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.
Will I?
Rick Springfield Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause there's the way you are
and the way I wish you were
And what you want and what you say you want
are both different answers
I was standing here waiting,
my hands and knees shaking
for the one I thought was you
Tell me...
CHORUS:
Will I ever see you again, will I?
It is what it is
Will I ever see you again, will I?
I should just let it go...
I'm a mess but I can't tell you so
Tho' I broke my heart on the reef of your infidelity
I'm down hearing calling, my hands and knees crawling
for the one I thought was you
'cause you gave it away like it was nothing at all
Tell me
CHORUS:
Will I ever see you again, will I?
It is what it is
Will I ever see you again, will I?
I should just let it go
I'm down hearing calling,
my hands and knees crawling
Looking for the one that was you
'cause you gave her away like she was nothing at all
Tell me
CHORUS:
Will I ever see you again, will I?
It is what it is
Will I ever see you again, will I?
I should just let it go
Will I ever see you again, will I?
It is what it is
Will I ever see you again, will I?
I should just let it go
The lyrics of Rick Springfield's song "Will I?" bear witness of the singer's conflicting feelings towards his lover who betrayed him. The song's opening lines go like this: "So I lied and said that I'm okay / Cause there's the way you are / And the way I wish you were." The singer implies that he has accepted the reality of his lover's actions, but his heart still longs for the person he wishes she were. He continues, "And what you want and what you say you want / Are both different answers." The singer is perplexed as to what his lover wants, and what she says she wants, because her actions do not match her words.
The chorus of the song is simple but effective: "Will I ever see you again, will I? / It is what it is / Will I ever see you again, will I? / I should just let it go..." The singer wonders whether he will ever cross paths with his lover again, acknowledges the situation for what it is (i.e., a painful memory), and concludes that he should let go and move on. However, as the second verse attests, it is not easy for him to do so: "I'm a mess but I can't tell you so / Tho' I broke my heart on the reef of your infidelity." The singer admits to being emotionally unstable but cannot bring himself to tell his lover. He compares his heartbreak to a shipwreck caused by the stormy seas of betrayal.
In conclusion, "Will I?" by Rick Springfield is a poignant song that speaks to anyone who has experienced heartbreak and struggled to move on. The lyrics are uncomplicated yet impactful, and the melody is catchy but mellow, making this song perfect for a reflective moment.
Line by Line Meaning
So I lied and said that I'm okay
Even though I'm hurting inside, I didn't want to show it.
Cause there's the way you are and the way I wish you were
You are not the person I thought you were and I am disappointed.
And what you want and what you say you want are both different answers
You are sending mixed signals and I don't know what you really want.
I was standing here waiting, my hands and knees shaking, for the one I thought was you
I was waiting and hoping for you to come back and it was causing me physical and emotional distress.
And you gave it away like it was nothing at all
You left me and our relationship as if it didn't mean anything to you.
Will I ever see you again, will I?
I am unsure if our paths will cross again in the future.
It is what it is
I have to accept the reality of the situation, even if it's not what I want.
I should just let it go...
I know I should move on, but it's hard to do so.
I'm a mess but I can't tell you so
I am struggling emotionally, but I don't want to burden you with my problems.
Tho' I broke my heart on the reef of your infidelity
You cheated on me and it caused me a lot of emotional pain.
Looking for the one that was you, 'cause you gave her away like she was nothing at all
I am searching for the person I thought you were, but you left that person behind and it hurts.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: TOPPER HEADON, JOE STRUMMER, MICK JONES, WILLARD C. SMITH, LENNIE DEJUAN BENNETT, BOB HOPE ROBINSON, CEDRIC R. HAILEY, DARREN T. HENSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Tara Carter
I've been a fan of his since I was 2 or 3. My mom took me to see him in Nashville,I think it was. His music has helped me thru some things,and I will always love this CD the most. I have all the songs memorized! My mom&I even traveled 6hrs from where we live in CO to go see him in Salina, KS this summer. It was SO worth it. He's so amazing in concert. I love you, Rick! :) I'm 19, btw. I've been a huge fan of his since I was a baby. Id love2meet him backstage again. (Last time was like 10yrs ago)
Susan Siedler
70 yrs old this year & still rockin like when I saw him in 1983! I am a huge fan of his Stripped Down concert/album. Check it out if u haven’t already!!
Mike L.
Why is this great album not on Spotify??!!? Thank you for posting.
Maggie Grayson
From my Favorite Rick Springfield cd. The Boy ROCKS!
John Nutt
Great album
Marshall Lancaster
Awesome. Keep rocking, Rick.
kim laux
the name of this album is just perfect....just another sign that I was never alone in this big bad world.....I was in the middle of my battle w/cancer......I knew I'd be ok when I heard "Jesus saves"
dignan1000
he still rocks
Mom G
Oh my goodness I feel this hits to dang it 😢😔I'm a mess too smh 😭 thank you for the song blessings 🙏💜
dignan1000
this is an awesome song, he should be way more famous than Bono