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.
Grab a Hold
Cyndi Lauper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Going to hope that you listen
I'm not a story you've read about
I'm just what I am
And when you open your eyes up
In the morning you rise up
Wash yesterday from your face
Oh, it's my fascination, with the anticipation
If you want to grab a hold
If you want to grab a hold
If you want to grab a hold
Let it go...
I'm going to write down a letter
And maybe some day you'll get it
And know what I meant to say
And make it ok
And if ya look at my picture
You know the one on your dresser
And if you think that you see a frown
Turn me upside down
Why don't you use, your imagination?
Make it what you have to make it
If you want to grab a hold...
Let it go...
You get your grip
I'll hold you up
Just reach with your hand
And then use your imagination
Make it want you have to make it
If you want to grab a hold...
Let it go... (Repeat to fade)
In "Grab a Hold," Cyndi Lauper starts by acknowledging that she's about to make a confession, implying that she has something significant to reveal. She acknowledges that she's not a typical character that someone might have read about, and that she's just who she is. The lyrics might be referring to her unique style or her unconventional career path. In the second verse, the lyrics get even more personal as she talks about writing a letter expressing her feelings to someone, hoping to make it okay between them. She even refers to a picture on the target's dresser, suggesting that this could be a close friend or a romantic relationship that has gone awry. The chorus encourages the addressee to "grab a hold," suggesting that if they can reach out and take her hand, they can work through whatever issues there may be.
In the second chorus, Lauper emphasizes the importance of using one's imagination to make the best of any situation. While she acknowledges that it's essential to let things go and move on, having hope and anticipation can help to recognize the good in the future. The last half of the song repeats the chorus several more times, emphasizing the importance of "grabbing hold" and not letting go when we're confronted with difficult times. The song's overall message is empowering, suggesting that we all have the potential to hold on to what's important and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
Going to make a confession
I am about to admit something
Going to hope that you listen
I hope you pay attention to what I say
I'm not a story you've read about
I am not someone you know everything about
I'm just what I am
I am who I am
And when you open your eyes up
When you wake up
In the morning you rise up
When you get out of bed in the morning
Wash yesterday from your face
Leave yesterday in the past
And make a new plan
Start fresh with a new plan
Oh, it's my fascination, with the anticipation
I love the excitement of anticipation
If you want to grab a hold
If you want to take control
Let it go...
Don't hold back
I'm going to write down a letter
I am going to write a letter
And maybe some day you'll get it
You might get the letter someday
And know what I meant to say
You will understand what I wanted to say
And make it ok
Make things right
And if ya look at my picture
If you look at my photo
You know the one on your dresser
The one on your dresser
And if you think that you see a frown
If you think I am sad
Turn me upside down
Look at me from a different angle
Why don't you use, your imagination?
Why not use your creativity?
Make it what you have to make it
Make it the way you want it to be
You get your grip
Get a handle on things
I'll hold you up
I will support you
Just reach with your hand
Just try to hold on
And then use your imagination
And then be creative
If you want to grab a hold...
If you want to take control...
Let it go... (Repeat to fade)
Don't hold back... (Repeated until the song fades out)
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CYNTHIA LAUPER, DAN KURTZ, MARTINA SORBARA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Robert Cochran
on Time After Time
Philly's own - Hooter's song
Anonymous
on Time After Time
Time After Time - Lisa Wahlandt - Lyrics
Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick
And think of you
Caught up in circles
Confusion is nothing new
Flashback, warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcases of memories
Time after
Sometimes you picture me
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you've said
Then you say, go slow
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I will be waiting
Time after time
After my picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray
I’m watching through windows
And you're wondering if I'm okay
Secrets stolen from deep inside
The drum beats out of time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time
Musical Interlude
If you're lost you can look and you will really, really really, really really find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I know that I will be waiting
Time after time
Time after time
Hold on, hold on…..
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time
Time after time……..
Andra Arija
on He's so Unusual
Yeah ......