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)
Street Life
Def Leppard Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They're always calling on my telephone
When I pick it up there's no one there
So I walk outside just to take the air
Come on with me cruising down the street
Who knows what you'll see, who you might meet
This brave new world's not like yesterday
Now I'm blinded I can't really see, yeah
No more bright lights confusing me, no
Don't ask me why I'm feeling blue
Cause loving you is all I can do
Hey good-looking boys, gather around
The sidewalk papers gutter-press you down
All those lies can be so unkind,
They can make you feel like you're losing your mind
Street life
Street life
Street life
What a life
Back to nature boys, Vasser girls too
Watch what you say, or think, or do
Continental-style strasse girls might
But you know exactly if it's wrong or right
Education is an important key, yes
But the good life's never won by degrees, no
Pointless passing through Harvard or Yale
Only window shopping, it's strictly no sale
Week end starts Friday soon after eight
Your jet black magic helps you celebrate
You may be stranded if you stick around
And that's really something
The lyrics of Def Leppard's "Street Life" depict a sense of isolation and longing for connection. The opening lines see the singer wishing for some space and solitude, as people constantly bombard him through his phone. The lack of communication leads him to step out to "take the air", which seems to suggest that he wishes to be in contact with something tangible. This is followed by an invitation to go cruising down the street, where the possibility of an unpredictable, yet exciting, encounter is possible. The lyrics draw a contrast between the present time and a safer, more familiar past. However, the "brave new world" we live in now "can take you higher than the milky way." This depicts a sense of awe and wonder towards the potential experiences that might be out there.
The singer's subconscious desire unfolds further in the following stanza, where he confesses, "Now I'm blinded, I can't really see, no more bright lights confusing me." This could be interpreted as the singer's emotional state, where he has become numb to the external and outside world because of failed connections and a sense of loneliness. The only solace he finds is in loving someone.
The song also depicts how superficiality can lead to harmful behavior. The media is demonized for their use of the gutter-press, which can make one feel like they're "losing their mind." A warning is given, and the song reminds the listeners of the importance of staying conscious of what they say or do, especially when it comes to the opposite sex.
Line by Line Meaning
Wish everybody would leave me alone, yeah
I feel drained by the constant attention and communication from other people and just want to be left alone.
They're always calling on my telephone
Others are perpetually trying to reach out to me through every possible means of communication.
When I pick it up there's no one there
The calls I receive are impersonal and not worth my time, as I never hear anything valuable on the other end.
So I walk outside just to take the air
I seek solace and peace outside, where I can breathe deeply and enjoy a moment of tranquility.
Come on with me cruising down the street
Join me on a drive through the town to discover what hidden surprises and delights may appear.
Who knows what you'll see, who you might meet
As we explore, we could encounter any imaginable experience or person.
This brave new world's not like yesterday
The current state of our society differs greatly from that of the past and continues to evolve rapidly.
It can take you higher than the milky way
The possibilities available to us in this day and age can elevate us to previously unimaginable heights of success and creativity.
Now I'm blinded I can't really see, yeah
The false image of success has left me blinded to the harsh realities of life and unable to perceive truth and clarity.
No more bright lights confusing me, no
I reject the fake glamor and superficiality I once sought and strive for a simpler, more authentic existence.
Don't ask me why I'm feeling blue
I'm grappling with complex emotions and still trying to figure out exactly how I feel.
Cause loving you is all I can do
During tough times, my deep love for someone provides the sole source of light and hope to cling to.
Hey good-looking boys, gather around
Attractive young men, please congregate in my vicinity for a moment.
The sidewalk papers gutter-press you down
The tabloids and other low-quality news sources are toxic and can negatively impact your mood and sense of self-worth.
All those lies can be so unkind,
The falsehoods perpetuated by these publications can be incredibly damaging and hurtful.
They can make you feel like you're losing your mind
Processing and trying to endure this onslaught of lies can lead one to feel overwhelmed and unsure of their own sanity.
Street life
The daily reality of living in a city, complete with its trials and tribulations.
Street life
The fast-paced, high-pressure culture of urban life.
Street life
The myriad of experiences and emotions that arise from living on a busy street in a bustling city.
What a life
Exclamatory commentary on the intensity and excitement of city life, implying both admiration and a sense of irony.
Back to nature boys, Vasser girls too
Returning to a simpler, more natural way of life appeals to both young men and women seeking to live more authentically.
Watch what you say, or think, or do
Be thoughtful and mindful of your actions and thoughts, as they can have profound impacts on yourself and those around you.
Continental-style strasse girls might
Sophisticated women of European origin could be categorized by this particular style of attire.
But you know exactly if it's wrong or right
Deep down, you're aware of the difference between right and wrong and what decisions will ultimately serve your best interests.
Education is an important key, yes
Receiving a high-quality education is a critical component of creating a successful and meaningful life.
But the good life's never won by degrees, no
The attainment of advanced degrees is not the sole indicator of a happy or fulfilling life and may not lead to true success in all cases.
Pointless passing through Harvard or Yale
Merely studying at Ivy League universities without applying those learnings in meaningful and impactful ways is useless and ultimately fruitless.
Only window shopping, it's strictly no sale
Fulfillment cannot be achieved through simply admiring or coveting material things without taking action to pursue them in a meaningful manner.
Week end starts Friday soon after eight
The weekend, and the potential to experience new delights and revel in some much-needed rest and relaxation, begins at 8 PM on Friday night.
Your jet black magic helps you celebrate
Indulging in various forms of sensory pleasure or self-soothing techniques enhances the experience of taking a break from work and life's stresses.
You may be stranded if you stick around
Choosing to remain in one's comfort zone and not seeking out new opportunities and relationships can lead to stagnation and missed chances.
And that's really something
Contemplating how narrow-mindedness and a lack of curiosity can negatively impact one's life offers valuable insight and perspective.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BRYAN FERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind