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.
The Other Side
Richard Marx Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Say that I must move on
It's time to pick the pieces up
What's done is done
What's gone is gone
And I, I know they mean me well
But I'm not buying what they sell
I can see your face
In every shooting star
Can you feel my pain
From where you are?
I really want to know was it worth the ride?
And will you be waitin' on the other side?
The other side
I've been a soul adrift
Without you here to steady me
And I still listen for your voice
Through the anger and insanity
And I'm desperate for your help
Oh I look for it in myself
[Chorus]
And I, I'm desperate for your help
Oh I, I find it in myself
[Chorus]
The other side
Richard Marx's song The Other Side is a poignant ballad that captures the feelings of profound loss and dealing with the aftermath of a broken relationship. The verses talk about how everyone, including those who love and care for him, urge the singer to move on from the past, pick up the pieces and start afresh. They tell him that what's done is done and what's gone is gone, indicating that there is no point dwelling on what he has lost. However, the chorus reveals that the singer is unable to do so. The lyrics reveal his deep emotional connection with his lost love. He says he can see her face in every shooting star and wonders if she can feel his pain too. He wonders whether the love they shared was worth the ride and if she will be waiting for him on the other side.
The verse talks about how the singer has been soul adrift since his love has gone away. He misses her voice, which used to steady him in times of anger and insanity. He's become desperate for her help and even though he looks for it in himself, he finds it hard to let go of the past.
The song is a heart-rending expression of loss, grief, and the struggle to come to terms with it. The lyrics convey the intensity of pain that comes with a shattered relationship and how difficult it is to move on from it.
Line by Line Meaning
Everyone, even those I love
Even the people closest to me believe I should move on from you
Say that I must move on
People advise me to move forward with my life
It's time to pick the pieces up
I should start picking up the pieces of my broken heart
What's done is done
What is in the past cannot be changed
What's gone is gone
What is lost, is lost forever
And I, I know they mean me well
I understand that their intentions are good
But I'm not buying what they sell
I am not convinced that forgetting about you will solve everything
I can see your face
I remember your face vividly
In every shooting star
Whenever I see a shooting star, I recall you
Can you feel my pain
Do you understand the agony I go through?
From where you are?
Can you sense my suffering from the afterlife?
I really want to know was it worth the ride?
I want to understand if loving you was worth the pain it caused me
And will you be waitin' on the other side?
Will you be there waiting for me when I pass away?
I've been a soul adrift
I feel like I am drifting through life aimlessly
Without you here to steady me
I had no anchor to hold me still
And I still listen for your voice
I still yearn to hear the sound of your voice
Through the anger and insanity
Even when I am angry and at my lowest, I still miss you
And I'm desperate for your help
I am deeply in need of your support
Oh I look for it in myself
Yet I know I have to look for a way to overcome my pain within myself
The other side
The afterlife that I hope exists where we will meet again
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: EDWIN LAMAR NICHOLAS, GERALD LEVERT, GERALD EDWARD LEVERT, SEAN LEVERT, TONY NICHOLAS
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