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.
High and Mighty
Cyndi Lauper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty yea yea yea yea
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty yea yea yea yea,
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
How do you see yourself inside your mind?
Do you ever catch yourself step out of time?
If I had a dollar every time I tried
I'd be living high and mighty
How do you see yourself inside your mind?
Who do you look at when you close your eyes?
If I had a dollar every time I cried,
I'd be living high and mighty, yea yea yea
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty, ma my, ma my, ma my
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty, yea yea yea yea
Then I guess it wouldn't be so bad without you,
Wouldn't even mind the things that you
Wouldn't walk away all steamy, cool
I'd be living high and mighty yea yea yea
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty yea yea yea yea,
Living, ma my ma my ma my
Listen to the sound when ya
I keep a coat rack by my bed
Up against your closet and next to my head
Didn't mean to trap your cloths
Keep the door blocked, closed
So you can't get in and I can't get out
Sink into my pillow and dream what it's about
To be living high and mighty
To be living high and mighty, yea yea yea
Living high and mighty [Repeated]
Ma my, ma my, ma my
I'd be living high and mighty [Repeated]
And keep the door blocked closed
My, my, my,
Yea, yea, yea
The song "High and Mighty" by Cyndi Lauper explores the notion of self-perception and how one's self-image differs with time and experiences. In the opening lines, Cyndi sings "Listen to the sound when ya, living high and mighty." This can be interpreted as a reference to the feelings of confidence and self-assurance that come with achieving success or accomplishing goals. As the song continues, the lyrics question the listener's self-perception and how they see themselves inside their mind. It delves into the idea that our self-image can be distorted or affected by external factors such as relationships and circumstances.
The chorus then suggests that if the listener had a dollar every time they tried or cried, they would be living high and mighty. This line can be interpreted as a comment on how adversity and struggles shape our self-image, and how overcoming them can result in a perceived sense of superiority. The song then takes a turn towards a personal confession when Cyndi sings, "Then I guess it wouldn't be so bad without you, wouldn't even mind the things that you." These lyrics express the idea that the artist needed someone to depend on to feel high and mighty but realized that true confidence comes from within.
Overall, "High and Mighty" is a song about self-reflection and the ever-changing nature of self-perception. It suggests that our sense of self can be influenced by external factors but ultimately relies on our ability to recognize and overcome our weaknesses and self-doubt.
Line by Line Meaning
Listen to the sound when ya,
Pay attention to the feeling when you're living high and mighty.
Living high and mighty
Living the life of dominance and luxury.
How do you see yourself inside your mind?
What is your self-image?
Do you ever catch yourself step out of time?
Do you ever feel disconnected from your surroundings?
If I had a dollar every time I tried,
If I had money for every effort I made.
I'd be living high and mighty
I would be living luxuriously.
Who do you look at when you close your eyes?
Who is the subject of your thoughts and dreams?
If I had a dollar every time I cried,
If I had money for every tear shed.
Living high and mighty, ma my, ma my, ma my
Living the luxurious life with enthusiasm and excitement.
Then I guess it wouldn't be so bad without you,
Being without you might not be as terrible as I envisioned.
Wouldn't even mind the things that you
Wouldn't even notice what you do.
Wouldn't walk away all steamy, cool
'Wouldn't get worked up or upset.
I'd be living high and mighty yea yea yea
I could enjoy the luxurious life without you.
I keep a coat rack by my bed
I use a coat rack as a room divider.
Up against your closet and next to my head
It's placed near your closet and my sleeping area.
Didn't mean to trap your cloths
I didn't intentionally block the closet.
Keep the door blocked, closed
I keep the door sealed shut.
So you can't get in and I can't get out
Neither of us can access the closet.
Sink into my pillow and dream what it's about
I lay down and ponder my dream.
My, my, my,
An exclamation of surprise or admiration.
Yea, yea, yea
An exclamation of excitement or affirmation.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: THE SCUMFROG, CYNDI LAUPER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Massimo Falavigna Cairns
Listen to the sounds when you're
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
How do you see yourself inside your mind?
Do you ever catch yourself, step out of time?
If I had a dollar every time I tried
I'd be living high and mighty
How do you see yourself inside your mind?
Who do you look at when you close your eyes?
If I had a dollar every time I cried
I'd be living high and mighty
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
(My mind, my mind, my mind)
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
My mind, my mind, my mind
Then I guess it wouldn't be so bad without you
Wouldn't even mind the things that you do
Wouldn? t walk away all steamy, cool
I'd be living high and mighty
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
(Yeah, yeah, yeah)
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
(My mind, my mind, my mind)
Listen to the sounds when you? re
I keep a coat rack by my bed
Up against your closet and next to my head
Didn't mean to trap your clothes
Keep the door blocked, closed
So, you can't get in and I can't get out
Sink into my pillow and dream what it's about
To be living high and mighty
To be living high and mighty
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
(My mind)
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
(My mind, my mind, my mind)
Living high and mighty
(My mind, my mind, my mind)
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
(I'd be living high and mighty)
Living high and mighty
(I'd be living high and mighty)
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
(I'd be living high and mighty)
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
(My, my, my mind)
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
(My mind)
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
Living high and mighty
And keep the door blocked, closed
Yeah, yeah, yeah
My, my, my
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Eduardo RD
Amo esse álbum todo, sem pular uma música.
fausto patagonia
Me gustó siempre éste ritmo.....🤗
Vanderlino Avelino Dos Santos Santos
Adorei essa música top linda 🇧🇷💖👫
Darren M
Love this whole album and still play it often. I keep hoping Cyndi takes us to the dance floor again one day. Also hope Still With Me will be on a future release. P.S. For those who haven’t heard it, check out the track that didn’t make it onto the album, I’m From NY. Love it 😍
Rivanildo Ricarte
Boa música. Ótimo álbum. Excelente cantora. Cyndi Lauper. 👍👍👏👏
rogelio gonzalez
Such an underated album, one of my favorites from Cyndi 💖💖💖
ゆうき
It's a very rhythmic and wonderful song 😆💕 I think it will be popular in Japan 😊💓
Eddye Livro
Estou assistindo o clipe, após a quase finalização da biografia, eu tenho o álbum (Bring Ya to the Brink) mas quando finalizar o livro vou ouvi-lo com mais atenção e carinho. Com as informações que tenho, lendo a biografia, acredito que o acesso será mais próximo da proposta de Cyndi ❤
World of sursphere'a
Apparently this came out in 2008, I missed it then and heard it for the first time today. 👍🕺🎶🎵
Tbh Glad I have. It's groovy
JOANNA'S JOYFUL JOURNEYS
Omg really??? Wow! When it showed up on my feed, it said it was uploaded 3 min. ago. Wow, 2008! Thank u.