He received the Grammy Award for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance for "Jessie's Girl", which proved to be a career breakout moment. He followed with four more top 10 U.S. rock hits: "I've Done Everything for You", "Don't Talk to Strangers", "Affair of the Heart", and "Love Somebody". His two U.S. top 10 albums are 1981's 'Working Class Dog' and 1982's 'Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet', releases featuring an energetic sound earning both commercial and critical successes. As an actor, he portrayed the popular Dr. Noah Drake on the daytime drama 'General Hospital' from 1981 to 1983, and he sprang back into the role during 2005 to 2008 and 2012, returning again in 2013 for the show's 50th anniversary with his son (and fellow actor) Liam Springthorpe.
Though having gigantic success in the early to mid-80s, Springfield felt totally exhausted with the pressures of stardom. He would end up devoting more time to his personal and family life, though still releasing albums through the late 80s and onward. In 2010, Springfield published his well-received autobiography, titled 'Late, Late at Night: A Memoir', which detailed these struggles.
Born Richard Lewis Springthorpe, later adopting "Rick Springfield" in his performing days, in South Wentworthville on 23 August 1949, he spent the early part of his life around the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. The son of Eileen and Norman Springthorpe, the latter a Australian Army career officer, he also has an older brother, Mike Springthorpe. Due to his father's Army career, the Springthorpe family moved to London, England, where they lived between 1960 to 1962. The family moved back to Australia in June 1962, where they settled in the Melbourne suburb of Ormond.
Inspired by the 60s pop rock boom around him, the young Rick Springfield took naturally to singing and songwriting. However, commercial success would come in sudden bursts for him, with the performer facing bouts of 'teen idol' worship (even spending a time doing music for kids as a sort of cartoon Mister Rogers from 1973 to 1975, with those songs put into his 'Mission Magic!' album) that concealed his desire to be taken seriously as a musician. Fully embracing a power pop and new wave sound, as played by contemporaries such as Cheap Trick, The Cars, and others, finally helped him hit the big time in a dramatic way. As well, in October 1984, Springfield married his longtime girlfriend, Barbara Porter, in his family's church in Australia.
When being interviewed about his autobiography, Springfield admitted that he dated while married, and that it was a problem that he has overcome. He mentioned in particular dating Linda Blair, Demi Moore, Connie Hamzy, Morgana Welch, and Geraldine Edwards (the inspiration for Penny Lane in 'Almost Famous'). Though on top of the world for a time, things proved unstable and uncertain. In 1985, when his first son was born and after the release of his 'Tao' album, Springfield took a break from his musical career to spend more time with his family, as stated before. He also resolved to deal with the off-and-on depression that had affected him since his adolescence. Springfield had suffered much in the 70s due to both the serious illness of his father, who died on 24 April 1981, and difficulties dealing with people in the music industry.
Recently, a new feature documentary, titled 'An Affair of the Heart: The Journey of Rick Springfield and his Devoted Fans, was filmed in 2010. The movie started on the film festival circuit in the spring of 2012. The performer's latest work is 2015's 'Stripped Down', a combination of covers, new material, and re-recorded tracks from his past that has attracted some critical praise.
Calling All Girls
Rick Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she was young, but she was ripe
And she was vicious, and she took a bite
Baby don't wanna feel this pain anymore
I've got a message, put it through emergency
I wanna hear it on the radio tonight
Calling all girls, If you're looking for love (You got it)
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a hot time Calling all girls, If you're looking for fun
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a good time tonight
Seems all the good girls are home in bed
We're gonna party to raise the dead
I'm gonna love that girl right out of my head
Baby don't wanna feel this pain anymore
I've got a message, put it through emergency
I wanna see it on the video tonight
Calling all girls, If you're looking for love
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a hot time
Calling all girls, If you're looking for fun
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a good time tonight
Calling all girls, calling all girls
Calling all girls, calling all girls
Calling all girls, calling all girls
Baby don't wanna feel this pain anymore
I've got a message, put it through emergency
I wanna hear it on the radio tonight
Calling all girls, If you're looking for love (You've Got It)
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a hot time
Calling all girls, If you're looking for fun
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a good time tonight
Calling all girls, If you're looking for love
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a hot time
Calling all girls, If you're looking for fun
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a good time tonightCalling all girls, If you're looking for love
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a hot time
Calling all girls, If you're looking for fun
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a good time tonight
The song "Calling All Girls" by Rick Springfield is about a man who is trying to forget about a woman who has hurt him. He describes the woman as insatiable and vicious, someone who was young but ripe. He doesn't want to feel the pain of her rejection anymore and so he seeks out new love by calling out to all the other girls. He urges them to come out and join him for a good time where they can party and forget about their troubles.
The lyrics are repetitive and catchy, which makes them easy to sing along to. The chorus repeats the phrase "calling all girls" several times, creating a sense of urgency and excitement. The song also makes references to technology such as the radio and video, which shows that the story takes place during a time when these were major forms of media.
Overall, the song is an upbeat and fun plea for companionship and a good time. It captures the essence of the 80s party scene and the desire for escapism during those times.
Line by Line Meaning
She was insatiable, you know the type
Describing a woman as insatiable and telling the listener that they know the type already.
And she was young, but she was ripe
Adding that the woman being described was young, but still mature.
And she was vicious, and she took a bite
Suggesting that the woman in question was aggressive and perhaps even a little bit predatory.
Baby don't wanna feel this pain anymore
Expressing a desire to stop feeling emotional pain.
I've got a message, put it through emergency
Stating that there is an urgent message that needs to be communicated.
I wanna hear it on the radio tonight
Asking for the message to be broadcast on the radio as soon as possible.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for love (You got it)
Inviting all girls who are seeking love to listen to the message and take action.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a hot time
Inviting all girls who are seeking a fun and exciting experience to listen to the message and take action.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for fun
Inviting all girls who are seeking a good time to listen to the message and take action.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a good time tonight
Inviting all girls who are seeking a positive and fun experience tonight to listen to the message and take action.
Seems all the good girls are home in bed
Observing that many of the good girls are not out and about at the moment.
We're gonna party to raise the dead
Stating that the artist is planning to party really hard.
I'm gonna love that girl right out of my head
Expressing a desire to get over someone by starting a new relationship.
I wanna see it on the video tonight
Asking for the message to be broadcast visually, perhaps on TV.
Calling all girls, calling all girls
Repeating the invitation to listen to the message and take action.
Baby don't wanna feel this pain anymore
Repeating the desire to stop feeling emotional pain.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for love (You've Got It)
Repeating the invitation to all girls who are seeking love.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a hot time
Repeating the invitation to all girls who are seeking a fun and exciting experience.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for fun
Repeating the invitation to all girls who are seeking a good time.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a good time tonight
Repeating the invitation to all girls who are seeking a positive and fun experience tonight.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for love
Repeating the invitation to all girls who are seeking love.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a hot time
Repeating the invitation to all girls who are seeking a fun and exciting experience.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for fun
Repeating the invitation to all girls who are seeking a good time.
Calling all girls, If you're looking for a good time tonight
Repeating the invitation to all girls who are seeking a positive and fun experience tonight.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RICK SPRINGFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind