any just cause for feelin' like this?
On the surface, I'm a name on a list
I try to be discreet, but then blow it again
I've lost and found, it's my final mistake
She's loving by proxy, no give and all take
'Cause I've been thrilled to fantasy one too many times
Oh I, I just died in your arms tonight
It must've been something you said
I just died in your arms tonight
Oh I, I just died in your arms tonight
It must've been some kind of kiss
I should've walked away
I should've walked away
It was a long hot night
She made it easy, she made it feel right
But now it's over, the moment has gone
I followed my hands not my head, I know I was wrong
Oh I, I just died in your arms tonight
It must've been something you said
I just died in your arms tonight
I, I just died in your arms tonight
It must've been some kind of kiss
I should've walked away
I should've walked away
The Cutting Crew's song, "I Just Died In Your Arms," is a story of a man who has just had an intense sexual encounter with a woman. As the title suggests, he feels as though he has died in her arms - this could either be interpreted literally or figuratively. The lyrics suggest that the man did not expect to end up in this situation and that he is now confused and overwhelmed by his feelings.
The song is an example of a power ballad - a popular form of rock music from the 1980s that typically featured emotional lyrics, soaring vocals, and a prominent guitar riff. The Cutting Crew's version of this genre was particularly successful, becoming a number one hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.
The first verse sets the scene, noting that the singer is looking for something that he cannot find, surrounded by broken hearts. From there, he describes the room in which he is in (the curtains are closed, the cat is in the cradle) and notes his surprise at finding himself in this situation ("Who would've thought that a boy like me could come to this?"). The chorus repeats the title phrase, suggesting that the experience was so intense that it felt like dying in the woman's arms. As the second verse begins, the singer questions whether there is any justification for feeling this way, noting that on the surface, he is just one of many names on a list. He tries to be discreet but keeps making mistakes, ending up in situations that leave him "lost and found." The final verse describes how the night started out feeling right but ended badly - the singer follows his hands, not his head, and now he regrets it.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh I, I just died in your arms tonight
The singer is expressing his feeling of being overwhelmed by something
It must have been something you said
The cause of being overwhelmed is attributed to something said by another person
I keep lookin' for somethin' I can't get
The singer is searching for something that is unattainable
Broken hearts lie all around me
The singer is surrounded by people who have experienced heartbreak
And I don't see an easy way to get out of this
The singer is having difficulty finding a solution to his problems
Her diary, it sits by the bedside table
The person he is singing about has a diary that is in close proximity to them
The curtains are closed, the cats in the cradle
The setting of the scene is a quiet and peaceful one
Who would've thought that a boy like me could come to this
The singer is reflecting on his current situation and how it is unexpected
It must've been some kind of kiss
The singer is still trying to figure out what caused his overwhelming feelings
I should've walked away
The singer acknowledges that he made a mistake by not leaving the situation earlier
Is there any just cause for feelin' like this?
The singer is questioning whether or not there is a valid reason for his feelings
On the surface, I'm a name on a list
The singer is expressing his feelings of insignificance
I try to be discreet, but then blow it again
The singer recognizes that he tries to hide his emotions, but fails to do so
I've lost and found, it's my final mistake
The singer has made a big mistake that he can't recover from
She's loving by proxy, no give and all take
The person he is singing about is not reciprocating love, only taking from him
It was a long hot night
The singer is referring to a night where he experienced overwhelming emotions
She made it easy, she made it feel right
The person he is singing about made him feel comfortable and at ease
But now it's over, the moment has gone
The moment where the singer experienced overwhelming emotions is now over and gone
I followed my hands not my head, I know I was wrong
The singer realizes that he made a mistake by letting his emotions control him
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Nicholas Eede
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gustavonunes8735
It's March 2024, let's see how many legends are listening to this masterpiece
@runeguy277
Well VC definitive edition just came out so I think a lot of people are rediscovering the old songs again.
@kingdoz
@@runeguy277 hi, what is Vc definitive edition and where can I find it please. Thanks.
@BooRadley452
I'm all in...
@runeguy277
@@kingdoz It's a GTA game, vice city, its on PS5 and XBOX, not sure about PC.
@williamtodd582
14.11.2021
@Paszonas
80s: good music
90s/2010s: nostalgia
2020s: Lego Batman
@NileBlackAndWhite
real
@OsterPug
Yes
@Richard_375
And we are here