Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart (Live from Tim Rice, 1983)

ABOUT THIS SONG

Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” released in 1983, is a powerhouse ballad that catapults listeners into a realm of passionate intensity and emotional turbulence. From the haunting opening chords to Tyler’s unmistakable raspy vocals, the song encapsulates the agony and yearning of a love on the brink.

Written by Jim Steinman, the song’s lyrics create a vivid narrative of heartache, capturing the essence of a love shrouded in darkness. As Tyler belts out the iconic chorus, the soaring melody becomes an anthem of heart-wrenching despair and profound emotion.

The arrangement is a symphony of 80s power ballad grandeur, featuring dynamic shifts, orchestral elements, and a choir that elevates the drama. The music video, with its Gothic imagery and Tyler’s theatrical performance, complements the song’s epic nature, creating a visual and sonic masterpiece.

“Total Eclipse of the Heart” became a global sensation, topping charts and securing its place as one of the greatest power ballads of all time. Its enduring popularity is a testament to the timeless allure of heart-wrenching love stories and Tyler’s ability to deliver raw, emotive vocals.

Whether you’re swept up in the nostalgia of the 80s or discovering this anthem for the first time, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” invites you to immerse yourself in the turbulent sea of emotions that define love’s complex journey. It’s not just a song; it’s a visceral experience that resonates with the depths of the human heart, leaving an indelible mark on music history.

VIDEO

LYRICS

(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit lonely
And you’re never coming ’round(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit tired
Of listening to the sound of my tears

(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit nervous
That the best of all the years have gone by

(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit terrified
And then I see the look in your eyes

(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then
I fall apart

(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit restless
And I dream of something wild

(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit helpless
And I’m lying like a child in your arms

(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit angry
And I know I’ve got to get out and cry

(Turn around)
Every now and then
I get a little bit terrified
But then I see the look in your eyes

(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then
I fall apart
Turn around, bright eyes
Every now and then
I fall apart

And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We’ll be holding on forever
And we’ll only be making it right
‘Cause we’ll never be wrong

Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (all of the time)

I don’t know what to do and I’m always in the dark
We’re living in a powder keg and giving off sparks

I really need you tonight
Forever’s gonna start tonight
(Forever’s gonna start tonight)

Once upon a time I was falling in love
But now I’m only falling apart
There’s nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart

Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there’s only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart

(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around, bright eyes)

(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know you’ll never be the boy
You always wanted to be

(Turn around)
But every now and then
I know you’ll always be the only boy
Who wanted me the way that I am

(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know there’s no one in the universe
As magical and wondrous as you

(Turn around)
Every now and then
I know there’s nothing any better
There’s nothing that I just wouldn’t do

(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
Every now and then I fall apart

And I need you now tonight
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight
We’ll be holding on forever
And we’ll only be making it right
‘Cause we’ll never be wrong

Together we can take it to the end of the line
Your love is like a shadow on me all of the time (all of the time)

I don’t know what to do
I’m always in the dark
Living in a powder keg and giving off sparks

I really need you tonight
Forever’s gonna start tonight
(Forever’s gonna start tonight)

Once upon a time I was falling in love
But now I’m only falling apart
Nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart

Once upon a time there was light in my life
But now there’s only love in the dark
Nothing I can say
A total eclipse of the heart

A total eclipse of the heart
A total eclipse of the heart

(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around)