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
It's A Tuff Life
Pat Benatar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You race your Mercedes through the park after midnight
Hopin' for a few cheap thrills
There's always someone around to lift your spirits up
All along just pumpin' up your attitude
Don't believe a word they say
Cause it's never true
Isn't it a tuff life?
If you can't have it, then you don't want it
You don't need no steady job
Well, isn't it a tuff life?
You got a tuff life
You thought you'd move to Jamaica
So you packed up your bags and headed south to get an even tan
But, you didn't count on rain
You were "perfect" for the script
So you bought the best selling novel
Knowing that you couldn't miss
But you never got the part
Isn't it a tuff life?
You got a tuff life
If you can't have it, then you don't want it
You don't need no steady job
Well, isn't it a tuff life?
It don't get any easier
And you know, sometimes it can get pretty ruff
Well, isn't it a tuff life?
You got a tuff life
Isn't it a tuff life?
You got a tuff life
Isn't it a tuff life?
You've got such a tuff life
Isn't it a tuff life?
You got a tuff life
Isn't it a tuff life?
You got such a tuff life)
The lyrics of Pat Benatar's "It's A Tuff Life" portray the struggles and difficulties of living in a privileged environment where cheap thrills are sought after in order to lift one's spirits up. The song is a reflection on the challenges of living a life where everything is handed to you, and there is little appreciation for the effort and hard work that is often required to achieve success. The lyrics suggest that the singer of the song leads a life that appears to be perfect on the surface, but is ultimately unsatisfying and unfulfilling. The lines "If you can't have it, then you don't want it/ You don't need no steady job" suggest a sense of entitlement and a desire to live a life of leisure without any real responsibilities or commitments.
The song also touches on the theme of disappointment and unfulfilled aspirations. The lines "You thought you'd move to Jamaica/ So you packed up your bags and headed south to get an even tan/ But, you didn't count on rain" and "You were "perfect" for the script/ So you bought the best selling novel/ Knowing that you couldn't miss/ But you never got the part" depict a sense of disillusionment and frustration with the reality of the world. Even when the singer takes steps to pursue their dreams and desires, things do not always turn out as planned.
Overall, "It's A Tuff Life" is a commentary on the challenges of living in a privileged world where success and comfort are taken for granted. The lyrics suggest that even in such an environment, life can be tough, and that true fulfillment and happiness come from embracing challenges and pursuing meaningful goals.
Line by Line Meaning
Isn't it a tuff life?
Life can be tough and challenging.
You race your Mercedes through the park after midnight
You indulge in reckless and dangerous behavior for excitement.
Hopin' for a few cheap thrills
You seek cheap and temporary pleasures to fill the void.
There's always someone around to lift your spirits up
You rely on others to boost your mood and self-esteem.
All along just pumpin' up your attitude
You are trying to maintain a positive attitude despite the difficulties.
Don't believe a word they say
You don't trust others and their words.
Cause it's never true
You have been deceived and hurt in the past.
You got a tuff life
Your life is difficult and challenging.
If you can't have it, then you don't want it
You are not interested in anything that you cannot have.
You don't need no steady job
You don't feel the need to have a steady job or income.
You thought you'd move to Jamaica
You had hopes to escape your problems and start anew.
So you packed up your bags and headed south to get an even tan
You made plans and took action to achieve your goals.
But, you didn't count on rain
Your plans and expectations were disrupted by unforeseen circumstances.
You were "perfect" for the script
You believed that you were ideal for a certain role or position.
So you bought the best selling novel
You invested time and money in order to succeed.
Knowing that you couldn't miss
You were confident in your abilities and chances of success.
But you never got the part
Your efforts did not lead to the desired outcome.
It don't get any easier
Life does not become easier as time goes on.
And you know, sometimes it can get pretty ruff
Life can be very difficult and challenging at times.
You've got such a tuff life
Your life is remarkably challenging and difficult.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: NEIL GIRALDO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind