Category Archives: 1980s songs

The best 500 songs from the 1980s. Lyrics, meanings and interpretations from the eighties. The Cure, Prince, Michael Jackson, Cindi Lauper, The Smiths, The Cars, REO…see what artist ranks highest in our greatest all-time songs rankings.

1980s songs, family problems

Sister Christian- Night Ranger

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Sister Christian there’s so much in life/
Don’t you give it up before your time is due.

“Sister Christen” by Night Ranger is a 1980s power-ballad that almost defines the genre. Night Ranger had the big hair, blazing guitar solos combined with the tender piano intro. Add in the iconic drum crescendo leading into the catchy chorus and you have an all-time great song.

Upon first listen, it is not clear what, exactly Sister Christian is about. Is it about a nun? No, it is about the narrators’ literal little sister. She is growing up fast and that can be disconcerting to older family members. He notices that her old playmates are interested in her for another reason now—for her sex appeal.

Sister Christian is living up her teenage years and exploring. Dating. She’s ‘motoring’. It is not necessarily that she is moving too fast, it seems fast for her older brother and her mother who are concerned about her safety and advise caution. She has a lot of life in front of her. (And wasn’t she just in diapers yesterday?) Typical elderly advice that will probably be ignored.

Sister Christian probably interprets the brother and mother’s advice as unwanted or dated; but it seems to be coming from a good place. Where you are in life might have a big impact on whether you view these lyrics as wise or unwarranted.

Sister Christian Lyrics

Sister Christian
Oh the time has come
And you know that you’re the only one
To say okay
Where you going
What you looking for
You know those boys
Don’t want to play no more with you
It’s true

You’re motoring
What’s your price for flight
In finding mister right
You’ll be alright tonight

Babe, you know
You’re growing up so fast
And mama’s worrying
That you won’t last
To say let’s play
Sister Christian
There’s so much in life
Don’t you give it up
Before your time is due
It’s true
It’s true yeah

Motoring
What’s your price for flight
You’ve got him in your sight
And driving through the night

Motoring
What’s your price for flight
In finding mister right
You’ll be alright tonight

Sister Christian
Oh the time has come
And you know that you’re the only one
To say okay
But you’re motoring
Yeah motoring

Songwriters: Kelly Keagy

1980s songs, life is hard

Head Over Heels-The Gogos

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Head over heels, no time to think/
Looks like the whole world’s out of sync.

The early 1980s brought a wave of fun girl bands: The Gogos, Cindi Lauper, The Bangles & Madonna (before the British accent) were all less serious than the female singer-songwriters of the 70s. At the time, people loved it, but it was not well received critically. Time has proved the critics wrong–the music rocks.

Head Over Heels by The Gogos explodes with a classic 80s synthesizer intro that gets your heart pumping. It is fast-paced–which aligns well with the meaning of the song. The song is about the hustle of daily life and struggling to make ends meet. Life can seem like both a daze and a whirlwind as we try to make it. Time passes slowly then quickly–it is disorienting.

As we hustle to make ends meet, sometimes, we forget about things that are truly important. As the narrator explains, “I’d forgotten about my heart”. This was perhaps “someone I left behind”. This revelation about her love life seems to send the narrator into a further spin…it’s life in the fast lane.

Both the chorus and verse sound great. They are hectic, alive and spontaneous–just like the lyrics. One thing I’d like to point out is the out-of-synch handclap (I think that’s what it is. It sounds kind of like a whip). It seems to come in at such a weird time that it throws you off your bearings as you wait to hear the follow up. This is great production.

Head Over Heels Lyrics

Been running so long
I’ve nearly lost all track of time
In every direction
I couldn’t see the warning signs
I must be losin’ it
‘Cause my mind plays tricks on me
It looked so easy
But you know looks sometimes deceive

Been running so fast
Right from the starting line
No more connections
I don’t need any more advice
One hand’s just reaching out
And one’s just hangin’ on
It seems my weaknesses
Just keep going strong

Head over heels, where should I go?
Can’t stop myself, out of control
Head over heels, no time to think
Looks like the whole world’s out of sync

Been running so hard
When what I need is to unwind
The voice of reason
Is one I left so far behind
I’ve waited so long
So long to play this part
And just remembered
That I’d forgotten about my heart

Head over heels, where should I go?
Can’t stop myself, out of control
Head over heels, no time to think
Looks like the whole world’s out of sync

Songwriters: Charlotte Caffey / Kathy Valentine

1980s songs, contentment

Sweet Dreams are Made of This (The Eurythmics)

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I travel the world and the seven seas,
Everybody’s looking for something…

The Eurythmics’’ “Sweet Dreams” is a song about hopefulness and perseverance. Despite the sinister sounding keyboards, pounding bassline, and suggestive lyrics, Annie Lennox is really just hoping that everyone finds what they are looking for in life—whatever that might be.

The world might seem frightening, but it really isn’t. Everyone is just looking for happiness Are you looking for x? Are you looking for not-x? “Go for it”, is her message. This is what she is trying to convey in her sometimes-misinterpreted lyric:

Some of them want to abuse you;
Some of them want to be abused.

Ultimately, everyone is looking for something, and who is she to tell anyone they are wrong to want what makes them happy? The song has both hedonistic and libertarian ideals at its core: “pleasure is good” and “do what you want as long as it doesn’t interfere with me”. Of course, these are not explicitly stated.

The lasting greatness of the song comes from the synthesizer, the driving beat and Lennix’s amazing, unique vocal performance. It is the quintessential 80s sound. I did always think the song was called “Sweet Dreams are Made of These”.

Sweet Dreams (are made of this) Lyrics

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas,
Everybody’s looking for something.

Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused.

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world
And the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something

Hold your head up
Keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on
Keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up
Keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on
Keep your head up, movin’ on