Kamen was first brought to the public's attention in 1984 when Ray Petri featured him on the front cover of The Face. The cover showed him wearing a ski-hat, orange roll-neck sweater and aviator sunglasses.
He was most remembered, in the UK, for his 1985 beefcake performance in Levi's "Launderette" television commercial, where he strips down in order to stone-wash his blue jeans in a 1950s style public laundromat while he waits clad only in his boxer shorts, which dramatically increased their popularity. It was selected for, and came fourth, in "The 100 Greatest TV Ads of All Time" in 2000.
His first single was the 1986 UK #5 hit "Each Time You Break My Heart" from his self-titled debut album. Written and produced by Madonna and Stephen Bray, it also cracked both the U.S. dance chart (remix by Shep Pettibone) and the Top 50 in Canada. Madonna also sang the backing vocals. Her original demo remains one of many Unreleased Madonna Songs. Kamen also had a #16 follow-up in the UK with the second single, "Loving You Is Sweeter Than Ever", although his later singles were less-commercially successful in the UK but more so in the rest of Europe, particularly Italy, France, Germany and Spain.
He appeared on UK television, singing, on Top of the Pops (12 March 1987 and 18 October 1990), This Morning (9 April 1990), Night Network (15 April 1987, 19 August 1987 and 1988) and The Tube (31 October 1986 and 21 November 1986).
Kamen's second album Us (1989) was produced by Patrick Leonard. Madonna again made an appearance as a backing vocalist on the song "Tell Me", this time without contributing to the songwriting or production.
In 1989 Kamen performed the song "Turn It Up" on the soundtrack to Walt Disney's film, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids.
A new dance remix of his self-penned 1990 song, "I Promised Myself", and his biggest hit, was featured on a 2004 various artists collection in Europe and three years later, in 2007, the Spanish singer José Galisteo recorded his own version of the song. Kamen's own version was the fourth highest played record in Europe in 1990 and reached No 1 in eight European countries.
Each Time You Break My Heart 2007
Nick Kamen Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Each time you break my heart
I know how it feels to be the talk of the town
I'm not gonna let you go and run around
I need to know that you'll be true to me
Cause that's the way it's got to be
Is love so blind that you cannot see
I'm trying hard not to walk out the door
Know that I, oh, know that I can't take no more
Each time you break my heart
I try to put my pride aside
Each time you break my heart
A little voice inside me cries
No matter what you do or say
I'm gonna love you, I'm gonna love you anyway
And if you're so sure that I'm not your kind
How come you can't just walk away
In the beginning we were nothing but glad
Those were the best days that we ever had
There's no compassion, all your warmth is gone
Tell me how, oh, how can I keep holding on
Each time you break my heart
I try to put my pride aside
Each time you break my heart
A little voice inside me cries
I see the look in your eyes
I know you're hurting inside
Let me try
To make you love me again
I'll say that I knew you when
You were mine
You were mine
Each time, oh, yeah
In the beginning we were nothing but glad
Those were the best days that we ever had
There's no compassion, all your warmth is gone
Tell me how, oh, how can I keep holding on
I see the look in your eyes
I know you're hurting inside
Let me try
To make you love me again
I'll say that I knew you when
You were mine
You were mine
Each time you break my heart
I try to put my pride aside
Each time you break my heart
A little voice inside me cries
Each time you break my heart again
Well I can say I knew you when (each time)
You were mine
(Each time you break my heart)
I try to put my pride aside
(Each time you break my heart)
Oh, oh, oh
(Break my heart, don't break my heart)
(Break my heart, don't break my heart)
(Break my heart, don't break my heart)
(Break my heart, don't break my heart)
The song "Each Time You Break My Heart" by Nick Kamen is about the pain of continuously forgiving someone who repeatedly hurts you. The lyrics suggest that the singer is feeling embarrassed by the fact that everyone in town knows how they are being treated, yet they are still holding on to hope for their partner to change. The singer is looking for a promise from their partner to be faithful, but they are feeling like they are not being taken seriously. They are torn between their love for their partner and their need to maintain their self-respect.
