Born in Queens, New York to Swiss German-American Fred Lauper and Sicilian Italian-American Catrine Dominique, she began her career in a cover band, but soon began performing her own songs (though she almost quit singing altogether due to strained vocal chords in 1977). By 1980 she'd released a rockabilly album on Polydor with the band Blue Angel. Despite much critical acclaim, the album "went lead," as Lauper says, and the band split as Lauper filed for bankruptcy.
In 1983 she started dating her manager David Wolff with whom she released She's So Unusual, a worldwide hit album which made Lauper a household name. A mixture of teen-friendly pop-rock and edgier, almost punky sounds, the album's biggest hit, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, quickly established itself as a female anthem. Lauper won a Grammy Award for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards of 1984 for her work on the album. Lauper was the first female artist to have four consecutive Hot 100 Top 5 hits from one album.
Subsequent albums (such as True Colors, A Night to Remember, Hat Full of Stars) did not sell as well, but Lauper remains active to the present day and still retains a very strong fan base.
Lauper's latest album Memphis Blues was released in June 2011, premiering at #1 on the Billboard Blues Album Chart where it remained for 14 consecutive weeks. The album also reached #26 on the Billboard Top 200, and was later named the Billboard Blues Album of the year, also earning Lauper a Grammy nomination. This brought her total Grammy nominations to 13 with one win.
All Through the Night
Cyndi Lauper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll be awake and I'll be with you
All through the night
This precious time when time is new
Oh, all through the night today
Knowing that we feel the same without saying
We have no past, we won't reach back
And once we start the meter clicks
And it goes running all through the night
Until it ends, there is no end
All through the night
Stray cat is crying so stray cat sings back
All through the night
They have forgotten what binding they lack
Oh under those white street lamps
There is a little chance they may see
We have no past, we won't reach back
Keep with me forward all through the night
And once we start the meter clicks
And it goes running all through the night
Until it ends, there is no end
Oh the sleep in your eyes is enough
Let me be there, let me stay there awhile
We have no past, we won't reach back
Keep with me forward all through the night
And once we start the meter clicks
And it goes running all through the night
Until it ends there is no end
Keep with me forward all through the night
And once we start the meter clicks
And it goes running all through the night
Until it ends there is no end
The lyrics of Cyndi Lauper's "All Through the Night" convey the essence of a passionate commitment to being with someone through thick and thin. The song is rich in metaphors that symbolize resilience, connection, and affinity. The lyrics start off with the singer affirming the decision to stay awake through the night to be with her love. She describes the time as "precious" because it's a new beginning, free of any baggage from the past. The lyrics then proceed to emphasize the importance of staying together and moving forward, as reflected in the lines: "We have no past, we won't reach back. Keep with me forward all through the night." The meter of the song clicks as the night progresses, signifying the continuity of the commitment. The singer acknowledges that there might not be an end to their journey.
The second verse of the song shifts its focus from the couple to a stray cat that's crying in the night. The singer notes that the cat lacks a familiart home but sings anyways. The cat's song can be seen as emblematic of the singers' journey, as they forge ahead without any guarantees, but with a sense of determination. As the song approaches its end, the singer points out how even the sleep in her lover's eyes is enough for her to remain by their side. The chorus repeats itself twice, driving home the message that the commitment is unwavering and that the meter of the night runs indefinitely.
Line by Line Meaning
All through the night
I will be awake and sticking with you throughout the night.
I'll be awake and I'll be with you
I will stay awake with you by your side.
This precious time when time is new
This moment is priceless as this is a new experience for us.
Oh, all through the night today
Oh, we will be together all night long today.
Knowing that we feel the same without saying
Although we may not express it in words, we are aware of our mutual feelings.
We have no past, we won't reach back
We don't have any history or regrets to hold us back.
Keep with me forward all through the night
Stay with me and move forward together throughout the night.
And once we start the meter clicks
Once we begin, time starts ticking away.
And it goes running all through the night
Our experience will continue throughout the night without interruption.
Until it ends, there is no end
As long as it lasts, there is no definitive ending.
Stray cat is crying so stray cat sings back
A stray cat cries and another one responds with its own song.
They have forgotten what binding they lack
The cats are unaware of their lack of connection.
Oh under those white street lamps
Under the illumination of the white street lamps.
There is a little chance they may see
There is a small possibility that they may notice one another.
Oh the sleep in your eyes is enough
Your tired eyes are all I need to see to know you're content.
Let me be there, let me stay there awhile
Allow me to remain there by your side for a little longer.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Jules Shear
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@e-lee8702
All through the night
I'll be awake
And I'll be with you
All through the night
This precious time
When time is new
Oh, all through the night today
Knowing that we feel the same without saying
We have no past, we won't reach back
Keep with me forward all through the night
And once we start the meter clicks
And it goes running all through the night
Until it ends, there is no end
All through the night
Stray cat is crying
So stray cat sings back
All through the night
They have forgotten
What by day they lack
Oh, under those white street lamps
There is a little chance they may see
We have no past, we won't reach back
Keep with me forward all through the night
And once we start the meter clicks
And it goes running all through the night
Until it ends, there is no end
Oh, the sleep in your eyes is enough
Let me be there, let me stay there a while
We have no past, we won't reach back
Keep with me forward all through the night
And once we start the meter clicks
And it goes running all through the night
Until it ends, there is no end
Keep with me forward all through the night
And once we start the meter clicks
And it goes running all through the night
Until it ends, there is no end
@QuickEyeCaptures
This is from Yahoo answers, and it makes sense to me: "We have no past, we won't reach back. Keep with me forward all through the night. And once we start, the meter clicks, and it goes running all through the night."
I think you're asking if "keep with me forward" or "the meter clicks" were some kind of '80s slang that were popularly understood at the time and had some special meaning. The answer is no. I was a junior in high school when that song came out, and I never heard these words anywhere but this song.
I think the lyrics are simply poetic - expressing a kind of urgency and free spiritedness of someone young who wants to "live in the moment" and forget about the past if only for just one night. In these lyrics, she's coaxing or urging someone (the listener) to go with her. "Keep with me forward" is a plea for you (of whoever she's singing to) to embrace the optimism with her, to join her on this night of escapism, fun, love, whatever.
"And once we start, the meter clicks" I think is a reference to taxicab meters and the way they click off the minutes (or parts of minutes) that you, the rider, will have to pay for. In this way, Lauper really emphasizes the urgency of making the most of every moment. The more clicks, the more expensive the trip. And because "it goes running all through the night," it's as if she's being chased by the constant reminder that time is precious and must be spent well.
Horton · 6 years ago
@Liciagarcia923
Anyone 2024 ❤❤❤
@hollywebb7314
Here ❤
@Savannahh1
And I'm young again even though I'm old. Beautiful song.
@antoniopollard2269
80s Music!!!!! The freakin BEST!!!
@americanpatriot7508
It's decent but oldies are the best. And I was born in the 80s.
@barbaramerino9950
We were eating last night in a restaurant / Casino and this song came on all through the night and I was so choked. It brought back such wonderful memories but I couldn't stop crying my mother is gone my father is gone and so is my middle brother. My sister had a stroke a few months ago he just brought back so many wonderful memories that my heart aches does anyone else feel the same with nature music from the past? Or am I being too silly? Music will never be the same like it was in the late 70s 80s and 90s thank you all for reading this and forgive me for my emotions.
@jasielcordeiro7061
Quando a música nos faz lembrar coisas boas do passado, dá vontade de ficar ouvindo sempre, principalmente a noite, quando temos tempo pra refletir.
@TyroneFerrell-uq6cp
Never bottle it 😔 it's better to share.
@valquiria148
We are two...here in Brazil
@gokusoIos
I love it that us gen xers have so much emotions and we express that I'm a big guy and I cry because of how great the 70s and 80 s memories were they were unbelievable