Early life
Hoffs was born in Newport Beach, California to a Jewish family. Her mother was a fan of The Beatles and played their records for Hoffs when she was a child. She began playing the guitar in her teens and hooked up with Vicki Peterson and Debbi Peterson, who needed a singer for their band, which would later become The Bangles. Susanna attended Palisades High School in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles. In 1980, she graduated from University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Art.
The Bangles years
The Bangles released their first album All Over The Place in 1984, but their major breakthrough album was Different Light in 1986, with the hit singles "Manic Monday" and "Walk Like an Egyptian." Her fame rising, Susanna starred in the movie The Allnighter in 1987. It was directed by her mother Tamar Simon Hoffs and also featured Joan Cusack and Pam Grier. She also made the covers of many magazines, and the Rickenbacker guitar company issued a Susanna Hoffs model, which she still plays during gigs. Although the Bangles did not have a set lead vocalist, and the girls alternated on singing, Susanna was perceived by many casual fans to be the main vocalist. She also received by far the most media attention, which led to tensions within the band. The Bangles released their very successful third album Everything in 1988, with their biggest selling single "Eternal Flame." But the breakup was inevitable, and they disbanded in 1989.
Solo career and personal life
Susanna released a solo album When You're a Boy in 1991, which didn't sell very well (although it did spawn a US Top 40 hit with "My Side of the Bed"). In 1993, she married Jay Roach, later the director of the Austin Powers movies and Meet the Parents and producer of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. They have two sons, born in 1995 and 1998.
In 1996, Susanna released her second solo album Susanna Hoffs, this time with more personal lyrics and a more mature sound. Although it received some praise in the press (and yielded a minor US hit with the single "All I Want"), it didn't sell well either. Susanna also recorded another album during 1993/1994, prior to leaving Columbia records. So far it remains unreleased, though substandard bootleg copies have been circulating for years. Susanna also records demos prolifically, and these also sometimes surface on the internet. The best known of these is probably the song "Pride," which can be legally downloaded at Bill Bonk's website.
Hoffs appears in the first Austin Powers movie as a member of the fictitious 1960s rock group Ming Tea, fronted by the title character. In real-life, Ming Tea consisted of actor Mike Myers, Hoffs, Canadian musician/producer Christopher Ward, and singer Matthew Sweet. This group made a number of TV performances (with Myers in character as Powers) and had a minor hit with the song "BBC." Hoffs returned with the group in the second and third Austin Powers films.
Bangles reunion
In the late 1990s, Susanna started to contact the other members of the Bangles again. They recorded the single "Get the Girl" for the second Austin Powers movie in 1999. Playing together and enjoying themselves, they announced their decision to reunite in 2000. Their fourth album, called Doll Revolution, was released in 2003, followed by a tour.
Cover of Under the Covers, Vol. 1
Sid 'n' Susie
In 2006, Susanna teamed up with fellow Ming Tea rocker, Matthew Sweet, under the name Sid 'n' Susie to record 15 covers on an album appropriately called Under the Covers, Vol. 1. The Album was released in April of 2006 and they appeared on July 18th on Late Night with Conan O'Brien to promote the album and tour.
This Time
Susanna Hoffs Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This time I didn't treat him like I should
This time there's no tomorrow
My heart is filled with sorrow
This time my baby's gone for good
This time I didn't play my cards too well
I lost my head and broke that magic spell
My heart just can't believe it
This time my baby's gone for good
This time my baby told me
This time there's no next time
This time my heart's run out of time
Next time I find the love I won't be cruel
I'll never break his heart or make him blue
Next time there'll be no crying
Til' then, inside I'm dying
This time my baby's gone for good
This time my baby's gone for good
This time my baby's gone for good
Upon first listening to "This Time" by Susanna Hoffs, one may recognize that the song conveys the message of loss and grief - regarding a romantic relationship. The song clearly articulates the singer's regret and sadness towards the end of the relationship. The lyrics describe a situation where the singer realizes the magnitude of the situation they are in, and the fact that their partner is leaving them for good this time. The phrase "This time my baby's gone for good" is repeated several times in the chorus, hammering the message of finality home to the listener.
The song's lyrics are powerful and honest, painting a picture of how regret and loss can deeply affect one's emotions - Hoffs sings about heartbreak with conviction and authenticity. The song's subtle instrumentation, coupled with Hoffs's emotionally charged vocals, make "This Time" a poignant and relatable track for anyone who has experienced similar heartbreak and loss.
In conclusion, "This Time" is a song about the loss of a romantic relationship, and the emotions that are felt by the singer as a result of the breakup. Hoffs's lyrics are poignant, and her vocals are emotive, conveying the depth of emotion that comes with losing someone that one loves.
Line by Line Meaning
This time I know my baby's gone for good
I have finally accepted that my partner has left me permanently.
This time I didn't treat him like I should
I acknowledge that I didn't treat my partner well in the past, and this may have caused our separation.
This time there's no tomorrow
I realize that there is no chance of reconciliation with my partner, and our love story has come to a tragic end.
My heart is filled with sorrow
I am feeling deep sadness and grief over losing my partner forever.
This time I didn't play my cards too well
I made mistakes and bad choices that ultimately led to the end of my relationship.
I lost my head and broke that magic spell
I acted impulsively and carelessly, ruining the special connection I had with my partner.
This time he's really leaving
It is not just a temporary separation this time; my partner is leaving me permanently.
My heart just can't believe it
I am struggling to accept the heartbreaking reality of my partner leaving me forever.
This time my baby told me
My partner has communicated directly to me that they are leaving me for good.
This time there's no next time
There is no possibility of reconciliation or second chances this time around.
This time my heart's run out of time
My heart is broken beyond repair, and there is nothing that can be done to fix our relationship now.
Next time I find the love I won't be cruel
If I find new love in the future, I am determined to treat my partner with kindness and compassion.
I'll never break his heart or make him blue
I won't make the same mistakes again, and I'll do everything I can to make sure my partner feels loved and appreciated.
Next time there'll be no crying
If I find new love in the future, it won't end in heartbreak and tears like my old relationship did.
Til' then, inside I'm dying
Until I heal from the pain of losing my old relationship, I will continue to feel hurt and devastated.
This time my baby's gone for good
I am reiterating the fact that my partner has left me permanently and there is no going back.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEVE SUMMERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Seattle Day
I used to have the album. One of my favorites from the album.
Shawn McLaughlin
I adore the original version by E*I*E*I*O* I forgot Susannah did a cover of it. This is very good.
Stephen Barry
Stephen. Another great song by Susanna!
John Smith
Nice, very 60's sounding.
Jason Alseth
Another rocker to go with Lonely Out Here.