Tesla's music fit well with the blasting sounds of their 80s hair metal and glam rock contemporaries. Yet it was more bluesy and lyrics dealt with other themes than just the usual, girls, alcohol and violence. But what set them even more apart from their contemporaries was their t-shirt and jeans image, a 'street' look reminiscent of the Ramones (and other 70s punk groups) that was in strong contrast of the leather, spandex, and flashy-make type look of the time.
The band's early lifespan as City Kidd brought them considerable frustration, with them failing to break into the musical mainstream while also competing with another band with the same name. Their mutation into Tesla provided a clear shot at success. 'Mechanical Resonance', their debut that the boys released in 1986, became a commercial smash while also receiving significant critical praise. That album was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 5, 1989.
In total, the group has released six studio albums with original music, the latest of them being 2008's 'Forever More'. They have also created a a double-disc covers album, titled 'Real To Reel', as well as a number of compilations and live albums. Their sound has focused on a particularly melodic and accessible kind of hard rock with strong shades of classic heavy metal as well.
Tesla's popular 1990 remake of Signs, originally recorded by the Five Man Electrical Band (who also inspired the album which the remake came from, Five Man Acoustical Jam), is probably the most mainstream of Tesla's hits. However, many fans remember fondly Tesla's other hits such as Gettin' Better, Modern Day Cowboy, Little Suzi, Edison's Medicine and Love Song.
The band derived their name, certain album and song names (e.g. The Great Radio Controversy, Mechanical Resonance, etc), and some song content from events relating to Nikola Tesla, a Serbian-American inventor and electrical engineer born in the 19th century in Smiljan, Austria-Hungary, modern day Croatia.
Hang Tough
Tesla Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Looks like you just can't win
In this do or die situation.
And it's harder than it seems
To survive, keep alive and make your dreams,
Make your dreams all come true.
You gotta, you gotta give it your best shot.
Oh, you gotta hang tough.
Hang tough. Hang tough.
Sometimes love can make you blue.
A heartache made just for you.
But you can't let it bring ya down.
If you should stumble, if you should fall,
Pick yourself up off the floor.
Fight for what's right and stand your ground.
You gotta give it your best shot.
Give it everything you got.
Oh, you gotta hang tough.
Hang tough. Hang tough.
When the goin' gets rough.
Hang tough.
You got to give it all you've got.
Hang tough.
Keep your head above the ground.
Don't you let it get you down.
Oh, you gotta hang tough.
Hey! Oh! Hey! Oh!
You stay locked away inside your room
'Cause you don't know what this world is comin' to.
Hummingbird hums 'cause he don't know the words
And the piper will play 'cause he don't know what to say.
He's a lot like you, yeah. Oh, he's alot like you, yeah.
He tries hard every day to be free and fly away. Yeah!
Hang tough, oh, when the goin' gets rough.
Hang tough.
You've got to give it all you got.
Hang tough.
Keep your head above the ground.
Don't you let it get you down.
Oh, you gotta hang tough.
Hang tough.
Oh, you got to give it all you got. You gotta
Hang tough.
Don't you let it get you down.
Hang tough.
No! Oh, you gotta hang tough.
Hang tough.
Hang tough!
The lyrics of Tesla's song Hang Tough reflect the struggles and challenges one faces in life, and the importance of perseverance and determination to overcome them. The opening lines, "Took a shot to the chin. Looks like you just can't win," set the tone for the theme of the song, which is about facing adversity and fighting to come out on top. The references to a "do or die situation" and the difficulty in surviving and realizing one's dreams reinforce this idea. The chorus, which repeats the phrase "hang tough," becomes a rallying cry for those facing such difficulties, urging them to give their best effort and never give up.
The second verse of the song shifts the focus to matters of the heart, acknowledging that love and heartache can be challenging but emphasizing the importance of not letting those struggles bring you down. The line "Pick yourself up off the floor" suggests that the best way to overcome heartbreak or any other obstacle is to keep pushing forward and fighting for what's right. The lyrics also introduce the idea that the struggles faced by the singer are mirrored by those of a hummingbird and a piper, suggesting that the human experience is one shared by all living things.
Overall, Tesla's Hang Tough is a powerful anthem of resilience and determination in the face of adversity, urging listeners to keep fighting and never give up.
Line by Line Meaning
Took a shot to the chin.
You faced a difficult challenge.
Looks like you just can't win
It appears that you are unable to succeed.
In this do or die situation.
This is an extremely critical moment.
And it's harder than it seems
The task at hand is more difficult than anticipated.
To survive, keep alive and make your dreams,
To live on and achieve your aspirations...
Make your dreams all come true.
...by making those goals a reality.
You gotta, you gotta give it your best shot.
You must put in maximum effort.
Give it everything you got.
Exhaust all resources available to you.
Oh, you gotta hang tough.
You must remain strong and persistent.
Hang tough. Hang tough.
This is a continuous struggle.
Sometimes love can make you blue.
Romantic relationships can be disappointing.
A heartache made just for you.
This particular heartbreak is unique to you.
But you can't let it bring ya down.
You cannot allow this setback to defeat you.
If you should stumble, if you should fall,
If you experience any setback...
Pick yourself up off the floor.
...you must bounce back and recover.
Fight for what's right and stand your ground.
You must defend what you believe in and stay firm.
When the goin' gets rough.
During times of difficulty...
Keep your head above the ground.
...you must maintain composure.
Don't you let it get you down.
Do not be discouraged.
Hey! Oh! Hey! Oh!
Expressing enthusiasm and motivation.
You stay locked away inside your room
You isolate yourself from the outside world.
'Cause you don't know what this world is comin' to.
Because you are uncertain about the future.
Hummingbird hums 'cause he don't know the words
The hummingbird hums aimlessly.
And the piper will play 'cause he don't know what to say.
The piper plays his instrument without direction.
He's a lot like you, yeah. Oh, he's alot like you, yeah.
The piper and hummingbird resemble you in some way.
He tries hard every day to be free and fly away. Yeah!
The piper and hummingbird strive to break free and explore the world.
No! Oh, you gotta hang tough.
You must persist through life's difficulties.
Hang tough.
Stay strong in the face of adversity.
Oh, you got to give it all you got. You gotta
Put forth maximum effort to overcome hardships.
Hang tough.
Persevere through any challenge.
Don't you let it get you down.
Do not allow obstacles to discourage you.
Hang tough.
Stay persistent and unwavering.
Hang tough!
A call to action for continued resilience.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALAN JAY LERNER, KURT WEILL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaeltate227
"You stay locked away inside your room
because you don't know what this world is
coming to.
You hum many parts because you don't know
the words.
And the piper will play
because he don't know what to say.
He's a lot like you. Yeah.
He's a lot like you. Yeah.
He tries hard every day...
to be free...
and fly away."
@CheeezyCrust
I'm fighting cancer at the moment, this song gives me so much energy every time I listen to it and helps me get through chemo therapy.
@JackieNihil
That sucks. Hang in there, hang tough. Stay strong 👊🏻
@tshkrel
Jesus rose from the dead. Trust in Him for your salvation
@ronaldmcgowan3697
Praying for you!!!!
@acidpope33
Hang Tough!
@jean-luccomeau2442
I hope you get better! Hang tough! 🤘🏼
@shaneshepherd7753
God I miss this music. Thank you Dad for showing me and teaching me all this!
@michaelzeinert2074
Many other bands out there from the 80's.
They all rock ! Tesla, def lep, white lion. You name it, they all have good vibes and great riffs ! The drummers rock too !
Rock on my Boi 🤘
@larryturner6859
Your dad knows what's up ❤
@Decalpha
this band was so UNDERRATED