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.
What Child Is This?
Rick Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
The Cross be borne, for me, for you:
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh;
Come peasant, king to own Him.
The King of Kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
Raise, raise, the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary
Rick Springfield's song "What Child Is This?" is a rendition of the classic Christmas song that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The song paints a picture of Mary holding the infant Jesus while shepherds and angels adore him. The chorus proclaims Jesus as the King whom the shepherds are guarding and the angels are singing to. The song speaks of the silent pleading of Jesus on the cross for the salvation of sinners, calling on Christians to fear and repent. The final verse beckons all to come and lay gifts at the feet of Jesus, whether peasants or kings. The song concludes with the mother Mary singing a joyous lullaby to her newborn son.
The lyrics of "What Child Is This?" are based on the 16th-century English folk tune "Greensleeves." In the mid-1800s, William Chatterton Dix wrote the lyrics to the tune for his Christmas carol "The Manger Throne." The song was later renamed "What Child is This?" and became a popular Christmas carol. Rick Springfield's cover of the song was released in 2007 on his album "Christmas with You."
Line by Line Meaning
What Child is this, who laid to rest,
Who is this child who peacefully rests,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Lying on Mary's lap and sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
To whom the angels sing sweet anthems,
While shepherds watch are keeping?
While the shepherds keep watch?
This, this is Christ the King
This is none other than Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Whom the shepherds watch over and the angels sing about.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
Hurry, rush to offer praise to Him,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.
The baby, the son of Mary.
Why lies He in such mean estate
Why does He lay in such humble dwelling,
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Where the ox and donkey graze?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,
Christian, do not fear: for it's for sinners like us,
The silent Word is pleading.
The word of God made flesh has come to plead with us.
Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
He will be pierced with nails and a spear,
The Cross be borne, for me, for you:
He will carry the cross, for the sake of us,
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,
Hail, hail to the Word that became flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
The baby, Mary's son!
So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh;
Bring Him incense, gold and myrrh as gifts;
Come peasant, king to own Him.
Let peasant and king both worship Him.
The King of Kings salvation brings;
The King of Kings brings salvation;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
May loving hearts enthrone Him as King.
Raise, raise, the song on high,
Sing, sing the song high unto Him,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
As the virgin sings a lullaby:
Joy joy for Christ is born,
There is joy, joy, for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
The baby, Mary's son!
Contributed by Benjamin R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
davo bravo
Incredible. ...real enjoyable listen. I bet not the majority realize this even exists. Merry Christmas to everyone !
Tracy Mallon
I loves Rick's Christmas Album.‼️ Totally classic, but somehow even better than when I was a child listening to all the ones I grew up with‼️❤️💚🙏🏻