Hysteria by Def Leppard Lyrics Meaning – Unlocking the Emotional Turmoil of Passion
Lyrics
You could try to get closer to me
I’m in luck, I’m in deep, yeah
Hypnotized, I’m shakin’ to my knees
I gotta know tonight
If you’re alone tonight
Can’t stop this feeling
Can’t stop this fight
Oh, I get hysterical, hysteria
Oh, can you feel it? (Oh can you feel it?)
Do you believe it? (Do you believe it?)
It’s such a magical mysteria
When you get that feelin’ (when you get that feelin’)
Better start believin’ (better start believin’)
‘Cause it’s a miracle, oh say you will, ooh babe
Hysteria when you’re near
Out of me, into you, yeah
You can hide it’s just a one way street
Oh, I believe I’m in you, yeah
Open wide, that’s right, dream me off my feet
Oh, believe in me
I gotta know tonight
If you’re alone tonight
Can’t stop this feeling
Can’t stop this fire
Oh, I get hysterical, hysteria
Oh, can you feel it? (Oh can you feel it?)
Do you believe it? (Do you believe it?)
It’s such a magical mysteria
When you get that feelin’ (when you get that feelin’)
Better start believin’ (better start believin’)
‘Cause it’s a miracle, oh say you will, ooh babe
Hysteria when you’re near
Come on
I gotta know tonight
If you’re alone tonight
Can’t stop this feeling
Can’t stop this fire
Oh, I get hysterical, hysteria
Oh, can you feel it? (Oh, can you feel it?)
Do you believe it? (Do you believe it?)
It’s such a magical mysteria
When you get that feelin’ (when you get that feelin’)
Better start believin’ (better start believin’)
‘Cause it’s a miracle, oh say you will, ooh babe (oh can you feel it? Ooh)
(Oh, I get hysterical) hysterical, (hysteria) hysteria
(When you get that feeling) you’d better believe it
(Better start believing) because it’s a miracle
Oh, say you will, oh babe, say you will
Get closer to me, get closer, baby (oh)
Baby, closer, (closer) get closer (get closer), closer to me
In the pantheon of rock anthems that capture the raw emotion of fervent desire, Def Leppard’s ‘Hysteria’ stands as a colossal testament to the power of love and longing. Released in the heart of the 1980s, a decade known for its explosive music scene, ‘Hysteria’ resonates with a sense of passionate urgency that is both timeless and deeply personal.
Delving into the lyrics of ‘Hysteria,’ one can’t help but be drawn into the tumultuous voyage between infatuation and the magical all-consuming grip it takes on heart and mind. What follows is an exploration of the song’s deeper meanings and the ways in which it continues to electrify listeners with its portrayal of love’s powerful hold.
Hysteria’s Heartbeat: Pulse of Pure Desire
The throbbing pulse of ‘Hysteria’ is not just a product of its notoriously catchy rhythm. It’s the sound of a heart caught in the throes of obsession. The word ‘hysteria,’ originating from the Greek term for ‘uterus,’ historically suggested an overwhelming emotional experience. Def Leppard uses it here to depict a feeling so intense that it borders on the uncontrollable, a physical and psychological need for connection that cannot be denied.
As the lyrics swing between ‘out of touch, out of reach’ and the persistent ‘can’t stop this feeling,’ listeners find themselves entangled in the narrative of a lover’s plea for closeness, a testament to that overwhelming need to merge with the object of one’s affection.
The Dance of Intimacy: ‘Out of Me, Into You’
There’s a push and pull evident in the lyrics that oscillates between the yearning for intimacy and the fear of it. The line ‘Out of me, into you, yeah’ speaks to the disarming vulnerability that comes with letting someone in, with laying bare one’s soul. It paints a picture of the singer’s own self dissolving into the beloved, a total surrender to the emotion that both terrifies and exhilarates.
This tension is the essence of the human experience with love, and ‘Hysteria’ manages to encapsulate it within the confines of a four-minute rock ballad, a feat that only bolsters the track’s resonance with those who have navigated the complexities of giving themselves over to another.
A Symphony of Synonyms: ‘Magical Mysteria’
The lyrical journey of ‘Hysteria’ is a clever play of words, blending ‘magical’ and ‘mysteria’ to emphasize the enchanted, enigmatic quality of this unshakeable emotion. The song captures the essence of what it feels like to be completely overtaken by something inexplicable and formidable, a feeling that demands belief because its power is akin to a miracle.
By encouraging listeners to ‘start believin’ when they ‘get that feelin’,’ Def Leppard summons a universal call to arms to trust in the potency and possibility of love, to surrender doubt in favor of wonder, and to accept that sometimes, reason must bow to the supernatural force of the human heart.
The Echoes of Euphoria: ‘Hysteria when you’re near’
Perhaps the most captivating aspect of ‘Hysteria’ is its ability to convey the euphoria that accompanies the proximity of a loved one. The recurrence of ‘Hysteria when you’re near’ throughout the song becomes an anthem in itself, the declaration of a soul ignited by the mere presence of its counterpart.
The song doesn’t just tell a story of desire; it embodies it, allowing the listener to experience the rush, the manic pulse of elation, that is felt when two people find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other.
Beneath the Surface: Unearthing the Hidden Meaning
Amidst the fervor and bombast of ‘Hysteria,’ there lies a subtle undercurrent that suggests the song’s motif may be more than just a muse on romantic hysteria. Considering the era of its release, it’s plausible to interpret the song as a reflection of the societal and cultural hysteria of the time, a period rife with political tension, economic change, and the fear of global uncertainty.
This deeper vein runs through the song, asking listeners not only to feel the individual tremors of love but also to recognize the collective tremble of a world caught in its own web of hysteria. Thus, ‘Hysteria’ emerges not only as an anthem of love but as a mirror to a world spinning in the delirium of swift and unstoppable change.
