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
I Want Out
Pat Benatar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You locked the door and you swallowed the key
And I... and I kept quiet
Yeah baby, got a hold on me, I didn't want to be alone
I stayed with you 'cause I really believed
That I couldn't make it on my own
But I'm getting a little bit smarter
And I know what you're all about
I Want Out!
I Want Out!
Ooh baby, your lovin' told on me, I couldn't smile anymore
My friends all told me, baby can't you see?
But I wasn't seeing clear before
Now I'm getting a little bit smarter
Gettin' tired of playin' the martyr
And I know what you're all about
I Want Out!
I Want Out!
Ooh baby, got a hold on me, I didn't want to be alone
I stayed with you 'cause I really believed
That I couldn't make it
I Want Out!
Ooh baby, got a hold on me
I Want Out!
Ooh baby, got a hold on me
I Want Out!
Ooh baby, got a hold on me
I Want Out!
Ooh baby, got a hold on me
I Want Out!
Ooh baby, got a hold on me
I Want Out!
Ooh baby, got a hold on me
I Want Out!
Ooh baby, got a hold on me
I Want Out!
Ooh baby, got a hold on me
I Want Out!
The song I Want Out by Pat Benatar is about a woman who realizes that she is trapped in a toxic relationship and desires to leave. The lyrics describe how her partner has a hold on her, as she can't seem to break free even though she knows the relationship is no longer healthy. She feels alone and vulnerable, believing that she can't make it on her own, and thus, she stays in the relationship.
However, as the song progresses, she becomes more aware of what's going on, and she starts to feel a sense of empowerment. She's getting smarter and no longer wants to play the role of a martyr. She recognizes that her partner is not good for her and that she needs to get out of the relationship. The song ends with her repeating the line "I Want Out" as she asserts her desire to be free from the hold her partner has on her.
Overall, the song speaks to the struggles that people face when trying to leave a toxic relationship. It highlights the conflicting emotions that come with wanting to leave while feeling trapped and unable to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh baby, got a hold on me, I can't deny it
I am in a relationship where my partner has a strong influence over me, and I cannot deny it
You locked the door and you swallowed the key
My partner has complete control over our relationship and I have no way out
And I... and I kept quiet
I have been silent about my true feelings towards my partner's influence and control over me
Yeah baby, got a hold on me, I didn't want to be alone
I have stayed in this relationship because I was afraid of being alone and thought that I needed my partner to survive
I stayed with you 'cause I really believed, that I couldn't make it on my own
I stayed in the relationship because I believed that I was not strong enough to make it on my own
But I'm getting a little bit smarter, Gettin' tired of playin' the martyr
I am becoming more aware of my situation and realizing that I am sacrificing too much of myself to make this relationship work
And I know what you're all about, I Want Out!, I Want Out!
I have finally come to the realization that my partner's influence and control over me is not healthy for me, and I want to end the relationship
Ooh baby, your lovin' told on me, I couldn't smile anymore
My partner's form of love has made me unhappy and unable to be myself
But I wasn't seeing clear before
I was blinded by my partner's control and only now have I come to my senses and realized what was happening
Ooh baby, got a hold on me, I didn't want to be alone, I stayed with you 'cause I really believed, That I couldn't make it
I am repeating my earlier sentiments of not wanting to be alone and staying with my partner because I believed I needed them
Ooh baby, got a hold on me, I Want Out!
I am reiterating my desire to leave this relationship and end my partner's control over me
Ooh baby, got a hold on me, I Want Out!, Ooh baby, got a hold on me, I Want Out!, Ooh baby, got a hold on me, I Want Out!
I am expressing my strong desire to leave this relationship and end my partner's control over me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GERALDO, STEINBERG
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind