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)
Promises
Def Leppard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I said a million things I'd never say
I was knocked right down, it got to me
Gonna get me some of your chemistry
You want me to promise you
That everything is true
I won't make promises that I don't mean
I'll even mean the things I tell you in my sleep, yeah
I won't make promises babe, that I can't keep
Oh my my, I lost control
I told you everything, I said it all
You came right out and said to me
"Gonna get me some of your honesty"
You want me to promise you
That everything is true
I won't make promises that I can't keep
I won't make promises that I don't mean
I'll even mean the things I tell you in my sleep, yeah
I won't make promises babe, that I can't keep
You want me to promise you
That everything is true
I won't make promises that I can't keep
I won't make promises that I don't mean
I'll even mean the things I whisper in my sleep
Oh, let me tell you
I won't say a single thing darling, that you can't believe
You gotta believe me
I won't make promises that I can't keep
Oh baby believe me now
I won't make promises that I don't mean
Oh why won't you believe me now
I'll even mean the things I whisper in my sleep, yeah
I won't make promises that I can't keep
Baby, you gotta believe me
“Promises” by Def Leppard is a song about honesty, trust and integrity in a relationship, with the singer pledging to be truthful, to not make promises he cannot keep and to be sincere in everything he says. He describes being knocked down and admitting personal truths, losing control, and sharing honesty with his partner. They want him to promise that everything is true, but he acknowledges that there are limits to what he can promise, and he won’t tell her anything that she can’t believe.
The song is about striving for truthfulness in a relationship, recognizing that the words someone speaks to their partner can have an impact on the trust they share with one another. The singer commits to being truthful and honest, without making empty or false promises.
The chorus of the song is repeated throughout, with the lyrics “I won't make promises that I can't keep, I won't make promises that I don't mean” emphasizing the importance of maintaining trust by being sincere in words and actions. The song highlights the importance of integrity and communication to establish and maintain healthy and strong relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I was blown away
I had an incredible experience last night
I said a million things I'd never say
I was very open and honest with you, more than I usually am
I was knocked right down, it got to me
My emotions overpowered me, I was overwhelmed
Gonna get me some of your chemistry
I want to experience the connection and energy between us
You want me to promise you
You are asking me to make a commitment to you
That everything is true
That everything I say is truthful
I won't make promises that I can't keep
I won't make commitments that I am unable to fulfill
I won't make promises that I don't mean
I won't make commitments that I don't intend to keep
I'll even mean the things I tell you in my sleep, yeah
I am truly committed to you and honest to the point where I even express it subconsciously in my sleep
Oh my my, I lost control
I couldn't contain my emotions, I was overwhelmed
I told you everything, I said it all
I was completely honest with you and held nothing back
"Gonna get me some of your honesty"
I want to experience your trustworthiness and truthfulness
Oh, let me tell you
I want to assure you
I won't say a single thing darling, that you can't believe
I won't ever lie to you or deceive you
You gotta believe me
It's important that you trust and have confidence in me
Oh baby believe me now
I am pleading with you to trust me
Oh why won't you believe me now
I am frustrated that you may not trust me
Baby, you gotta believe me
I am urging you to trust and have faith in me
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: COLLEN, LANGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dr4782
Last summer, radio station WPNC in the North Carolina Outer Banks dedicated the entire week of Independence Day to the 50th anniversary of American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. Throughout the week, they played several remastered American Top 40 countdowns from the original Casey Kasem era (1970-1988), and a handful of special shows as well, but they also played some countdowns from the second Casey Kasem era (1998-2004).
One of the second-era shows they played was from the summer of 1999 (July 17, 1999?), and "Promises" was featured on the countdown that week! It fell to #37 that week, but it still sounded great! It was the first time I'd heard the song on the radio since it was a hit on the radio, and I fell in love with it all over again!
"Promises" sounds like vintage Def Leppard from the 1980s, but interestingly, it still fit in with all the rest of the music on the countdown from that period of time. I love the full sound of the song from beginning to end, and the layered harmonies in the pre-chorus and chorus, both of which are staples of Mutt Lange productions.
Hearing this song all over again on an American Top 40 countdown reminded me of exactly why I enjoy listening to old American Top 40 shows so much. Not only do you get to hear Casey Kasem and his friendly voice, but you also get to hear several underrated hits that would otherwise be forgotten if not for the shows being rebroadcasted.
I hope WPNC does another week of American Top 40 shows this Independence Day. That'd be awesome.
@FenWolf68
"Last night I was blown away
I said a million things I'd never say
I was knocked right down, it got to me
Gonna get me some of your chemistry
You want me to promise you
That everything is true
I won't make promises that I can't keep
I won't make promises that I don't mean
I'll even mean the things I tell you in my sleep, yeah
I won't make promises babe, that I can't keep
Oh my my, I lost control
I told you everything, I said it all
You came right out and said to me
"Gonna get me some of your honesty"
You want me to promise you
That everything is true
I won't make promises that I can't keep
I won't make promises that I don't mean
I'll even mean the things I tell you in my sleep, yeah
I won't make promises babe, that I can't keep
You want me to promise you
That everything is true
I won't make promises that I can't keep
I won't make promises that I don't mean
I'll even mean the things I whisper in my sleep
Oh, let me tell you
I won't say a single thing darling, that you can't believe
You gotta believe me
I won't make promises that I can't keep
Oh baby believe me now
I won't make promises that I don't mean
Oh why won't you believe me now
I'll even mean the things I whisper in my sleep, yeah
I won't make promises that I can't keep
Baby, you gotta believe me"
;-jx
@chabomorphosis
The "Photograph" of the 90s. Love this song so much.
@doncleveland1245
Didn't come out until 99, and wasn't played on stations until after 2000, but sure!
@csarock1csarock187
In the summer of 99 it was so flashy and crisp sounding. I played the hell out of it. It was a great summer song. It's hard to explain. It Rocked!!
Take care!!
@csarock1csarock187
@@doncleveland1245
Don Cleveland
Promises was a number 1 on the mainstream rock charts in June and July!! It Rocked and caused Euphoria to go Gold!!
@Price70
Closer to Animal
@BrianBBurns
Robert Mutt Lange helped write both songs.
@soumage
No rock band harmonizes like Def Leppard
@AustinLCampbell
When this song first hit radio, I said "Thank God! They're back!"
@cindyimhoff2359
I said the exact same thing Austin!!!The first time I heard Promises,heard the intro and JUST KNEW right away it was DL!!!❤
@mos6507
I think you mean "They're back."