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
Somebody's Baby
Pat Benatar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Someone used to hold him close, and rock him gently
He used to be the light in someone's eyes
He used to matter, he used to matter
Someone cared if he lived or died
Someone held him in their arms - when he cried
And when he hurt, someone kept the world away
Someone loved him, someone loved him
He used to be somebody's baby
Someone used to hold him close, and rock him gently
He used to be the light in someone's eyes
He used to matter, he used to matter
He used to matter
That was then, that was so long ago
Long before they came and took his soul
Long before he became invisible
That was when, he wasn't human garbage then
He used to be somebody's baby
Someone used to hold him close, and rock him gently
He used to be the light in someone's eyes
He used to matter, he used to matter
He used to matter
He used to be somebody's baby
Pat Benatar's "Somebody's Baby" is an emotionally charged song that speaks to the feeling of being forgotten and discarded. The opening lines of the song create a powerful image of a man who was once loved and cared for. He was once somebody's baby, held close and rocked gently. He was once the light in someone's eyes, and he used to matter. The repetition of this line makes it clear that the man's sense of self-worth has been eroded. He used to matter, but he doesn't anymore. The sense of loss is palpable in the lines "Someone cared if he lived or died, Someone held him in their arms - when he cried, And when he hurt, someone kept the world away, Someone loved him, someone loved him."
The second verse continues along the same theme. The repetition of "He used to be somebody's baby" drives the point home: this man was once valued and loved. But now, "That was then, that was so long ago, Long before they came and took his soul, Long before he became invisible, That was when, he wasn't human garbage then." The lyrics paint a picture of an individual who has been dehumanized and cast aside. He is no longer a person, but rather "human garbage."
Overall, the song is a poignant commentary on the way society often devalues those who are considered to be less than perfect. It speaks to the essential human need for love and connection and the devastating impact that can result from feeling invisible and forgotten.
Line by Line Meaning
He used to be somebody's baby
He once had someone who loved and cared for him deeply.
Someone used to hold him close, and rock him gently
He had someone who would comfort him and keep him close.
He used to be the light in someone's eyes
Someone used to look at him with joy and adoration.
He used to matter, he used to matter
He used to have a sense of purpose and importance in someone's life.
Someone cared if he lived or died
He had someone who valued his life and well-being.
Someone held him in their arms - when he cried
He had someone who would comfort him when he was sad and vulnerable.
And when he hurt, someone kept the world away
He had someone who would protect him and shield him from pain and harm.
Someone loved him, someone loved him
He had someone who loved him deeply and unconditionally.
That was then, that was so long ago
That time of love and care feels like it was in the distant past.
Long before they came and took his soul
Something or someone has caused him to lose his sense of self and identity.
Long before he became invisible
He has lost his importance and visibility in the eyes of others.
That was when, he wasn't human garbage then
He used to be valued and respected as a human being, unlike how he is currently treated.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: GIRALDO GIRALDO
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind