Marx was born to Dick and Ruth Marx. Marx grew up in a mixed faith household where father was Jewish and his mother was a Christian. His father was a jingle writer for commercials for popular products such as 'Chicken of the Sea', which is where Marx got his start writing at the tender age of five. His father also was talented jazz musician, well-known in the Chicago area.
At the age of 17, Marx created a demo to showcase his talents, which landed in the hands of soul artist Lionel Richie. Richie invited Marx to Hollywood saying, "I can't promise you anything, but you should come to L.A." Marx would eventually appear as a background singer in Richie's songs "You Are" and "Running With The Night" as well as on Richie's follow-up album, which included the smash hit "All Night Long".
*Richard Marx*
Marx's first album, a self-titled work, went multi-platinum, selling nearly 4 million copies. He also earned his first #1 single, "Hold on to the nights", which he told Songfacts.com was inspired by a friend who had the dilemma of having met the love of his life when both the friend and the girl in question were already in relationships. He also had several other top five hits including "Don’t Mean Nothing" (#3), "Should've Known Better" (#3) and "Endless Summer Nights" (#2). He later revealed in an interview on 'VH-1 Classic' that his favorite song that he performed from his first album was "Have Mercy."
*Repeat Offender*
Repeat Offender eventually moved into the #1 spot and gave Marx two more #1 hit singles.
*Rush Street*
Rush Street's "Hazard" (#1), which depicted a man's rejection in a fictional version of Hazard, Nebraska. He released Paid Vacation in 1994, Flesh & Bone in 1997, Days in Avalon in 2000 and My Own Best Enemy in 2004.
Richard Marx also sang with Donna Lewis, best known for her hit "I Love You Always Forever", on the track "At the Beginning" of the Anastasia soundtrack. He has sung background vocals for Madonna in her True Blue album.
He has served as a writer/producer for an extensive list of other recording artists, including Barry Manilow, Barbra Streisand, Keith Urban, 98 Degrees, Kenny Loggins, Emerson Drive, Luther Vandross, Michael Bolton, *NSYNC, Olivia Newton-John, Sarah Brightman, SheDaisy, John Farnham and Vince Gill.
Marx has been married to Cynthia Rhodes, who starred in the 1987 blockbuster Dirty Dancing and is a former lead singer for 80s pop band Animotion, since 1989. The couple has three sons: Brandon, Lucas, and Jesse. Brandon is the eldest followed by Lucas then Jesse.
One of Marx's most recent works is a song titled "Remember When", composed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Disneyland. Performed by LeAnn Rimes, the song may be heard on the park's official 50th Anniversary album, as well as selected times in the park.
Children of the Night
Richard Marx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
No magic carpet, no genie, no shoes on my feet
Will I wake up from this nightmare?
A fear that chills me to the bone
Though I may be one of many
I feel so all alone
We won't go down without a fight
Our voice is strong, our future's bright
And thanks to what we learned from you
We've grown into the children of the night
Left by my father with only this scar on my face
Told by my mother that, "no, you were just a mistake"
I have tasted my own hunger
Sold my body to survive
Some have paid to scratch the surface
But they can't touch what's inside
We are the children of the night
We won't go down without a fight
Our voice is strong, our future's bright
And thanks to what we learned from you
We've grown into the children of the night
How I long for something better
Than this life I know too well
Lord, I know I'm bound for heaven
Cause I've done my time in hell
We are the children of the night
We won't go down without a fight
Our voice is strong, our future's bright
And thanks to what we learned from you
We've grown into the children of the night
The lyrics of "Children of the Night" by Richard Marx reflect a reality far different from the luxurious lifestyle of fame and wealth often associated with musicians. Marx talks about a life that he knows too well - life on the streets. Marx confesses that everything he knows in life, he learned on the street. He had no privileges that many people take for granted while growing up, such as a good education, access to opportunities, or even shoes on his feet. The fear of this nightmare keeps chilling Marx to the bone, and millions of others as well. The pain and struggle of being a street child are shared by many, and yet, they mask it with a bright future and a strong voice.
In the second verse, Marx admits that he was abandoned by his father and told by his mother that he was just a mistake. He had to sell his body to survive, and the scars of his past will never go away. Marx is not alone because many children and adults share the same pain, but they are determined to make it.
Throughout the song, Marx emphasizes that "We are the children of the night." He continues to remind everyone that they won't go down without a fight, and their voice is strong. Life on the streets can be harsh, but those who survived have grown into children of the night, and they will persevere.
Line by Line Meaning
All that I know in my life, I have learned on the street
I have gained all my knowledge and wisdom through the hardships and experiences of life on the streets, without any magical shortcuts or privileges.
Will I wake up from this nightmare?
I fear that my current circumstances are a never-ending nightmare, and I question whether there is any hope of escape or improvement.
A fear that chills me to the bone
The fear of my situation is so intense and all-consuming that it affects me physically and emotionally at a deep level.
Though I may be one of many
I recognize that I am not alone in my struggles, and that there are many others who share similar experiences and hardships to mine.
I feel so all alone
Despite the knowledge that there are others out there like me, I still feel isolated and disconnected from the rest of the world.
Left by my father with only this scar on my face
My father abandoned me and the only tangible reminder I have of him is a physical scar on my face.
Told by my mother that, "no, you were just a mistake"
My own mother made me feel unwanted and unloved, by telling me that I was a mistake and not a desired child.
I have tasted my own hunger
I have experienced extreme hunger and starvation, and know what it is like to suffer from severe lack of food.
Sold my body to survive
In order to meet my basic needs, I have been forced to engage in prostitution or other forms of exploitation of my own body.
Some have paid to scratch the surface
Some people have offered money or other material goods in exchange for my physical services, but they will never truly understand the depth of my struggles and pain.
But they can't touch what's inside
No matter how much anyone pays for my body, they will never be able to comprehend or lessen the emotional and psychological damage that my experiences have caused me.
How I long for something better
I have a strong desire for a life that is filled with more happiness, love, and fulfillment than my current one.
Than this life I know too well
Sadly, my current life is all I know and I cannot envision a future that is any different than my current one without significant intervention.
Lord, I know I'm bound for heaven
Despite my current struggles, I believe in a higher power and that my actions will ultimately lead me to a better place in the afterlife.
Cause I've done my time in hell
I have already struggled and suffered enough in my current life and feel that I have paid my dues or done my time, so to speak.
We are the children of the night
I am one of many people who have experienced hardship and suffering, and who have become accustomed to living and operating under the cover of night.
We won't go down without a fight
Despite our struggles, we have a strong will to live and a willingness to fight for better lives for ourselves and our communities.
Our voice is strong, our future's bright
We know that we have the power to make a difference and advocate for ourselves and our peers, and we believe that we have the potential for bright futures ahead.
And thanks to what we learned from you
Despite the many hardships that we have faced, we also recognize that there are people who have impacted us positively and taught us valuable lessons along the way.
We've grown into the children of the night
Despite the pain and suffering we have experienced, we have grown and developed into strong, resilient people who are capable of overcoming adversity and creating positive change in our lives and our communities.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: RICHARD MARX
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michele Lee Chenard
on Hold on to the Nights
love this song this is for my bf who i love so much