She studied songwriting at New York University with Paul Simon. Manchester then appeared on the Manhattan club scene, where she was discovered by Bette Midler and Barry Manilow, who took her on as a backup singer in 1971.
Her debut album, Home to Myself, was released in 1973; Manchester co-wrote many of its songs with Carole Bayer Sager. Two years later Manchester's album Melissa produced her first top ten hit, "Midnight Blue". Manchester collaborated with Kenny Loggins to co-write Loggin's 1978 hit duet with Stevie Nicks, "Whenever I Call You Friend". At this time, she guest-starred on the soap opera Search for Tomorrow to teach a main character, who was a singer-songwriter, the essentials of the craft. In 1979 Manchester made the top ten with her version of Peter Allen's "Don't Cry Out Loud", for which she received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Female Vocal Performance.
In 1980 Manchester became the first singer to have two movie themes nominated for an Academy Award—"Through The Eyes Of Love" from the film Ice Castles and "I'll Never Say Goodbye" from the film The Promise'.
Two years later she had her biggest hit "You Should Hear How She Talks About You", which won a Grammy for Best Female Vocal Performance. It was her last Top 40 Pop hit, but Manchester did well on the Adult Contemporary charts the rest of the 1980s. Her most recent big Adult Contemporary hit was a 1989 updating of Dionne Warwick's "Walk On By".
Through the 1980s and 1990s Manchester alternated recording with acting, appearing with Bette Midler in the film For the Boys and on the television series Blossom.
Melissa also wrote and starred in the musical I Sent A Letter To My Love based on the Bernice Rubens novel of the same name.
In spring 2004, Manchester returned with her first album in 10 years: When I Look Down That Road.
Your Place Or Mine
Melissa Manchester Lyrics
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Is alive and it's better than a dream
Never thought I'd surrender to desire
Hey, hey, your place or mine
We have danced like two moths around the flame
Never touching 'cause we've always been afraid
But I know what I need with you I'll find
Hey, hey, your place or mine
If it's your place or it's my place
I don't think I really care
(And) Just as long as you are there until tomorrow
Is it your place
Is it my place
We can find love anywhere
Think of everything we'll share for all tomorrows
There's so much that devotion has to give
When desire makes two people want to live
When it feels like it's real
Well, that's a sign
Hey, hey, your place or mine
Dim the lights and pour the wine
We've been waiting for forever
Now we know where we belong
And as long as we're together
We know we'll be strong
Love goes on and on and on and on and on, yes, and on
If it's your place or it's my place
I don't think I really care
(And) Just as long as you are there until tomorrow
Is it your place
Is it my place
We can find love anywhere
Think of everything we'll share for all tomorrows
Hey, hey, your place or mine
Tell me, yes
Dim the lights and pour the wine
Is it your place
Is it my place
We can find love anywhere
Think of everything we'll share for all tomorrows
Hey, hey, your place or mine
Hearts running from the fire
We can find love anywhere
Think of everything we'll share for all tomorrows
Your place or mine
The lyrics to Melissa Manchester's song "Your Place Or Mine" speak about two individuals who have been dancing around each other but finally surrender to their desires. The singer never expected to feel what she's feeling, but it's better than anything she could have dreamed of. The song talks about their fear of touching and how they've been waiting for forever to be together. The chorus is filled with the question of whether they should be at his place or hers, but it doesn't matter as long as they're together. The bridge talks about how much devotion has to offer when two people want to live, and when it feels real, the singer knows that it's a sign that they're meant to be together. The song ends with the two hearts running towards each other, and they can find love anywhere.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was released in 1985, and it became Melissa Manchester's last Top 40 hit in the United States. Another interesting fact is that it was written by Manchester, Tom Snow, and Wendy Waldman. The song was produced by John "Jellybean" Benitez, who was a famous producer in the 1980s for artists like Madonna and Michael Jackson. "Your Place Or Mine" was also included on Manchester's album "Mathematics," which was released in 1985. The album features 10 other tracks, including "Energy" and "Mathematics." Interestingly, the song has been covered by other artists, including Vikki Moss, who released a cover version in 1993.
In terms of chords, the song has a steady and upbeat tempo in the key of F#. The chords used in the song are F#7, B, C#m, G#m, D#m, and E, with a pre-chorus section of B, F#, C#m, and E. The song has a catchy and memorable melody that perfectly suits the lyrics of two hearts finally surrendering to their desires.
Line by Line Meaning
In my life what I thought could never be
I never imagined that what's happening in my life right now could ever occur.
Is alive and it's better than a dream
What's happening in my life right now is so incredible and wonderful, it feels even better than a dream.
Never thought I'd surrender to desire
I never expected to give in to my desires, but now they are too strong to resist.
Hey, hey, your place or mine
Let's get together and spend the night - at your place or mine, it doesn't matter, just as long as we're together.
We have danced like two moths around the flame
We've been circling each other for a while, afraid to get too close, like moths circling a flame.
Never touching 'cause we've always been afraid
We've never acted on our desires because we were both too scared of what might happen if we did.
But I know what I need with you I'll find
But now I know that I need to be with you, and I'm willing to take that risk to find what we both truly want.
Dim the lights and pour the wine
Let's create a romantic ambiance by turning the lights down low and opening a bottle of wine.
If it's your place or it's my place
It doesn't really matter whose place we end up at, as long as we're together.
We've been waiting for forever
It feels like we've been waiting for this moment our entire lives.
Now we know where we belong
We've finally found where we're meant to be - with each other.
And as long as we're together
As long as we have each other, we'll be strong.
Love goes on and on and on and on and on, yes, and on
Our love will last forever and never fade away.
There's so much that devotion has to give
When two people are devoted to each other, there is so much that they can give and share.
When desire makes two people want to live
When our desire for each other is so strong, it gives us a reason to live and creates a sense of purpose.
When it feels like it's real
When our love feels genuine and authentic, that's when we know it's real.
Hearts running from the fire
We've been avoiding our intense feelings for each other, but now it's time to embrace them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management
Written by: ALLEE WILLIS, DAVID PAUL BRYANT, MELISSA TONI MANCHESTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind