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)
She's Too Tough
Def Leppard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Good looking but her face is a mess
She's no angel, oh no
Love loaded, she's got plenty to spare
She'll pull your trigger if only you dare
She's no angel, oh no
She's too tough
She's too tough
Can't help it, she just can't help it
Hands off, well it's catch 22
You can't touch and she can't refuse
She's no angel, oh no
Whiplash'll give you six of the best
Lay back, let her mind do the rest
She's no angel, oh no
She's too tough
Can't help it, she just can't help it
She's too tough
Can't help it, she just can't help it
She's too tough
Can't help it, she just can't help it
She's too tough
Can't help it, she just can't help it
She's too tough
Can't help it, she just can't help it
She's too tough
Can't help it, she just can't help it
She's too tough
Can't help it, she just can't help it
She's too tough ...
The lyrics of Def Leppard's "She's Too Tough" depict a woman who is beautiful but also dangerous. The song begins by describing her physical appearance: she wears black stockings and a high-heeled dress, which make her look good, but her face is "a mess." Despite her looks, she is "no angel." She is in love, but she has plenty of love to spare. She is willing to pull the trigger, but only if someone dares her.
The second verse describes the dilemma of being involved with her. She is so attractive that one cannot resist trying to touch her, but she cannot refuse. Like catch-22, this is a paradoxical situation. She is not innocent, and if she decides to punish someone, the punishment will be severe. The song concludes by repeating the chorus several times, emphasizing the idea that she is just too tough.
Line by Line Meaning
Black stockings and a high heeled dress
Her attire is sexually suggestive and attention-grabbing.
Good looking but her face is a mess
Her physical attractiveness is marred by facial imperfections.
She's no angel, oh no
She is not a perfect, innocent person.
Love loaded, she's got plenty to spare
She has a lot of love, affection and sexual energy to offer.
She'll pull your trigger if only you dare
She will initiate or escalate romantic or sexual activity if you show interest or initiative.
Hands off, well it's catch 22
You can't touch or approach her, but she won't initiate contact either.
You can't touch and she can't refuse
She won't reject your advances, but she won't invite them either.
Whiplash'll give you six of the best
Her rough or adventurous sexual style may cause you pain or pleasure.
Lay back, let her mind do the rest
She wants you to relax and let her take charge of the sexual encounter.
She's too tough
She is emotionally and sexually hard to handle or resist.
Can't help it, she just can't help it
She is naturally and instinctively tough and seductive.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ALLEN, CLARK, COLLEN, ELLIOTT, SAVAGE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chris F
I love this song and also love the album cover. It's very clever and creative. Def Leppard will be my favorite band till the day I die. They're perfection to me.
András Zilahi
One of the most energetic song from them...really powerful...it sounds forever
C Sand
I love every Def Leppard song. That's all I gotta say.
Paul Nevard
hey
anthonyVatio
To me, the best rock band ever
Paul Nevard
Was mine growing up!
C Sand
+paul nevard very cool! Did you ever go to any of their concerts?
Paul Nevard
as a matyer of fact yes. ..adrenalize tour. ..Calgary ab Canada. ..my home town was absolutely epic
Ray McCraine
When they put their mind to it, They can really kick Ass! I've been a huge fan since 1978. Miss Steve Clark every day. Joe and the boys will Rock it until they can't stand anymore. Then they Jam fr/ Wheelchairs.
Ivor
I hear you man!