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)
Ring of Fire
Def Leppard Lyrics
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In the night is what I need
Ooh I'm a-ready to roar, and I'm a-ready for more
And I'm a-ready to burn like the light into the dawn
Oh I gotta see the fire in me, turning into ecstasy
So stick around and settle down enjoy the mystery
A voice in the wilderness, there's somethin' in the air
Fun girl
(Are you ready, ready for fun girl?)
Feels like fire
(Are you ready, ready for fun girl?)
Ring of fire
I left, so indiscreet, you're stealing all of the fire
Electric me
I'm staring into the sun, I'm staring into a gun
I'm staring at the sky, turn it out and let it burn
Fun girl
(Are you ready, ready for fun girl?)
Feels like fire
(Are you ready, ready for fun girl?)
Ring of fire
Fun girl, you tempted me, ya cut me up
Like a knife so tenderly
Oh I gotta see the fire in me, burning up my ecstasy
A little love won't bring your precious self a secret flame.
Oh no
Fun girl
(Are you ready, ready for fun girl?)
Feels like fire
(Are you ready, ready for fun girl?)
Ring of fire
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
Oh
The lyrics of the song "Ring of Fire" by Def Leppard are all about the feeling of passion and desire towards someone. The song talks about a relationship between two people that is full of sparks and fire, with the singer feeling tempted and excited to burn like a light into the dawn. The lyrics give the impression that the singer is infatuated with someone and is ready to take risks to satisfy this burning desire. He seems to be asking the partner if they are ready for the ride and if they too feel the same intense heat between them.
The lyrics of the song also convey a sense of danger and risk. The singer is "staring into a gun" and "staring at the sky" which could be interpreted as being caught up in the excitement of the moment and taking a risk. The “Ring of Fire” could be interpreted in two different ways. One could be that the spark between the two lovers is a ring of fire that they are trapped in, unable to escape from the passion they feel. The other interpretation could be that their love, like a ring of fire, surrounds them and keeps them safe, and the singer is passionately encouraging the partner to join him in this.
Overall, the song is an upbeat rock track about passion, risk and infatuation that portrays a sense of urgency, a feeling that the moment can't be missed, and the chance of regret if the opportunity is lost.
Line by Line Meaning
Fun girl, you tempted me, a feast of sparks
Addressing a girl who incites excitement and passion, the singer expresses the feeling of being offered a whole new level of excitement and joy.
In the night is what I need
The singer is seeking something exhilarating that can only be found in the darkness.
Ooh I'm a-ready to roar, and I'm a-ready for more
The singer is confident and eagerly anticipating more of the excitement that has already been presented.
And I'm a-ready to burn like the light into the dawn
The singer is prepared to feel the intensity of the moment and allow it to consume him as he witnesses the beauty of a new beginning.
Oh I gotta see the fire in me, turning into ecstasy
The singer acknowledges that he needs to experience this intensity and transform it into pure joy and happiness.
So stick around and settle down enjoy the mystery
The singer implores the girl to stay and soak in the mystery of the moment alongside him.
A voice in the wilderness, there's somethin' in the air
The singer hears a voice in the midst of chaos, and senses that something amazing is about to happen.
A little love won't bring your precious self a secret flame
The singer knows that love alone is not enough for the girl, as she seeks something hidden that only intense experiences can reveal.
I left, so indiscreet, you're stealing all of the fire
The singer regrets his discretion, fearing that the girl has taken all of the spark and excitement from their previous interactions.
Electric me
The singer is invigorated by the electricity of the moment.
I'm staring into the sun, I'm staring into a gun
The singer is daring to face danger, guns and the intensity of the moment with bravery and confidence.
I'm staring at the sky, turn it out and let it burn
The singer is looking up and submitting himself to the moment by allowing the intensity to take over.
Fun girl, you tempted me, ya cut me up
The girl has sliced the singer open emotionally by offering him excitement that he is compelled to accept.
Like a knife so tenderly
The girl's actions felt as though they were purposefully done with caring and delicacy.
Oh I gotta see the fire in me, burning up my ecstasy
The singer reiterates that he needs to experience the intensity of the moment and internalize it so he can be happy.
Oh no
This line is unclear in meaning but could be interpreted to show a hint of regret or uncertainty.
Ring of fire
The chorus repeating 'ring of fire' means the singer is still amazed and drawn towards the intense experience shown by the girl.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALLEN, CLARK, COLLEN, ELLIOTT, LANGE, SAVAGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind