She was born in the neighborhood of Greenpoint in Brooklyn, New York City, New York on January 10, 1953 as Patricia Andrzejewski. She graduated from Lindenhurst High on Long Island in 1971. She married her lead guitarist, Neil "Spyder" Geraldo, in 1982, and she has two children, named Haley and Hana.
In 1973, Benatar quit her job as a bank teller to pursue a singing career after being inspired by a Liza Minnelli concert she saw in Richmond. She got a job as a singing waitress at a flapper-esque nightclub named "The Roaring Twenties", and got a gig singing in lounge band Coxon's Army. They garnered enough attention to be the subject of a never-aired PBS special, and the band's bassist, Roger Capps, would go on to be the original bass player for the Pat Benatar band.
This period also yielded Benatar's first solo single – 1974's "Day Gig" – until her eventual major label debut on Chrysalis Records in 1979. The song was released via Trace Records, and was both written and produced by Coxon's Army band leader Phil Coxon.
Benatar's big break came in 1975 at an amateur night at the comedy club "Catch a Rising Star" in New York City. Her rousing rendition of Judy Garland's "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody" earned her a call back by club owner Rick Newman, who would later become her manager.
After many years of producing big budget albums, Neil and Pat have continued to produce albums together, even though they have decided to end their association with major labels. They have chosen instead to place the care of their children above industry demands, and make records at home in their own professional quality studio. Each summer when their girls get out of school for vacation, they all pack up, board a tour bus, and set out to play as many shows as they can fit into the summer months. Pat and Neil maintain a close, and much more personal, relationship with their fans, than they were able to do in 80's during the heights of their commercial success.
http://www.benatargiraldo.com
Don't Let It Show
Pat Benatar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Don't let it show, don't let it show
Though it's getting harder to take what they say
Just let it go
And if it hurts when they mention my name
Say you don't know me
And if it helps when they say I'm to blame
Say you don't own me
Even if it's taking the easy way out
Keep it inside of you
Don't give in
Don't tell them anything
Don't let it
Don't let it show
Even though you know it's the wrong thing to say
Say you don't care, say you don't care
Even if you want to believe there's a way
I won't be there, I won't be there
But if you smile when they mention my name
They'll never know you
And if you laugh when they say I'm to blame
They'll never own you
Even if you feel you've got nothing to hide
Keep it inside of you
Don't give in
Don't tell them anything
Don't let it
Don't let it show
The lyrics of Pat Benatar's song "Don't Let It Show" convey a message of resilience and inner strength in the face of criticism and judgment. The song advises the listener not to let their emotions or vulnerabilities show, even if it's becoming increasingly difficult to cope with the pressures of everyday life. The opening lines suggest that life has become overwhelming, but the lyrics urge the listener to keep their emotions to themselves and not let them show.
The lyrics also touch upon the idea of scapegoating and taking the blame for someone else's mistakes. The line "if it helps when they say I'm to blame, say you don't own me" indicates that the singer is trying to distance themselves from the perception that they are responsible for something negative. Instead of allowing others to own their actions or thoughts, the listener is encouraged to deny any connection to those things and assert their own independence.
The chorus repeats the title phrase "Don't let it show" as a mantra for the listener to stay strong and not let their true feelings come to light. The overall message of the song is one of resiliency and resilience in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
If it's getting harder to face everyday
If life is becoming more difficult with each passing day
Don't let it show, don't let it show
Don't reveal your true emotions and concerns to others
Though it's getting harder to take what they say
Even though the criticism and commentary from others is becoming more difficult to bear
Just let it go
Try to let it slide, ignore their negativity
And if it hurts when they mention my name
If it's painful to hear my name brought up in their conversation
Say you don't know me
Pretend that we've never met so you won't have to discuss me
And if it helps when they say I'm to blame
When they try to assign me responsibility for something,
Say you don't own me
Emphatically state that you have no control over my actions or choices
Even if it's taking the easy way out
Even if it seems like you're copping out of a difficult situation
Keep it inside of you
Keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself
Don't give in
Don't let external pressure force you to do something you're not comfortable with
Don't tell them anything
Don't offer any new information about what's bothering you or what you think
Even though you know it's the wrong thing to say
Even if you know you're not being honest or truthful
Say you don't care, say you don't care
Feign indifference or apathy, say that you're not invested or interested
Even if you want to believe there's a way
Even if you wish that there was a resolution or solution to the problem
I won't be there, I won't be there
I won't be present or involved
But if you smile when they mention my name
If you're able to put on a happy face when my name comes up,
They'll never know you
They won't be able to read or understand your true thoughts or feelings
And if you laugh when they say I'm to blame
If you can even laugh off the accusations and blame placed on me
They'll never own you
They won't be able to exert control or influence over your actions or choices
Even if you feel you've got nothing to hide
Even if there doesn't seem to be any particular reason to keep things private
Keep it inside of you
Guard your thoughts and emotions
Don't give in
Manage the situation yourself, don't succumb to pressure to divulge information
Don't tell them anything
Hold your cards close to your chest and resist the urge to open up about everything
Don't let it
Don't let your innermost thoughts and emotions be exposed to others
Don't let it show
Make sure your true feelings remain a secret to those around you
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALAN PARSONS, ERIC WOOLFSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind