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, outcasts

#395 Free Fallin- Tom Petty

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She’s a good girl, crazy bout Elvis/
Loves horses and her boyfriend too.

The most lasting imagery from Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin” is the girl. She sounds like an “All-american” girl, but one of the descriptions of her always sounded funny. She “loves horses…and her boyfriend too.” It is an odd description, however, we can imagine this type of “good girl” that Petty is trying to describe.

Petty gets restless and decides to take off and break her heart. He does some driving around Southern California and begins thinking about her. The imagery is very Californian: everything there is endless streets and suburbs…and there is a lot of driving. That’s when he begins his free falling. It seems that he has second thoughts as at the end of the song (after driving around a bit) he wants to “write her name in the sky”.

Free Fallin Meaning
Petty

“Free Fallin” resonates as a bad-boy-with-a-heart rock anthem. Petty’s voice is one of the most recognizable in rock and this is his best performance. The sound is very classic rock n roll, and is one of the most unlikely releases from the 1980s. It sounds more like a 60s tune. That is part of its allure. Perhaps there was some concern that rock was dying as disco was big in the 70s and the 80s had a lot of…well, 80s music. Hearing this song at the end of the eighties reminded everyone that rocknroll was alive and kicking.

Lyrics Free Fallin

She’s a good girl, loves her mamma
Loves Jesus and America, too
She’s a good girl, crazy bout Elvis
Loves horses and her boyfriend too, yeah yeah

It’s a long day, livin’ in Reseda
There’s a free way running through the yard
I’m a bad boy ’cause I don’t even miss her
I’m a bad boy for breaking her heart

And I’m free
Free fallin’, fallin’

And I’m free
Free fallin’, fallin’
All the vampires, walkin’ through the valley
They move west down Ventura Boulevard

And all the bad boys are standing in the shadows
And the good girls are home with broken hearts
And I’m free
Free fallin’, fallin’
Now I’m free
Free fallin’, fallin’

Free fallin’, now I’m
Free fallin’, now I’m
Free fallin’, now I’m
Free fallin’, now I’m
Free fallin’, now I’m
Free fallin’, now I’m
Free fallin’, now I’m
Free fallin’

I wanna glide down, over Mulholland
Wanna write her name in the sky
I wanna free fall out into nothin’
Oh, I’m gonna leave this, this world for a while
Now I’m free
Free fallin’, fallin’
Now I’m free
Free fallin’, fallin’
Then I’m free
Free fallin’, fallin’
Now I’m free
Free fallin’, fallin’
Free fallin’, fallin’
Free fallin’, fallin’
Free fallin’, fallin’

Songwriters: Petty Thomas Earl / Lynne Jeffrey

1980s songs, breakup songs

#384 I’ll Be Over You- Toto

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As soon as forever is through/
I’ll be over you.

Toto’s “I’ll Be Over You” has everything I want in a soft rock song. First, it has a beautiful and memorable chorus and verse.  If you have those two you have a classic. It’s a song about a simple concept, usually love, with easily digestible lyrics. And of course, a great vocal. This song has all of those things. A short sax solo is fine too. This song has an underrated melody and lyrics. I have never seen it considered an all-time great song. Though, I never see any soft rock songs considered great. They can be.

Ill Be Over You Meaning
Toto

The lyrics tell a sobering tale about a man analyzing his life after a failed love. Has destiny passed him by? Will he ever live out his dreams? So many promises were made to each other—did they not mean anything? He concludes that once he gets over his heartbreak and being overanxious about finding new love, he’ll get over his heartbreak and discover someone new.

I’ll Be Over You Lyrics

Some people live their dreams
Some people close their eyes
Some people’s destiny
Passes by

There are no guarantees
There are no alibis
That’s how our love must be
Don’t ask why

It takes some time
God knows how long
I know that I can forget you

As soon as my heart stops breakin’
Anticipating
As soon as forever is through
I’ll be over you

Remembering times gone by
Promises we once made
What are the reasons why
Nothing stays the same

There were the nights holding you close
Someday I’ll try to forget them
Someday I’ll be over you

Songwriters: Randy Goodrum / Steven Lee Lukatherer

1980s songs, love is gone

#381 Holding Back The Years-Simply Red

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I’ve wasted all my tears/
Wasted all those years.

The narrator in Simply Red’s “Holding Back the Years” describes a less-than-ideal relationship with his parents. It has led him to much heartache and tears. Whenever he thinks back about those times he cries…or tries to hold the tears in.

It sounds like his father was overbearing and his mom was non-existent in his life, which caused a lot of this pain later in his life. All the pain it is causing him is ruining him, but he is trying to hold on. But it is hard. A lifetime of wasted years and tears add up on one’s psyche.

Holdin Back The Years Meaning
Simply Red

The song’s vocals sound bluesy and deliver a unique take on the song. Hucknell’s lead vocals are very unique and quite high for a male singer. The emotion with which he delivers the words also makes this song special and add meaning. From his voice we can tell he is telling us something important to him, so we want to listen to the message. This is Simply Red’s best work.

Holdin Back The Years Lyrics

Holding back the years
Thinking of the fear I’ve had so long
When somebody hears
Listen to the fear that’s gone
Strangled by the wishes of pater
Hoping for the arms of mater
Get to me the sooner or later

Holding back the tears
Chance for me to escape from all I know
Holding back the tears
‘Cause nothing here has grown
I’ve wasted all my tears
Wasted all those years
Nothing had the chance to be good
Nothing ever could, yeah

I’ll keep holding on
I’ll keep holding on
I’ll keep holding on
I’ll keep holding on, so tight

Well I’ve wasted all my tears
Wasted all of those years
And nothing had the chance to be good
‘Cause nothing ever could

I’ll keep holding on
I’ll keep holding on
I’ll keep holding on
I’ll keep holding on

Holding
Holding
Holding
Holding

I said
It’s all I have today
It’s all I have to say

Songwriters: Mick Hucknall / Neil Moss