Cyndi Lauper’s “Time after Time” Lyrics Meaning
Cyndi Lauper’s “Time after Time” reads as though it is based on both a past and present relationship. Or perhaps more specifically, the scenes in which it sounds as if the singer is talking about what is currently happening may actually be ‘flashbacks’, “memories” or dreams.
The prevailing sentiment expressed is one in which Lauper is ever ready to respond if her lover is “lost”, which likely alludes to him needing help in general. Thus within the overall context of the tune, she is expressing sympathy for an ex-boyfriend, almost to the degree of not desiring to move forward in life without his presence. So we know that Cyndi is reflecting on a past relationship, and we also know that the termination of said romance has left her distraught.
The singer being heartbroken is something she never says outright but is illuminated through symbolism she uses of never being able to be in sync with her lover as well as the fact that she, as aforementioned, is “waiting” on call to bail him out if he ‘falls’ into trouble.
Release Date and Writing Credits for “Time After Time”
This Cyndi Lauper classic originally came out as part of her debut album titled She’s So Unusual on 14 October 1983. Later Epic Records released it as a single, with “I’ll Kiss You” on its B-side, on 27 January 1984.
It was the last song added to She’s So Unusual, which Lauper and Rob Hyman wrote in the 11th hour at the behest of the album’s (and track’s) producer Rick Chertoff.
Such a Success!
It went on to score Lauper her first number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earn her a Grammy nomination in 1985 (the song lost, but Lauper did win Best New Artist for the entire album). Furthermore it eventually served as the signature song of her career.
This classic also won the following prestigious awards, including an American Music Award.
It also reached number 1 in Canada and peaked at number 3 in Britain, as well as being certified platinum in Canada.
This track placed at number 66 on “Rolling Stone & MTV: 100 Greatest Pop Songs”, a list compiled in 2000 by VH1.
Acoustic Version
Lauper later released an acoustic version of this global hit featuring Sarah McLachlan on her 2005 compilation album The Body Acoustic. It also did pretty well.
Song’s Inspiration
Cyndi derived the name of and inspiration for this song while flipping through a “TV Guide” and coming across the title “Time After Time”, which was the name of a 1979 science-fiction film starring Malcolm McDowell.
Music Video of “Time after Time” stars Captain Lou Albano
Captain Lou Albano (1933-2009), a popular member of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), played the role of a cook in the music video to this track. Cyndi Lauper’s mother and boyfriend also made appearances, portraying their actual roles in her life.
Covers
“Time After Time” has been covered by diverse artists, including Lauper herself teaming up with the likes of Patti LaBelle (1985 and 2004) and Lil Kim (2009) to perform the song. But no cover is perhaps more notable than that of jazz great Miles Davis (1926-1991), who “fell in love” with the song and not only released his own rendition on his 1985 album You’re Under Arrest but also played it regularly during his concerts in the latter years of his life. Davis’ cover is also said to be Lauper’s favorite.
Other notable renditions are Inoj’s 1998 cover, which peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. “The Voice” contestant’s Javier Colon’s version was also a really successful one.
Who sings the backing vocals on “Time after Time”?
In addition to serving as a co-writer, Rick Hyman also sang backup vocals on this classic.
This song, like 99% of all songs, are about the sun and the moon. Do this. When you hear a song, think about it in the context of the earth, the sun and the moon. The general outake is that the sun is dying and the moon is left to fend for itself. Whenever a train is involved its referrence to souls passing from this dimension to the afterlife (heaven or hell) it all depends which train station your on. When you hear car, its reference to earth. Its fun to do, but also very sobering when you realise 99% of songs are reference to humanity being completely asleep having sweet dreams (Eurythmics) and our inability to stop thus rolling in the deep (Adele) of our planet driving through the night and not stopping at the red lights (warning signs). The hands of time are attached to the two arms on a click. I can’t begin to tell you the transformation music will have on you when you listen to it with a new understanding that artists main goal is to warn humanity if its impending doom. Our car tyre is flat, we are running out if gas and Love has left town. When you think a song us referencing a girlfriend, its not. Its referencing live itself. Meatloaf, prince, sinead, bee-gees, acdc, Whitney, queen, David Bowie, abba, Madonna. Its all references to the sun and moon and earth and love. But it has nothing to do with Adam and eve (being the sun and the moon) male female energy of humanity. Adam (atom) and Eve (proton) and earth (neutral). The best interpretation of the sun an entity looking over humanity and all its doing is Abba’s “the day before you came”. It references the sun (son) and how he keeps time and also goes through the working if the day. Rain represents blessings and inspiration and cleansing as well as sorrow. Its disheartening when you come to the realisation that popular commercial music is actually based on religious outakes. Since the dawn of time.