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.
Same Ol' Story
Cyndi Lauper Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I watch them get up again
It makes me feel like I can too
Hey hey ya
Just when I get off the ground
Your back tryin' to put me down
Like some simpleton you can use
[Chorus]
Well It's the same old fucking story
With your two different sets of rules
The same old fucking story
One for me two for you
It's the same old fucking story
It's the same old fucking story all around yeah
Still some glory in my eyes
Much to everyone's surprise
After everything you put me through
Yeah well
Friends tell me you've been around
Big fish in a big ol' town
Gobble up all in one fair swoop yeah
[Chorus]
Still got my feet on tie to the beat yeah
Still got my feet on tie to the beat yeah
Still got my feet on tie to the beat yeah
Still got my feet on tie to the beat yeah
Still some glory in my eyes
Much to everyone's surprise
After everything you put me through
Yeah well
Friends tell me you've been around
Big fish in a big ol' town
Gobble up all in one fair swoop yeah
[Chorus]
It's the same fucking story know damn well it's true
Same ol' same ol' same ol' same ol' same ol'
[Chorus]
The lyrics of the song Same Ol' Story by Cyndi Lauper exposes the hypocrisy, duplicity, and unfairness of society with its "two different sets of rules." The first verse shows the singer observing people slipping in the rain and getting up again, which inspires her to believe she can do the same. However, the second line speaks of someone trying to bring her down at the same time, just like other people around her, whether in personal or professional relationships.
The chorus of the song speaks directly about the inequality and injustice in society with its two sets of rules, which is the same old fucking story. Whether it be for social, economic, or political reasons, there are always people who get preferential treatment while others suffer. The third verse of the song highlights the singer's resilience, despite adversity, emphasizing that even though the antagonist fish in a big old town and have everything they want, she still has "glory in her eyes".
Ultimately, the song is a commentary on the ways in which power structures and the elitism around us operate. They keep the masses struggling and unable to rise by manipulating the rules to benefit a select few. Throughout the verses, the singer describes the behavior of people who take advantage of those underneath them and the group of people who are working tirelessly but being held back by these unfair systems.
Line by Line Meaning
People slippin' in the rain
Observing others struggle and overcome hardships
I watch them get up again
Witnessing resilience and perseverance
It makes me feel like I can too
Feeling inspired and motivated by others' victories
Just when I get off the ground
Despite personal struggles and hardships
Your back tryin' to put me down
Someone is attempting to belittle, demean, or sabotage me
Like some simpleton you can use
Treating me as a disposable or unintelligent pawn
Well It's the same old fucking story
The situation is frustratingly predictable and repetitive
With your two different sets of rules
Unfairness and favoritism is apparent
One for me two for you
Unequal treatment and double standards
It's the same old fucking story
Continuing to experience the same negative situations
It's the same old fucking story all around yeah
Others experience similar mistreatment and inequality
Still some glory in my eyes
Despite external challenges, inner strength and resilience remains
Much to everyone's surprise
Others may underestimate or doubt my abilities and determination
After everything you put me through
Despite facing obstacles and opposition from others
Friends tell me you've been around
Awareness of someone's negative actions and behavior
Big fish in a big ol' town
Someone with power and influence
Gobble up all in one fair swoop yeah
Taking advantage of and exploiting others
It's the same fucking story know damn well it's true
Expressing frustration, disappointment, and resignation
Same ol' same ol' same ol' same ol' same ol'
Emphasizing the repetitiveness and monotony of the situation
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: CYNDI LAUPER, RICHARD DAVIS MOREL
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 ......