French had been a session singer for many years before she covered "Total Eclipse Of The Heart", a song made famous by Bonnie Tyler. Her single was first released in 1994 in the United Kingdom. When it was re-released in 1995 the song reached no. 5 during a 3 month chart run, selling over 5 million copies in the process and earning a silver sales award and well as becoming her record lable 'Love This' biggest chart success.
This was followed by even more successful chart run in the United States, where the track reached no. 2 and spent 6 months on the Billboard Hot 100 music charts. The single also reached number 1 in seven countries - Australia, Japan, Canada, Israel, Spain, Hong Kong and Brazil, as well as charting in Sweden, Ireland, Germany, Italy, Mexico, The Netherlands, Denmark and Norway. She went onto win a record breaking 3 awards at the 'Dance Music Rasberry Authority Magazine Awards' in the USA - Single Of The Year (Total Eclipse Of The Heart), Newcomer and Female Vocalist Of The Year.
Nicki represented the United Kingdom at the EuroVision Song Contest in 2000 with "Don't Play That Song Again" which finished in 16th position.
Total Eclipse of the Heart
Nicki French Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Every now and then I get a little bit lonely
And you're never coming round
Turn around
Every now and then I get a little bit tired
Of listening to the sound of my tears
Turn around
Every now and then I get a little bit nervous
Turn around
Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
And then I see the look in your eyes
Turn around, bright eyes
Every now and the I fall apart
Turn around, bright eyes
Every now and the I fall apart
And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
'Cause we'll never be wrong together
Once upon a time I was falling in love
Now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Turn around
Every now and then I know you'll never be the boy
Who always wanted to be
Turn around
Every now and then I know you'll always be
The only boy who wanted me the way that I am
Turn around
Every now and then I know there's no one in the universe
As magical and wondrous as you
Turn around
Every now and then I know there's nothing any better
There's nothing that I just wouldn't do
Turn around, bright eyes
Every now and then I fall apart
Turn around, bright eyes
Every now and then I fall apart
And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right
'Cause we'll never be wrong
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
I really need you tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Forever's gonna start tonight
Once upon a time I was falling in love
Now I'm only falling apart
There's nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Once upon a time I was falling in love
Now I'm only falling apart
Nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
The lyrics of "Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Nicki French depict a person who is feeling lonely, tired, nervous, and terrified. The individual is longing for the presence of someone they love and trust to hold them, and make everything right. The song tells a story of a woman who feels lost and heartbroken. She sees the man she loves as the only one who can bring light to her life, and she is willing to go to great lengths to keep their relationship going.
The metaphors present in the lyrics serve as a great instrument in illustrating the woman's desolation. The reference to an eclipse signifies the darkness that has befallen her heart. The line "we're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks" paints a picture of the passion that these two individuals have for each other. However, the lyrics end with a sense of sadness and defeat as the woman realizes that the love she once had is gone, and she is left with nothing but shattered dreams.
Overall, "Total Eclipse of the Heart" presents a picture of profound sadness and lost love. The song is an excellent portrayal of the emotions that come with heartbreak and the desperation that follows.
Line by Line Meaning
Turn around
The start of the chorus. Asking someone to look at the singer
Every now and then I get a little bit lonely
The singer experiences loneliness occasionally
And you're never coming round
The person the singer is singing to never visits them
Every now and then I get a little bit tired
The singer gets tired occasionally
Of listening to the sound of my tears
The singer is tired of hearing themselves cry
Every now and then I get a little bit nervous
The singer experiences nerves occasionally
That the best of all the years have gone by
The singer is worried that the best times have already passed
Every now and then I get a little bit terrified
The singer experiences fear occasionally
And then I see the look in your eyes
The singer sees something in the person's eyes
And I need you now tonight
The singer needs the person they're singing to tonight
And I need you more than ever
The singer needs the person more than at any other point
And if you only hold me tight
The singer wants to be held tightly by the person
We'll be holding on forever
If they hold onto eachother, they'll be together forever
And we'll only be making it right
Being together will make everything right
’Cause we'll never be wrong together
As long as they're together, they'll never be wrong
Once upon a time I was falling in love
There was a time the singer was falling in love
Now I'm only falling apart
The singer is currently falling apart
There's nothing I can do
The singer feels helpless to change their situation
A total eclipse of the heart
A metaphorical darkness or masking of emotions and feelings
Now I know you'll never be the boy
The singer knows the person won't be the person they wanted
Who always wanted to be
The person didn't want to be the person the singer desired
Every now and then I know you'll always be
The person will always be the one the singer wanted
The only boy who wanted me the way that I am
The person wanted the singer for who they are
Every now and then I know there's no one in the universe
The person is unique to the universe
As magical and wondrous as you
The person is magical and wondrous to the singer
Every now and then I know there's nothing any better
There's nothing better than the person the singer wants
There's nothing that I just wouldn't do
The singer would do anything for the person they want
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Together they can go to the end
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time
The person's love is always with the singer
I don't know what to do and I'm always in the dark
The singer is constantly unsure and confused
We're living in a powder keg and giving off sparks
The situation is tense and ready to explode
Forever's gonna start tonight
Their forever starts tonight
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management
Written by: James Richard Steinman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind