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
The Victim
Pat Benatar Lyrics
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The perfect victim for the perfect crime
You left yourself wide open to the pain
So close your eyes now
You're out walkin' in the rain
You've got a burning desire to be The Victim
You're bleeding from the soul
You're hurting from the heart
Your choice of lovers, never very bright
Your father worried, but even he gave up the fight
You always think their hearts are made of gold
And you're the savior, to coax the warmth out of the cold
You've got a burning desire to be The Victim
You're bleeding from the soul
You're hurting from the heart
Things you can't be told are gonna tear you apart
Cause you're The Victim
Break the pattern, you've gotta break away
Break the pattern before it gets too late
You've got a burning desire to be The Victim
You're bleeding from the soul
You're hurting from the heart
Things you're never told are gonna tear you apart
Cause you're The Victim
The lyrics of Pat Benatar's song "The Victim" is about the persona's tendency to be a victim of love. The song's central message is that the persona has been hurt so badly in relationships that they have come to expect it of every new relationship they form. They feel as if they have been "set up one too many times" and that they are "the perfect victim for the perfect crime." They are sensitive and vulnerable and always end up getting hurt. The persona blames themselves for leaving themselves "wide open to the pain" and advises themselves to close their eyes and simply accept this fate. The song suggests that this pattern has contributed to a deep emotional wound that cannot be healed easily.
The lyrics also paint a vivid picture of the persona's tendency to choose lovers who don't treat them right. Their "choice of lovers, never very bright." Their father is described as having worried about them but even he gave up the fight, suggesting that this has been a lifelong problem for the persona. The persona describes themselves as a savior who tries to "coax the warmth out of the cold," making it clear that they often try to rescue their lovers, but it never seems to work.
In conclusion, the song's lyrics are a poignant commentary on the challenges and pain of love, particularly for those who have been hurt deeply in the past.
Line by Line Meaning
You've been set up one too many times
You have been manipulated and tricked repeatedly in the past.
The perfect victim for the perfect crime
You are an easy target for those who want to hurt you.
You left yourself wide open to the pain
You allowed yourself to be vulnerable and exposed, making it easier for others to hurt you.
So close your eyes now
You must turn a blind eye to the people and situations that are causing you harm.
You're out walkin' in the rain
You are alone and unprotected, exposed to the elements and the world around you.
You've got a burning desire to be The Victim
You have a subconscious need or desire to be a victim, even though it causes you pain and suffering.
You're bleeding from the soul
You are emotionally wounded and in pain, and the hurt runs deep.
You're hurting from the heart
You are experiencing intense emotional pain that is affecting you on a deep and personal level.
Things you can't be told are gonna tear you apart
There are some painful truths that you are not willing or able to face, and they will continue to cause you harm.
Your choice of lovers, never very bright
You tend to choose partners who are not good for you, and who will inevitably cause you pain and heartache.
Your father worried, but even he gave up the fight
You have been warned about the consequences of your decisions, but you continue to make the same mistakes.
You always think their hearts are made of gold
You give people the benefit of the doubt, and assume that they are good and trustworthy by nature.
And you're the savior, to coax the warmth out of the cold
You believe that you can change people for the better, and that your love and compassion can transform even the coldest of hearts.
Break the pattern, you've gotta break away
You need to break free from the cycle of becoming a victim, and take control of your life.
Break the pattern before it gets too late
If you don't change your ways now, you may never be able to break the cycle of pain and suffering.
Cause you're The Victim
You have become so used to being a victim that it has become a part of your personality and identity.
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind