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
in the heat of the night
Pat Benatar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But you do what you want to do
You do what you feel, no one can feel like you
Out in the summertime city, ain't it a pity
There's so much to tie you down
You're leaving tonight to somewhere you can't be found
While down at the edge of town
At a pool hall where they all hang around
And talk about what they're gonna do
Then you ask yourself, is this where you belong?
Is it right, or is it wrong?
Does it matter what's right, in the heat of the night?
Out in the streets tonight, under the neon lights
You're searchin' for something new
But nothin' is real, and no one can feel like you
They say that eagles fly in this red hot sky
But were they just passin' through
Or did they look down, and see what you found was true
But still in the back of your mind
You've got somethin' to believe in, but there's so much to find
As the bright lights dim, and the night closes in
You thought everything is ending, but it's yet to begin
And you ain't seen nothing yet!
But what you see you'll never forget, and you'll say
Why oh why)
Did it take you so long to want something more?
Why oh why)
Did you never get off on this before?
Why oh why)
Well, here it is, the love you've been waitin' for
Why oh why)
Standin' in front of you like an open door
And then you ask yourself, is this where you belong?
Is it right, or is it wrong?
Does it matter what's right, in the heat of the night?
In the heat of the night, when you know it ain't right
But you do what you want to do
You do what you feel, 'cause no one can feel like you
The lyrics of Pat Benatar's song "In the Heat of the Night" provide a commentary on the high-energy and intense atmosphere of city nightlife. The singer reflects on the temptation to indulge in this scene, despite the potential moral implications. As the singer takes a walk through the city, they hear conversations between men at a pool hall discussing their sexual conquests. The singer wonders if they belong in this scene or if it's wrong to be a part of it. The hook of the song repeats throughout, emphasizing the idea that sometimes, in the heat of the moment, it doesn't matter what the right thing to do is.
The second verse expands upon the themes of the first. The singer recognizes the appeal of the city and the desire to feel something new, but also recognizes the fleeting nature of that feeling. The mention of eagles flying in the red-hot sky could represent the idea that the feeling of freedom and transcendence is fleeting in the same way that the eagles pass over the city quickly. However, there is still a sense of belief and hope in the chorus. The singer acknowledges the love they have been waiting for can be presented to them like an open door. It's almost as though the intense atmosphere of the city is what catalyzed the realization that this love is what they truly crave.
Line by Line Meaning
In the heat of the night, when you know it ain't right
It's late at night and you know you shouldn't be doing what you're doing
But you do what you want to do
You're not letting anyone else's opinion stop you from living your life
You do what you feel, no one can feel like you
You're in touch with your emotions and no one else can understand them quite like you do
Out in the summertime city, ain't it a pity
The city should be a lively place to be during the summer, but it's not living up to your expectations
There's so much to tie you down
There are a lot of responsibilities weighing you down and holding you back
You're leaving tonight to somewhere you can't be found
You're escaping from your problems and worries by going somewhere new and unknown
While down at the edge of town
You're on the outskirts of town, away from the hustle and bustle of the city
At a pool hall where they all hang around
You're at a place where people come to socialize, relax, and have fun
You hear them talkin' about the girls they knew
You overhear people sharing their experiences with past girlfriends
And talk about what they're gonna do
They're also discussing their future plans and aspirations
Then you ask yourself, is this where you belong?
You're questioning whether you fit in with this group of people and whether this is the right place for you
Is it right, or is it wrong?
You're questioning the morality of the situation
Does it matter what's right, in the heat of the night?
You're wondering whether it's important to follow rules and norms when you're in the moment
Out in the streets tonight, under the neon lights
You're outside, surrounded by bright lights and all the excitement the city has to offer
You're searchin' for something new
You're on a quest to find something different than what you already know
But nothin' is real, and no one can feel like you
You're feeling disconnected from the world around you and it's hard to find a true connection with others
They say that eagles fly in this red hot sky
There's a saying that good things can happen when the sky is red and hot
But were they just passin' through
You're wondering whether the good things will stick around or if they're just fleeting
Or did they look down, and see what you found was true
You're hopeful that everything you're experiencing is real and not just in your head
But still in the back of your mind
Despite your hopes, you still have doubts
You've got somethin' to believe in, but there's so much to find
You have faith in something, but you know you still have a lot to explore and discover in life
As the bright lights dim, and the night closes in
The excitement of the night is starting to fade away and you're starting to get tired
You thought everything is ending, but it's yet to begin
You thought the night was over, but there's still more to come
And you ain't seen nothing yet!
You're confident that there's even more excitement and adventure in store for you
But what you see you'll never forget, and you'll say
You're going to remember this experience for a long time
Why oh why) Did it take you so long to want something more?
You're regretting not seeking out new experiences sooner
Why oh why) Did you never get off on this before?
You're questioning why you didn't enjoy life to the fullest earlier
Well, here it is, the love you've been waitin' for
You've finally found what you've been looking for
Standin' in front of you like an open door
Your new opportunity or experience is waiting for you to take it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL DONALD CHAPMAN, NICHOLAS BARRY CHINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ryan Green
My vote --put this wonderful, talented lady in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Dammit !
The best song by Pat Benatar here...LOVE IT !
Fantastic album, like Fleetwood Mac's - Rumors
Every song...a hit.
So glad these great albums were released in my generation...Classic !
Thank you for uploading.
mreunome
She belongs in the rock and roll hall of fame way before a lot of artists that were inducted, and it's sad that she may never get inducted for whatever reason they seem to snub her. She is the queen of rock . . . no female had her stamina or gave such gutsy performances in the 80's, and even now pushing 60 she's still out touring. A real rock girl from NY
mreunome
@Benjamin Eastman I didn't forget about Patti Smith, but I only can remember one great song by Springsteen from her...still as good today as it was back then & Natalie Merchant's version pales in comparison to Patti's & so does Bruce's..lol. But finally they've inducted Pat...way overdue along with many others.
Benjamin Eastman
You seem to forgot about Patti Smith, who predated Benatar by at least 4 years.
boomersooner3232
stevie nicks
mreunome
+lfWolf Last time I checked that was in New York, lol. She was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Lindenhurst
mikale van beek
+mreunome so true
cadirector
This might still be my favorite album by her. So many great tunes and her spectacular voice.
gossimer3
I so love Pat Benatar, all of her songs, and especially this one, it takes me right back to the way I used to feel and sometimes still do. ♥️
Ryan Green
My vote --put this wonderful, talented lady in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Dammit !
The best song by Pat Benatar here...LOVE IT !
Fantastic album, like Fleetwood Mac's - Rumors
Every song...a hit.
So glad these great albums were released in my generation...Classic !
Thank you for uploading.
More Books
One of the most standout voices of the 70s and 80s... part of the soundtrack of my life. Awesome songs! What happened to her? She just seemed to have disappeared off the music media...