Originally a rockabilly artist from Altus, Oklahoma, Martin is best known for writing the songs "Bad Case Of Lovin' You (Doctor, Doctor)" made famous by English singer Robert Palmer and "Cadillac Walk" made famous by American singer Willy DeVille.
Martin gained recognition in the 1970s as a pop artist and composer. He was given the nickname "Moon" because many of his songs had "moon" in the lyrics. He also scored two minor hits of own with the song "Rolene" in 1979 and the song "Bad News" in 1980 in France
Signal for Help
Moon Martin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You ought to know by now
L.A. dreams had no cure
They got you cryin'
They got you cryin' cryin' cryin'
Baby signal for help S.O.S.O.S
Signal for help
Who said you walk out on me
The boys will stand in a line
He left you standing in the rain
And now you're crying
Go on and cry, cry, cry
Baby signal for help S.O.S.O.S
Signal for help
Baby signal for help S.O.S.O.S
Cruising down an empty street
Dark and lonely sky
Lipstick is running through my heart
You got me cryin'
You got me cryin' cryin', cryin'
Baby signal for help S.O.S.O.S
Signal for help
Baby signal for help S.O.S.O.S
Moon Martin's song "Signal for Help" presents a desperate situation of a girl who's lost and lonely in the big city. The song opens with the lines "Little girl you're all mixed up, You ought to know by now, L.A. dreams had no cure, They got you cryin." These lines reflect the helplessness of the girl who is stuck in LA and has lost hope in her dreams. Despite the promises that LA held, she has been hurt, and now she's crying for help. The repeated lines of "cryin' cryin' cryin'" drive home the point of how sad and lost she feels. She needs an escape from this life, which is why the chorus calls out to her to signal for help through S.O.S.
The song further suggests that the girl has suffered heartbreak in the city. The line "He left you standing in the rain, And now you're crying, Go on and cry, cry, cry" implies that a lover has abandoned her, leaving her to suffer alone. Moreover, the mention of "Lipstick is running through my heart, You got me cryin'" creates an image of the girl's emotional distress, which is slowly killing her, and she's crying for help.
Overall, "Signal for Help" is a powerful song, and Moon Martin's emotive voice brings out the depth and emotion conveyed. The lyrics paint a picture of a lost girl in LA, and in the end, the song suggests that help is there only if she signals for it.
Line by Line Meaning
Little girl you're all mixed up
The listener seems confused and lost
You ought to know by now
They have been in this situation before
L.A. dreams had no cure
Their aspirations to go to L.A. have left them feeling empty
They got you cryin'
The situation has led to sadness and tears
They got you cryin' cryin' cryin'
The sadness and tears have become overwhelming
Baby signal for help S.O.S.O.S
Asking for assistance to get out of this situation
Who said you walk out on me
Implying a relationship has ended
The boys will stand in a line
Others are ready to take the listener's place
He left you standing in the rain
The listener has been abandoned
And now you're crying
They are feeling upset because of the situation
Go on and cry, cry, cry
It's okay to express their emotions and be vulnerable
Cruising down an empty street
Continuing to feel lost and lonely
Dark and lonely sky
The environment is mirroring their emotional state
Lipstick is running through my heart
The situation is affecting them in a deep and painful way
You got me cryin'
The situation is causing emotional pain
You got me cryin' cryin', cryin'
The emotional pain is becoming overwhelming
Baby signal for help S.O.S.O.S
Continuing to ask for help and support
Contributed by Arianna N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.