Ocasek released his first solo album in 1982. Beatitude is a somewhat more experimental variation of The Cars' New Wave rock sound. A more synthesizer-heavy follow up, This Side Of Paradise, was released in 1986. A minor hit, "Emotion In Motion" accompanied the album.
The Cars split in 1987, and Ocasek disappeared from the public eye for several years, resurfacing in 1990 with Fireball Zone. One track, "Rockaway", enjoyed a brief stay on the charts, but his solo albums have seen disappointing sales, especially compared to his success with the Cars. He subsequently released other solo works throughout the decade, including 1993's Quick Change World, 1996's Getchertikitz (a collaboration with Suicide's Alan Vega), and 1997's Billy Corgan-produced Troublizing (which Ocasek supported with a very brief tour, his first since leaving the Cars). In 2005, Ocasek released another album, Nexterday, to little fanfare but positive reviews.
In 2010, Ocasek reunited with the surviving original members of The Cars to record their first album in 24 years, titled Move Like This, which came out on May 10, 2011.
Keep on Laughin'
Ric Ocasek Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, you got you when you want to find it
Oh, you got you when you crumble down
Oh, you got you when you can't define it
You gotta keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Oh, keep on laughing, laughing
Better keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Better keep on laughing, laughing
′Til you find that spark
You got a feeling, well, it's up to you
Sometimes you want to run away
Sometimes you think you do
But you never had a dream like this before
And you don't want to ask for more
Sometimes you leave a mark
Before you know the score
Oh, baby, keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Better keep on laughing, laughing
′Til you find that spark
Well, it′s up to you to turn this night
'Cause everybody needs some love
To feel alright
Gotta keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Gotta keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Better keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Better keep on laughing
′Til you hit that mark
Gotta keep on laughing
Keep on laughing
Laughing 'til you find that spark
Gotta keep on laughing
Keep on laughing
Laughing, laughing in the dark
The opening lyrics of Ric Ocasek's "Keep on Laughin'" describe the hopelessness and confusion that come with the experience of falling apart. "You got you when you're coming down," sings Ocasek, almost as if to say that when everything is falling apart, you're all you've got. This sentiment is underscored by later lyrics such as "You gotta keep on laughing, laughing, laughing in the dark, better keep on laughing 'til you find that spark," which suggest that laughter and a willingness to push forward can help you find light in even the darkest of moments.
Throughout the song, Ocasek's lyrics move between a sense of despair and a sense of optimism, capturing the emotional complexity of trying to find oneself in a world that often seems shrouded in darkness. The song's refrain, "Gotta keep on laughing, laughing, laughing in the dark," is a reminder that even when things seem bleak, it's important to maintain a sense of humor and a willingness to keep moving forward.
Ultimately, "Keep on Laughin'" is a song about resilience and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity. Through its lyrics, the song offers a powerful reminder that even when life seems at its darkest, there is always the potential for light and hope.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, you got you when you’re coming down
No matter how low you feel, you have your own strength to rely on.
Oh, you got you when you want to find it
You have the power to find what you're looking for within yourself.
Oh, you got you when you crumble down
Even when things fall apart, you still have yourself to rely on.
Oh, you got you when you can't define it
Even in moments of confusion, you still have your own sense of self.
You gotta keep on laughing, laughing
To overcome the darkness and uncertainty, you need to keep finding joy.
Laughing in the dark
Even if you can't see the light, you can still find laughter and positivity.
Better keep on laughing, laughing
It's important to continue finding joy no matter how hard things get.
′Til you find that spark
Until you find that moment of inspiration, keep laughing and finding reasons to be optimistic.
You got a feeling, well, it's up to you
Your emotions are in your control and it’s up to you to determine how to react.
Sometimes you want to run away
When things get tough, it's natural to think about running away from the situation.
Sometimes you think you do
The idea of running away can seem appealing, but it's not always the best answer.
But you never had a dream like this before
The situation is unique and you've never dealt with something like this.
And you don't want to ask for more
Although things are challenging, you don't want to make things worse by asking for more help.
Sometimes you leave a mark
The way you handle a difficult situation can leave a lasting impact.
Before you know the score
Before you can fully assess the situation, you take actions that can impact the outcome.
Well, it's up to you to turn this night
You're the only one who can change the current circumstances and create a better outcome.
'Cause everybody needs some love
Love is essential for everyone, especially during difficult times.
To feel alright
Love can help you feel better and more content with the situation at hand.
Gotta keep on laughing, laughing
It's important to keep finding joy despite the hardships.
′Til you hit that mark
You need to keep finding joy until you reach your goal or find your moment of inspiration.
Gotta keep on laughing
It's essential to keep finding reasons to be optimistic and joyful despite the challenges.
Keep on laughing
Continuing to find joy can help push through the darkness.
Laughing 'til you find that spark
Keep laughing until you find the inspiration you need to overcome the challenges.
Writer(s): Ric Ocasek
Contributed by Leo K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@dutchboy25al
Positive vibes man.....
Well, you got you when you're coming down
Oh, you got you when you want to find it
Oh, you got you when you crumble down
Oh, you got you when you can't define it
You gotta keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Oh, keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Better keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Better keep on laughing, laughing
'Til you find that spark
You got a feeling, well, it's up to you
Sometimes you want to run away
Sometimes you think you do
But you never had a dream like this before
And you don't want to ask for more
Sometimes you leave a mark
Before you know the score
Oh, baby, keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Better keep on laughing, laughing
'Til you find that spark
Well, it's up to you to turn this night
'Cause everybody needs some love
To feel alright
Gotta keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Gotta keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Better keep on laughing, laughing
Laughing in the dark
Better keep on laughing
'Til you hit that mark
Gotta keep on laughing
Keep on laughing
Laughing 'til you find that spark
Gotta keep on laughing
Keep on laughing
Laughing, laughing in the dark
@trevorfornash23
I miss this dude so much had a great sense of timing rhythm and melody. He was always in the background but he always drove his band. There have never been many people who could do that. He was special. We will never see someone like him again.
@trevorfornash23
He reminds me of Tom petty but more pop oriented. So essentially a better song arranger
@nopeandnope7398
Sadly nope! :(
@nothadnotbad
great album. i can't count how many times i listened to this record. and somehow the record still sounds brand new.
@BenCulture
nothadnotbad I would rate This Side of Paradise as Ric's best (and most Cars-like) solo album, but followed closely by Beatitude and Troublizing. All three of them are very different, but damn good albums from start to finish.
@nothadnotbad
this side of paradise is fucking awesome!
@marksacher3866
Ben Culture I agree with you that This Side of Paradise is his best by far. I listen to it all the time and love every song on the CD. This is my order: This Side of Paradise, Quick Change World, Beatitude, Nexterday, Fireball Zone, and Troublizing. I don't have Negative Theater, but I read that half of that release is also on Quick Change World. I hope to get it soon.
@BenCulture
Mark Sacher I'm glad someone rates Quick Change World so high, because it really didn't do much for me at first listen, and when the cassette(!) broke, I never replaced it. I imagine if I really want to complete my collection, I'll just order an import of Negative Theater.
@desrichardson2276
@@BenCulture 0
@Kharis1964
This title is actually engraved on Ric's gravestone. RIP Ric!