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.
Misty Water Woman
Rick Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I came upon a lake, the sign said "Misty Water"
And standing there, with wet and tangled hair was a girl
she said her name was "Bo", she was a farmer's daughter
I said get in, I'll take you home, you must be cold
Misty water woman
You never get to her
Misty water woman
And feel her near
It began to storm, and our talk grew warm
Till I stopped the car outside a cold and lonely place
I said we're here
But she had disappeared
And on the seat was a pool of tears
And a handkerchief of lace
I did not see her leave
I was amazed
Misty water woman
You never get to her
Misty water woman
You never get to touch her
And feel her warm
I sped into the house,
It took her father and her mother to straighten me out
What was it all about
Please let me know
She looked sad, and he looked mad
And he said, yes you're right, once we had a daughter
Her name was Bo, but that was long ago
Years have gone since she drowned at "Misty Water"
And the way he took it, took me by surprise
Misty water woman
You never get to her
Misty apparition
You never get to touch her
And feel her near
The song "Misty Water Woman" by Rick Springfield tells a story about a man driving around and stumbling upon a sign pointing to a lake called Misty Water. He meets a girl named Bo, a farmer's daughter, and offers to take her home because she was cold and her hair was wet and tangled. As they drive, it begins to storm, and they engage in warm conversation. However, when he arrives at her home, he discovers that she has disappeared, leaving a pool of tears and a handkerchief of lace behind. He soon finds out from Bo's parents that she had drowned at Misty Water years ago.
The meaning of the song is about missed opportunities and regrets. Misty Water represents the past, and the woman is a representation of one's lost love. The singer of the song was close to someone, but he never had the chance to touch her, and he feels regretful that he couldn't meet her again. The chorus, "Misty water woman, you never get to her, misty apparition, you never get to touch her and feel her near," reinforces the idea that the woman is a ghost or a memory that the singer cannot touch, interact with, or make things right.
Line by Line Meaning
I was driving 'round, as the sun went down
I was wandering around in my car during sunset hours.
When I came upon a lake, the sign said "Misty Water"
When I stumbled upon a lake with a sign that read, "Misty Water."
And standing there, with wet and tangled hair was a girl
And I saw a girl standing there with her hair soaked and tangled.
she said her name was "Bo", she was a farmer's daughter
The girl introduced herself as Bo, who belonged to a farmer's family.
I said get in, I'll take you home, you must be cold
I offered to give her a ride because I thought she might be feeling chilly.
Misty water woman
Referring the mysterious phenomenon of the disappearance of the girl next to the lake.
You never get to her
It is impossible to approach this elusive 'Misty Water Woman.'
You never get to touch her
It is impossible to get close enough to touch this 'Misty Water Woman.'
And feel her near
It is impossible to experience closeness with the 'Misty Water Woman.'
It began to storm, and our talk grew warm
Then the rain started, and our conversation gradually became more intimate.
Till I stopped the car outside a cold and lonely place
Until I came to a cold and abandoned location and pulled over my vehicle.
I said we're here
I said we had arrived at our destination.
But she had disappeared
But to my surprise, she had vanished.
And on the seat was a pool of tears
I found a puddle of tears on the seat where she was sitting.
And a handkerchief of lace
There was a lace handkerchief left behind by someone.
I did not see her leave
I was too perplexed to notice when she departed.
I was amazed
I was left astounded by the disappearance of the mysterious woman.
Misty water woman
Referring the mysterious phenomenon of the disappearance of the girl next to the lake.
You never get to her
It is impossible to approach this elusive 'Misty Water Woman.'
Misty apparition
The 'Misty Water Woman' could also be interpreted as a ghost or spirit.
You never get to touch her
It is impossible to get close enough to touch this 'Misty Water Woman.'
And feel her warm
It is impossible to experience physical warmth and intimacy with the 'Misty Water Woman.'
I sped into the house,
I quickly drove to her house.
It took her father and her mother to straighten me out
Her parents had to explain what had really happened to me.
What was it all about
I was confused and wanted to understand what was going on.
Please let me know
I asked them to tell me what had happened to the girl I gave a ride to.
She looked sad, and he looked mad
The mother looked sad, and the father looked angry.
And he said, yes you're right, once we had a daughter
He agreed with me and confirmed that they had a daughter.
Her name was Bo, but that was long ago
He told me that her name was Bo, but it had been a long time since she was around.
Years have gone since she drowned at "Misty Water"
He revealed that Bo had drowned at the same lake I had found her at.
And the way he took it, took me by surprise
His reaction to our conversation about Bo took me by surprise.
Misty water woman
Referring the mysterious phenomenon of the disappearance of the girl next to the lake.
You never get to her
It is impossible to approach this elusive 'Misty Water Woman.'
Misty apparition
The 'Misty Water Woman' could also be interpreted as a ghost or spirit.
You never get to touch her
It is impossible to get close enough to touch this 'Misty Water Woman.'
And feel her near
It is impossible to experience closeness with the 'Misty Water Woman.'
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: RICK SPRINGFIELD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind