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.
Rock Of Life
Rick Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
(To look)
I look in the mirror
It's like a stranger in my hand
(Baby is cryin')
There comes a time when a boy must leave
(Get up)
And the man has to enter
(All of the changes)
As if it ain't hard enough
This life I'm livin' in
I was caught with my guard down
When the world came knockin'
I feel a big beat
The rock of life
Big beat talk to me
Hey
Whoa
I feel a back beat
The rock of life
Wakin' up blind with the house on fire
Is it somethin' in my head
(Look up)
Or the time or the season
Or the little boy in my head
(Must be a reason)
There's new meaning in my life
(Shake up)
But there's pain and confusion
And I'm tryin' to understand
(All of the changes)
I've been cut so deep but
I can't make it bleed
I was caught with my head in the sand
When the world came knockin'
I feel a big beat
The rock of life
Big beat talk to me
Hey
Whooh
I feel a back beat
The rock of life
Wakin' up blind with the house on fire
It ain't no perfect life
(By far)
This world I'm livin' in
But I was caught with my guard down
When the world came knockin'
I feel a big beat
The rock of life
Big beat talk to me
Hey
Whooh
I feel a back beat
The rock of life
Wakin' up blind with the house on fire
I feel a big beat
The rock of life
Big beat talk to me
Hey
Whooh
I feel a back beat
The rock of life
Wakin' up blind with the house on fire
"Rock of Life" by Rick Springfield is a song that explores the emotions and thoughts of a person who is going through a tough time in his life. The first verse starts with the singer picking up his guitar and looking in the mirror, feeling like a stranger is holding it. He acknowledges that he has grown up and has to become a man to understand his soul better with all the changes he faces. The second verse delves deeper into the confusion and pain that he is facing. He questions if it is something in his head, the time or season or the little boy inside his head that is causing it. He has new meaning in his life but is struggling to understand it.
Despite the imperfection of life, the singer is willing to face the challenges and try to make the best of it. He acknowledges that he was caught off guard when the world came knocking, but the big beat of rock music is speaking to him, giving him the strength to face his fears. He feels the "rock of life" and the backbeat, knowing that he must wake up and deal with the problems he faces.
Overall, "Rock of Life" is a powerful song that explores the struggles and emotions that people go through in their lives. It speaks to the human experience of facing and overcoming obstacles, inspiring listeners to keep going even when life gets tough.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I pick up my guitar
I am reaching for my guitar as an expression of my emotions
I look in the mirror
I am examining myself with intense scrutiny
It's like a stranger in my hand
My guitar feels unfamiliar to me
(Baby is cryin')
I am emotionally distressed
There comes a time when a boy must leave
Growing up means leaving childhood behind
(Get up)
I am urging myself to take action
And the man has to enter
The time has come to become a mature adult
For the soul to understand
A deeper understanding of life requires maturity
(All of the changes)
Growing up involves experiencing many changes
As if it ain't hard enough
Life is already difficult
This life I'm livin' in
The life I am leading is challenging
I was caught with my guard down
I was unprepared for what happened
When the world came knockin'
When life got tough
I feel a big beat
I sense a powerful force
The rock of life
Life is like rock and roll music
Big beat talk to me
That force is communicating with me
Hey
An exclamation of excitement
Whoa
An expression of awe and surprise
I feel a back beat
I sense another force
Wakin' up blind with the house on fire
Feeling helpless and overwhelmed
Is it somethin' in my head
Am I imagining this?
(Look up)
I am seeking guidance
Or the time or the season
Maybe it's just a natural cycle
Or the little boy in my head
Maybe it's my inner child acting out
(Must be a reason)
There must be a purpose to all of this
There's new meaning in my life
I am discovering a deeper significance to my existence
(Shake up)
I am trying to make sense of everything
But there's pain and confusion
It's a difficult process
And I'm tryin' to understand
I am making an effort to comprehend
(All of the changes)
Life is full of unexpected alterations
I've been cut so deep but
I've been hurt badly
I can't make it bleed
But I can't seem to express my pain
I was caught with my head in the sand
I was avoiding reality
It ain't no perfect life
Life isn't always ideal
(By far)
In fact, it's far from perfect
But I was caught with my guard down
I was still unprepared for what happened
I feel a big beat
I sense a powerful force once again
The rock of life
Life, like rock and roll, is a powerful force
Big beat talk to me
That force is trying to communicate with me again
Hey
Another exclamation of excitement
Whooh
Another expression of awe and surprise
I feel a back beat
That other force is back
Wakin' up blind with the house on fire
Still feeling helpless and overwhelmed
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MACK VICKERY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ryche W
Big beat talk to me
Waking up blind with the house on fire
Well I pick up my guitar, (I tune up)
I look in the mirror
It's like a stranger in my hand (the baby is crying)
There comes a time when the boy must leave (get up)
And the man has to enter
For the soul to understand (all of the changes)
As if it ain't hard enough this life I'm living in
I was caught with my guard down
When the world came knocking
I feel the big beat, the Rock Of Life
Big beat talk to me
I feel the back beat, the Rock Of Life
Waking up blind with the house on fire
Is it something in my head (look up)
Or the time of season
Or the little boy in my hands (must be a reason)
Yeah, there's new meaning in my life (a shake-up)
But there's pain and confusion
And I'm trying to understand (all of the changes)
I've been cut so deep but I can't make it bleed
I was caught with my head in the sand
When the world came knocking
I feel the big beat, the Rock Of Life
Big beat talk to me
I feel the back beat, the Rock Of Life
It ain't no perfect life
This one I'm living in
And I was caught with my guard down
When the world came knocking
I feel the big beat, the Rock Of Life
Big beat talk to me
I feel the back beat, the Rock Of Life
Cynthia Roberson
When a song you haven't thought of in a long time pops into your head, it's time to listen to it! So glad I found this song again.
Swordsquire
Rocks out, with lyrics on growing up, and facing life...whether you want it or not, whether you're ready or not. Definitely WAY ahead of the pop curve of the day. Hell the lyrics are still valid today!
reglook1
It seems like yesterday this was on vh1
james louthen
Too bad so sad. Yesterday
Y
pam0626
Rick Springfield is underrated, IMO. This song is a complete departure from his previous stuff and demonstrates how he evolved his sound.
Chris Cornelius
@williamjpellas0314 well he is considered a 1 hit wonder in some music publications. It's odd. The perception vs reality.
williamjpellas0314
Easily his best hit song IMO.
Scott Larson
Who is doing all this rating that people are talking about?
RM Wilson
This is one of my favorites of his, very underrated
SpEd C
This man's music and charisma is infectious!! I have been listening to him for the past week non-stop! Car, home, work and I'm not getting the least be tired of it!!! I'm SO glad i found his music again, I'm sorry I ever lost it!!