Pitney, a pop rock pioneer, had his greatest success overall in Britain, first travelling there after his first self penned hit in 1961. "I Wanna Love My Life Away" hit #26 on the UK singles chart & just broke into the top 40 in the US.
His early music recorded for the "musicor" label was romantic, lonely and dramatic, fitting in alongside contemporaries like Buddy Holly, Neil Sedaka, Roy Orbison & serves as an audio time capsule of a more innocent time.
Gene Pitney - Yesterday's Hero...
Gene was a Brill Building songwriter who even before his singing career took off, had written one of Ricky Nelson's biggest hits "Hello Mary Lou". He had been helped out initially in his career by Burt Bacharach & Hal David, and later recorded some of their songs which became big hits like "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" and the classic "Only Love Can Break A Heart". At the time his "Only Love..." recording was a #2 chart hit, he had written the number 1 song that week; "He's A Rebel" (A Phil Spector production recorded by The Crystals). All in all Pitney himself recorded 16 top 40 songs in the US from 1961 to 1968.
Gene's biggest popularity was in England, where he used the Rolling Stones publicist Andrew Loog Oldham to get his fame established, which lasted there to the day of his death. In the UK, Gene had 40 top-40 charting hits through 1974. He finally hit #1 in the UK in 1990, performing a duet with Marc Almond of Soft Cell. Pitney died April 5 on tour in 2006. He was found by his tour manager fully clothed on his bed at a Hilton Hotel in Cardiff , shortly after performing a concert.
Backstage
Gene Pitney Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sing my songs my star shines bright
I stop and smile I take my bow
I leave the stage and then somehow
Backstage I'm lonely, backstage I cry
You've gone away and each night I seem to die a little
I'm famous now I've come so far
A famous fool I let love go
I didn't know I'd miss you so
Backstage I'm lonely, backstage I cry
Hating myself since I let you say goodbye
Every night a different room
Every night a different club
And yet I'm lonely all the time
When I sign my autograph
When I hold an interview
Can't get you out of my mind
Come back my love come back to me
I need you now so desperately
What good is fame it's just a game
I'd give it all to be the same
Backstage I wait now, hoping I'll see
Your smiling face waiting there backstage for me
Your smiling face waiting backstage for me
Backstage
Backstage
The lyrics of Gene Pitney's song, "Backstage", portray the sadness and loneliness that comes after the limelight of being a star fades away. In the first stanza, Pitney describes the adoration and applause he receives while performing on stage. However, once he exits the stage, he is left alone in the backstage area, crying and yearning for a lost love. He feels the weight of his loneliness and the pain of losing his lover with each passing night. The vibrant and joyous performance on stage contrasts heavily with the feeling of a deflated ego and a longing heart backstage.
The second stanza describes how Pitney's stardom had cost him his lover. He had let love slip away, not realizing the mistake he was making. He charts the journey from being a "famous fool" to a lonely individual, playing in different rooms and clubs every night. But even as he signs autographs or gives interviews, he can't help the memories of his past love - the one he wants back so desperately. The song ends with Pitney calling out to his lost love, telling her that he needs her, and he would give up his fame and the game of being a star just to have her back again.
Line by Line Meaning
A thousand hands applaud tonight
A large crowd is cheering for me tonight.
I sing my songs my star shines bright
I'm performing and feel like a star.
I stop and smile I take my bow
I acknowledge the audience and bow to show my appreciation.
I leave the stage and then somehow
After the performance, I feel a sense of emptiness.
Backstage I'm lonely, backstage I cry
Once I'm off stage, I feel lonely and sometimes cry.
You've gone away and each night I seem to die a little
I miss my significant other and it hurts.
Out on that stage I play the star
I act like a star while performing.
I'm famous now I've come so far
I've gained fame and success through my career.
A famous fool I let love go
I had love but let it go due to my career.
I didn't know I'd miss you so
I didn't realize how much I'd miss my significant other until they were gone.
Hating myself since I let you say goodbye
I blame myself for letting my significant other leave.
Every night a different room
I perform in different venues every night.
Every night a different club
I perform in different nightclubs every night.
And yet I'm lonely all the time
Despite the different venues and nightclubs, I still feel lonely.
When I sign my autograph
When I sign autographs for fans.
When I hold an interview
When I'm being interviewed by the press.
Can't get you out of my mind
I continue to think about my significant other.
Come back my love come back to me
I want my significant other to come back to me.
I need you now so desperately
I'm desperate to have my significant other back in my life.
What good is fame it's just a game
I question the value of fame and see it as only a game.
I'd give it all to be the same
I'd give up my fame to have my significant other back in my life.
Backstage I wait now, hoping I'll see
I wait backstage, hoping to see my significant other.
Your smiling face waiting there backstage for me
I want to see my significant other's smiling face waiting for me backstage.
Backstage
The song ends with the word 'backstage' to emphasize the loneliness and emptiness felt by the singer after each performance.
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SMOKEY ROBINSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@zoeb152
A thousand hands applaud tonight
I sing my songs my star shines bright
I stop and smile, I take by bow
I leave the stage and then somehow
Backstage I'm lonely
Backstage I cry
You've gone away and each night I seem to die a little
Out on that stage I play the star
I'm famous now I've come so far
A famous fool I let love go
I didn't know I'd miss you so
Backstage I'm lonely
Backstage I cry
Hating myself since I let you say goodbye
Every night a different girl
Every night a different club
And yet I'm lonely all the time
When I sign my autograph
When I hold an interview
Can't get you out of my mind
Come back my love
Come back to me
I need you now so desperately
What good is fame it's just a game
I'd give it all to be the same
Backstage I wait now hoping I'll see
Your smiling face waiting there backstage for me
Your smiling face waiting there backstage for me
Backstage, Backstage
@stillstanding6031
Gene was the ultimate pop balladeer. Unmatched with a falsetto that was unearthly. In these awful times, he brings me solace. Thank you forever, Gene.
@geoffs7877
Not falsetto. His organic voice
@Palandy33
What a singer Gene was, a fabulous and unique voice. He is missed very much. Just as good live as on record. Pity all the singers from the 60's, 70's cannot go on forever, nobody will ever replace them.
@patfox6366
I was so lucky to have seen Gene live three times. Such a wonderful voice, much missed.
@goneatlast
1966's "Backstage" lp showcases Gene at the top of his art. Every song on the album resonates with emotion. This single is no exception. Thanks for the post.
@ERIMATT
one of the most underrated singers of his time..the man was brilliant.
@bobmartin7068
John Kerhin Gene Pitney also composed most of his songs, and also hits for other singers.
@pcpete911
underrated,dude are you high?
@bertinalewis
There will never be another
@carolwatson1312
His music was one of a kind, he had it all....you never had to wonder what he was singing, he was always clear and very much loved!!!~