Cyndi Lauper (born Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper on June 22, 1953 in Brookly… Read Full Bio ↴Cyndi Lauper (born Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper on June 22, 1953 in Brooklyn, New York, United States), is a Grammy Award-winning singer (who possesses a four-octave vocal range) and Emmy Award-winning film, television and theatre actress. She was lead singer of the rockabilly band Blue Angel before her rise to fame as a solo singer. Her melodic voice and wild costumes have come to epitomize the 1980s and New Wave — the decade and genre in which she first came to fame.

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.

Give It Up
Cyndi Lauper Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Pressure on me
Can't get out
Situation it's a melt down
Nine to fivin', want to shout
New direction, got to get to high ground

I've got to get back to the floor
Just grab my keys and pop the door

[Chorus]
Going to give it up
Get on down
Little by little going to turn it around

Wash the week out
Of my mind
Slap my face on
Now I feel sublime
Put some sounds on
To unwind
Caught the moment
Just about the right time

I've got to get back to the floor
Just grab my keys and pop the door, yea

[Chorus: x2]

Make my heart sing
Like a wild thing
Yea yea yea

[Chorus: x2]

Give it up [Repeat x7]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cyndi Lauper's song Give It Up talk about the pressure that the singer is facing and the need to get out of their current situation, which is causing a meltdown. The lyrics imply that the reason for the meltdown is the daily grind of a nine-to-five job, and the need for a new direction to get to higher ground. The singer decides to leave their current situation behind and "get back to the floor," which could mean going out dancing or finding a new, more enjoyable job. The chorus encourages the listener to "give it up" and start dancing, letting loose, and taking small steps to turn their life around.

The lyrics to Give It Up reflect Cyndi Lauper's unique style of pop music, which often includes messages of empowerment and individuality. The song encourages listeners to find joy and liberation in their daily lives, even in the midst of stress and pressure. This message is reinforced by the lively and upbeat melody of the song, which features a catchy chorus and instruments like drums, guitar, and keyboards.

Line by Line Meaning

Pressure on me
I am feeling overwhelmed and burdened

Can't get out
I feel trapped and unable to escape my circumstances

Situation it's a melt down
My current situation is causing me to feel like everything is falling apart

Nine to fivin', want to shout
I am tired of the monotonous routine of my everyday life and feel the need to express myself

New direction, got to get to high ground
I need to find a new path and elevate myself from my current situation

I've got to get back to the floor
I need to ground myself and come back to reality

Just grab my keys and pop the door
I am ready to make a change and take action

Going to give it up
I am ready to let go of my troubles

Get on down
I am going to dance and move forward

Little by little going to turn it around
I am going to make incremental progress towards changing my situation

Wash the week out
I need to clear my mind from the stress of the past week

Of my mind
I am trying to forget my troubles and focus on the present

Slap my face on
I am preparing myself to face the day with confidence

Now I feel sublime
I feel amazing and confident

Put some sounds on
I am going to listen to music

To unwind
I am trying to relax and let go of my stress

Caught the moment
I am living in the present moment

Just about the right time
I chose the perfect moment to unwind

Make my heart sing
I want to feel happy and alive

Like a wild thing
I want to feel free and uninhibited

Give it up
I am letting go of my troubles and embracing my new direction

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: CYNDI LAUPER, S. CORNISH, N. MACE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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