The chorus "Each time you break my heart, a little voice inside me cries" represents the pain that the singer feels every time their partner lets them down. The verses plead with the partner to see what they are doing and to try to make things right. The bridge suggests that the singer is willing to stick by their partner even if they don't change, but they can't understand why their partner can't just walk away if they don't feel the same way.
Overall, the song is a reflection of the complex emotions that come with loving someone who repeatedly hurts you. It captures the pain, frustration, and confusion that accompany these relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Each time you break my heart
The singer is expressing their pain and frustration caused by the repeated breaking of their heart by their partner.
I know how it feels to be the talk of the town
The singer understands what it is like to be the subject of gossip and rumors.
I'm not gonna let you go and run around
The singer is determined to make sure their partner remains faithful and doesn't cheat.
I need to know that you'll be true to me
The singer is seeking reassurance that their partner will not betray them.
Cause that's the way it's got to be
The singer believes that faithfulness and honesty are essential in a relationship.
Why can't you give your promise to me
The singer is asking their partner why they cannot make a commitment to them.
Is love so blind that you cannot see
The singer questions whether their partner truly loves them, as they seem unable to make a commitment.
I'm trying hard not to walk out the door
The singer is struggling to remain in the relationship despite feeling hurt and frustrated.
Know that I, oh, know that I can't take no more
The singer is reaching a breaking point and feels they cannot tolerate any further heartbreak.
I try to put my pride aside
The singer attempts to suppress their hurt and maintain their dignity in the face of heartbreak.
A little voice inside me cries
Despite their efforts to remain strong, the singer's pain is evident and affects them deeply.
No matter what you do or say
The singer declares their commitment to their partner, regardless of any hurt or betrayal that may come their way.
I'm gonna love you, I'm gonna love you anyway
The singer is determined to love their partner, even in the face of adversity.
And if you're so sure that I'm not your kind
The singer questions why their partner is remaining in the relationship if they are not compatible or if their partner does not truly love them.
How come you can't just walk away
The singer wonders why their partner cannot simply end the relationship if they are truly unhappy.
In the beginning we were nothing but glad
The singer reminisces about the early, happy days of the relationship.
Those were the best days that we ever had
The singer believes that the beginning of the relationship was the happiest time for them.
There's no compassion, all your warmth is gone
The singer laments that their partner has become cold and uncaring, and they have lost the affectionate qualities they once had.
Tell me how, oh, how can I keep holding on
The singer is questioning whether they should continue holding onto the relationship, given their partner's lack of warmth and compassion.
I see the look in your eyes
The singer notices their partner's pain and suffering.
I know you're hurting inside
The singer acknowledges their partner's emotional pain and suffering.
Let me try
The singer expresses a desire to help their partner through their pain and suffering.
To make you love me again
The singer wants to reignite the love and affection they once shared with their partner.
I'll say that I knew you when
The singer reminisces about the happy times they shared with their partner in the past.
You were mine
The singer declares their love and possession of their partner.
Each time, oh, yeah
The singer is agreeing with the repetition of the chorus in which they express their pain and frustration each time their heart is broken.
Well I can say I knew you when (each time)
The singer is implying that if the relationship ends, they will remember the happy times shared with their partner.
I try to put my pride aside
The singer is attempting to remain dignified and strong in the face of heartbreak, even if it means burying their pride.
Oh, oh, oh
This line is a melodic flourish, meant to convey the singer's emotional pain and frustration.
Break my heart, don't break my heart
The singer is imploring their partner not to break their heart again, using this repetition to emphasize their plea.
(Break my heart, don't break my heart)
The repetition of this line further emphasizes the singer's anxiety and fear of further heartbreak.
(Break my heart, don't break my heart)
The repetition of this line continues to stress the singer's vulnerability and fear of heartbreak.
(Break my heart, don't break my heart)
The repetition of this line reinforces the singer's plea for their partner not to hurt them again.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: . MADONNA, STEPHEN BRAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind