Terri graduated from Columbia College in 1983 with a degree in broadcast communications and arts and entertainment management. While at Columbia, she took an internship at a recording studio in Hillside run by a country bar band called the Windy City Cowboys. Terri became their backup singer, performing at the Possum Pub, a honky-tonk in Melrose Park, and at numerous weddings, all the while recording some songs of her own. She then arranged for music videos for several of these songs.
Eventually, Terri worked as a limousine driver, and would give copies of the videos to her clients in an attempt to drum up interest in her fledgling singing career. These became cult favorites in advertising and marketing circles for Terri's less-than-stellar singing ability and the videos' amateur production quality.
Fame, or something like it
A copy of the video eventually made its way to rocker Marilyn Manson, who was intrigued. He had Terri perform at one of his parties, and was impressed enough with her sincerity to allow her to open for one of his concerts.
Jan Terri's music videos have become hugely popular with the advent of high-speed Internet and video sites such as YouTube. Songs such as "Losing You", "Baby Blues" and her Masterpiece ,Halloween novelty song Inspired by the works of Hieronymous Bosch and Anton Lavey "Get Down Goblin" have gained a lot of publicity for Terri since the 1990s productions were released on VHS.
Her latest known public appearance was on The Daily Show.
Losing You
Jan Terri's best-known music video is for "Losing You". Although a somewhat honest effort is given to the production, the result resembles something one might find on late-night public access television, which provides for unintentional humor for many viewers.
Losing You
Jan Terri Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're the only thing that matters
I don't wanna lose you this way
Just need your love
I don't wanna lose you tonight
You're the only thing that matters
I don't wanna lose you this way
Losing you would be the hardest thing to do
My heart is open like an open book
And yours is closed
I never thought it would be like this
So how do we move on?
I don't wanna lose you tonight
You're the only thing that matters
I don't wanna lose you this way
Just need your love
I don't wanna lose you tonight
You're the only thing that matters
I don't wanna lose you this way
Just need your love
Remember long walks
Sandy beaches
Moonlit swims together?
We were like a merry-go-round
Going around in circles
You said we'll always be together
But you weren't telling the truth
You were telling lies
I don't wanna lose you tonight
You're the only thing that matters
I don't wanna lose you this way
Just need your love
I don't wanna lose you tonight
You're the only thing that matters
I don't wanna lose you this way
Just need your love
Pick up the phone
Give me a call
And talk to me
It shouldn't have been like this
I can't take it no more
I don't wanna lose you tonight
You're the only thing that matters
I don't wanna lose you this way
Just need your love
I don't wanna lose you tonight
You're the only thing that matters
I don't wanna lose you this way
Just need your love
I don't wanna lose you tonight
You're the only thing that matters
I don't wanna lose you this way
Just need your love
I don't wanna lose you tonight
You're the only thing that matters
I don't wanna lose you this way
Just need your love
I don't wanna lose you tonight
You're the only thing that matters
I don't wanna lose you this way
Just need your love
The lyrics to Jan Terri's song "Losing You" are about the fear of losing someone you love. The singer is desperate not to lose their partner, stating that they are the only thing that matters. The repetition of the phrase "I don't wanna lose you tonight" emphasizes the urgency of the singer's plea. However, there is a sense of sadness and confusion in the lyrics as the singer acknowledges that their partner's heart is closed while theirs is "open like an open book." The singer reminisces about happier times in their relationship, such as long walks on sandy beaches and moonlit swims together, but now they feel like they are going around in circles. They urge their partner to pick up the phone and talk to them to try and save their relationship. Ultimately, the singer just wants their partner's love and doesn't want to lose them in this way. The song strikes a melancholy chord, portraying the heartbreak of losing someone you love.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't wanna lose you tonight
I am afraid to lose you, specifically tonight
You're the only thing that matters
You are the only thing that is important to me
I don't wanna lose you this way
I don't want to lose you in this particular way
Just need your love
I only need your love
Losing you would be the hardest thing to do
Losing you would be incredibly difficult
My heart is open like an open book
My heart is completely open and exposed
And yours is closed
Your heart is closed and distant
I never thought it would be like this
I never expected our relationship to be like this
So how do we move on?
What should we do now?
Remember long walks
Recall our long walks together
Sandy beaches
Think of the sandy beaches we visited
Moonlit swims together?
Remember swimming together under the moonlight
We were like a merry-go-round
We were like a carousel, going around in circles
Going around in circles
We kept repeating similar patterns in our relationship
You said we'll always be together
You promised that we will never be apart
But you weren't telling the truth
You were not honest with me
You were telling lies
You were lying to me
Pick up the phone
Please answer the phone when I call you
Give me a call
Call me back
And talk to me
Let's have a conversation
It shouldn't have been like this
Our relationship shouldn't be in this state
I can't take it no more
I can't handle this situation anymore
Contributed by Elijah F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dgenxryan
The most hardcore video ever. Says "I don't wanna lose you tonight" then leaves on a plane. Metal!
@skyflowers2595
Hardcore
@bogrot69
My heart is open like an open book and yours... is closed GENIUS!!
@wingardiumlachancla9078
TrΓΌe Brit : "you said we'll be together but you weren't telling the truth, you were telling lies !" π
@HeyitsAlae
The limo broke 95% of the budget
@DeepGreenOsaka
I've been watching crappy quality versions of this song for almost 10 years and now I can finally see it in it's full glory! Thank you Jan!!
@jace7541
Jan. I had this song stuck in my head all the way home from work tonight!! Thank you!!!
@zudemaster
You will never lose me tonight Jan Terri!
@dominicaaaaa5547
Jan if you see this here's an idea you could put out losing you as a limited 7" single of say maybe 300 copies - you could even sign them so theyre more of a collector's item. I mean more people are collecting records again nowadays and I'm sure a lot people would like to own a physical copy of your biggest song - i'd definitely order one!
@SCUMVOMIT
Jan Terri is a Rock Goddess! Thanks