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.
Kristína
Rick Springfield Lyrics
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Searching the stream of steel and chrome
I'm looking for love, I know you're looking too
So rev up your heart and take me home
A wish and a prayer won't get me there tonight
Longing to hold you
Kristina, take me away
Kristina, I'm wasting away
I want to be with you
Kristina, take me away
Take me away with you
Kristina, I'm wasting away
I want to be with you
I know you like to drive it hard and fast
You tear up the speed zone in my heart
Just give me one night to prove our love can last
I can make love a work of art
A wish and a prayer won't get me there tonight
Longing to hold you
Kristina, take me away
Take me away with you
Kristina, I'm wasting away
I want to be with you
Kristina, take me away
Take me away with you
Kristina, I'm wasting away
I want to be with you
Kristina, take me away
Take me away with you
Kristina, I'm wasting away
I want to be with you
Kristina, take me away
Take me away with you
Kristina
Rick Springfield's "Kristina" is a song about a man who longs to be with a woman named Kristina. The song begins with the man counting the headlights passing by as he searches for love, knowing that Kristina is doing the same. He implores her to rev up her heart and take him home, acknowledging that a wish and a prayer won't get him there tonight. He wants to hold her, be with her and take away his loneliness.
Later on, the song describes how Kristina drives hard and fast, tearing up the speed zone in the man's heart. However, he wants to prove that their love can last by making love a work of art. He knows that he's waisting away without her and begs her to take him away with her. Overall, the song portrays a restless desire for love and the intense longing to be with the one you want.
Line by Line Meaning
Counting the headlights passing two by two
I am searching for someone special among the sea of cars, hoping to find love
Searching the stream of steel and chrome
Looking in the traffic, trying to spot a glimmer of hope
I'm looking for love, I know you're looking too
I am seeking someone to love and I believe you are also searching for love
So rev up your heart and take me home
Let's start a passionate journey of love together
A wish and a prayer won't get me there tonight
Hoping and praying is not enough, I need to take action to be with you tonight
Longing to hold you
I yearn to be near you and feel your embrace
Kristina, take me away
Kristina, lead me on a journey to escape reality and be with you
Take me away with you
Let's go on this journey together and never look back
Kristina, I'm wasting away
My heart and soul are gradually withering away because I need you
I want to be with you
All I desire is to be with you and experience love together
I know you like to drive it hard and fast
I understand that you enjoy living life on the edge and taking risks
You tear up the speed zone in my heart
Your presence and passion shake up my heart in a thrilling manner
Just give me one night to prove our love can last
All I ask for is a chance to show you that our love can endure and be fulfilling
I can make love a work of art
Together, we can turn our love into something beautiful and meaningful
Kristina, take me away
Kristina, please take me along with you and let us explore love together
Take me away with you
Let us embark on a journey of love and adventure, side by side
Kristina, I'm wasting away
I am barely holding on, my heart aching to be with you
I want to be with you
There is nothing else I want more than to be with you, forever and always
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: RICK SPRINGFIELD, JAMES DOUGLAS VALLANCE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind