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.
Deck The Halls
Rick Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
'Tis the season to be jolly
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Don we now our gay apparel
Fa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-la.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la.
See the blazing Yule before us.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Follow me in merry measure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fast away the old year passes.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing we joyous, all together.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Heedless of the wind and weather.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
The song "Deck The Halls" is a popular Christmas carol that speaks of the joyous season. The lyrics focus on the different elements of the winter holiday: decorating with holly, donning festive clothing, enjoying carols from the past, and celebrating the arrival of a new year. The phrase "deck the halls" implies the act of adorning the interior of a home with Christmas ornaments such as holly, wreaths, and garlands. The song encourages people to celebrate and be merry, take part in the festivities, and join in the singing of the traditional "Yule-tide carol."
The opening lines of "Deck The Halls" references the tradition of decorating the halls with boughs of holly, which is often regarded as a symbol of everlasting life. The phrase "don we now our gay apparel" suggests the wearing of brightly colored clothes during the holiday season. In the second verse, the song highlights the tradition of singing songs centered around Yule and celebrating its bounty. The final verse speaks of the impending arrival of the new year and encourages everyone to sing joyously and forget the harsh realities of the winter weather.
Line by Line Meaning
Deck the halls with boughs of holly
Let us adorn the halls with holly branches.
Fa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Join me in singing fa-la-la melody.
'Tis the season to be jolly
This time of the year demands us to be merry.
Don we now our gay apparel
Let us wear our colorful and cheerful clothing.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol
Let us sing the traditional songs of Yuletide.
See the blazing Yule before us
Let us behold the bright and burning Yule.
Strike the harp and join the chorus
Play the harp and sing the chorus with me.
Follow me in merry measure
Come along with me in a joyful rhythm.
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure
Listen while I share stories of Yuletide treasures.
Fast away the old year passes
The old year goes by quickly.
Hail the new year, lads and lasses
Let us welcome the new year with cheers.
Sing we joyous, all together
Let us all sing joyously together.
Heedless of the wind and weather
Let us not worry about the weather and sing with abandon.
Contributed by Charlie O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
lejjamie1
This was fun and I love the upbeat instrumental. Good going Rick Springfield! Happy Holidays. (and Surfing Santa!)
Judy Gabaldon
I expected to hear you sing, Rick - but this is a great instrumental!!
Amy Varrato
Love this instrumental!!! Excellent job!!! Its some great jamming...love to play it very loud!!!
Rick Springfield Music
Thanks for being a fan!! I just wanna appreciate you in particular for being a fan and you should keep supporting me it brings me so much joy that I'm able to put smiles on your faces and hearts ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
mommycarlo
Love this track I dance around and decorate my house to it
Rick Springfield Music
Thanks for being a fan and I want to appreciate you in particular for your love and support ❤️
And I promise to give you the best of me❤️❤️
Where are you supporting from?
jorrbuddy
I like to listen to this while I cook. I hate cooking but this makes it so much more fun as I dance around the kitchen :)
علي حاتم العراقي العراق
Nice
mommycarlo
Omg is that Santa rick?!?
talldrnkofwater
I wonder if that is Rick surfing.