The band's greatest commercial success came between the early 1980s and the early 1990s. Their first album, 1980's On Through the Night, reached the Top 15 in the UK but received little notice elsewhere. Their second album, 1981's High 'n' Dry, was produced by Mutt Lange, who helped them begin to define their melodic hard rock style, and the album's most popular track "Bringin' On the Heartbreak" became one of the first rock videos played on MTV in 1982, but the album only reached the Top 30 and 40 in the UK and US. Def Leppard's next studio album, Pyromania, was released in January 1983, with "Photograph" and "Rock of Ages" both topping the US Rock Tracks chart and reaching the top 20 of the Hot 100. Reaching No. 2 on the US album chart, Pyromania was certified Diamond in the US and 7× platinum in Canada and reached the top 20 in the UK but did not sell much elsewhere.
Def Leppard's fourth album, the more pop-oriented Hysteria (1987), topped the UK, US, New Zealand, Canadian, Australian and Norway charts. It also went to No. 2 in Sweden and No. 10 in Germany without any Top 50 singles in those countries. It has been certified 12× platinum for sales in the US and 13× platinum in Canada, selling over 25 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time. The album spawned six Top 20 US singles, including the US Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 "Love Bites" (went Top 10 in several other countries including No. 2 in NZ), alongside "Pour Some Sugar on Me" (US No. 2), "Hysteria", "Armageddon It" (No. 2 in NZ), "Animal" (at No. 6, the biggest UK hit), and "Rocket" (a Top 15 hit in many countries). Hysteria had four Top 10 hits in New Zealand.
Their next studio album, Adrenalize (their first following the death of guitarist Steve Clark), reached No. 1 on the UK, US, NZ, Canadian and Australian charts in 1992, while going Top 10 in Sweden and Germany. It contained several hits, including the US Rock Tracks chart-topper, "Let's Get Rocked", which became their biggest hit in several countries, including No. 2 in the UK, No. 3 in Canada and Switzerland, and the Top 20 in Sweden and Germany. The third single, "Have You Ever Needed Someone So Bad", was a Top 15 song in the US, UK and Canada. Adrenalize went on to sell over 8 million copies worldwide. Their 1993 album, Retro Active, contained the acoustic Top 5 North American hit "Two Steps Behind". Their greatest hits album Vault, released in 1995, featured the UK No. 2 hit "When Love & Hate Collide" and reached the Top 10 in several countries, going 5× platinum in the US. Beginning with Slang, Def Leppard released five albums between 1996 and 2008, with most usually reaching the Top 15 in several countries, including the UK, US and Canada. Their self-titled album was released in 2015 and reached the Top 10 in several countries. The band's newest studio album, Diamond Star Halos was released in May 2022 and reached the Top 10 in the US, the UK and Australia.
As one of the world's best-selling music artists, Def Leppard have sold more than 100 million records worldwide, and have two albums with RIAA diamond certification: Pyromania and Hysteria, making them one of only five rock bands with two original studio albums selling more than 10 million copies in the US. The band were ranked No. 31 in VH1's "100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock" and ranked No. 70 in "100 Greatest Artists of All Time". Def Leppard were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019.
Studio albums
On Through the Night (1980)
High 'n' Dry (1981)
Pyromania (1983)
Hysteria (1987)
Adrenalize (1992)
Slang (1996)
Euphoria (1999)
X (2002)
Yeah! (2006)
Songs from the Sparkle Lounge (2008)
Def Leppard (2015)
Diamond Star Halos (2022)
Come Undone
Def Leppard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've got you front roll center
For the freak show parade
Everybody wants to be you
But I know you see right through it
Sad mascaraed
You reach into my soul pull out the fire
[Chorus]
When I come undone I know you're the only one
Who can touch me when I call out your name
When I come undone I know you're the only one
Who can put me back together again
You've got what it takes to make me
So won't you come and shake me out of this haze
All to know those dreams you're sellin'
God knows, man, he's not tellin'
He's had better days...
Awaitin' here your voice above me callin'
You dragged me to my knees, but I'm still fallin'
[Chorus]
I can't close my ayes
Can't hide the tear
I feel the earth beneath my feet disappear
I'm out of words, I'm out of time
Give me your hand
Reach out for mine
Wrap your arms around me like a wire
You reach into my soul pull out the fire
[Chorus]
Who can put me back together again
Def Leppard's "Come Undone" is a song about a person who feels lost, disillusioned, and is in need of someone to pull them together. The lyrics are about a person who is feeling vulnerable and seeks comfort from someone they trust. The first verse speaks about the freak show parade, indicating the chaos that surrounds the person. It seems as though people are trying to get close to this person for their own motives, but the person sees through their false intentions. The second verse indicates that the person is waiting for someone to come and help them, someone who can see right through them and take the power to heal them.
The chorus is the main message of the song, with the person acknowledging that when they come undone, only one person can touch them and put them back together. The bridge indicates the person is feeling a lack of control, as the ground beneath their feet has disappeared, and they are out of words and time. This further highlights the person's vulnerability and their need for someone to help them. The song ends with a plea for help and comfort from the person they trust.
Line by Line Meaning
C'mon in, welcome, enter
We invite you to join us
We've got you front roll center
You have the best spot to watch
For the freak show parade
Let's enjoy this unusual display together
Everybody wants to be you
You're desirable and enviable
But I know you see right through it
You know it's not all that glitters is gold
Sad mascaraed
Your glamorous image is hiding a deeper sadness
Wrap your arms around me like a wire
Hug me tight and don't let go
You reach into my soul pull out the fire
You ignite my passion and bring out the best in me
When I come undone I know you're the only one
I trust you to help me when I'm vulnerable
Who can touch me when I call out your name
Only you have the power to comfort me
Who can put me back together again
I rely on you to fix me when I'm broken
You've got what it takes to make me
You have the ability to impress and influence me
So won't you come and shake me out of this haze
Help me get out of this state of confusion
All to know those dreams you're sellin'
I'm curious about the promises you make
God knows, man, he's not tellin'
The uncertainty of what the future holds
He's had better days...
The present situation isn't ideal
Awaitin' here your voice above me callin'
I'm eagerly anticipating your guidance
You dragged me to my knees, but I'm still fallin'
You've brought me down to my lowest, but I'm still hooked on you
I can't close my eyes
I'm too excited to sleep
Can't hide the tear
I'm emotional and vulnerable
I feel the earth beneath my feet disappear
You have the power to make me lose control
I'm out of words, I'm out of time
I'm at a loss for words and running out of time
Give me your hand
I need your help and support
Reach out for mine
I'm asking you to hold my hand
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ELLIOTT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind