Turn Around by Bonnie Tyler Lyrics Meaning – Decoding the Anthemic Power Ballad of Passion and Longing
Lyrics
Tu sais que quelques fois je me sens seule et perdue
Est-ce que tu me reviendras?
Je tourne en rond
Tu sais que quelquefois je me sens loin de toi
Dis, est-ce que tu te souviendras de moi?
Je tourne en rond
Sur la terre entière je me sens abandonnée
Dis, est-ce que tout ça va changer?
Je tourne en rond
Pour habiter ma solitude de mon mieux
Moi qui ne sais qu’être deux
Je tourne en rond sans toi
Tu sais que quelquefois j’ai peur de toi
Je tourne en rond sans toi
Tu sais que quelquefois j’ai peur de moi
Turn around
Every now and then I get a little bit restless
When I dream of something wild
Turn around
Every now and then I get a little bit helpless
And I’m 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
When I see the look in your eyes
Je tourne en rond sans toi
Tu sais que quelquefois j’ai peur de toi
Je tourne en rond sans toi
Tu sais que quelquefois j’ai peur de moi
Et j’ai tant besoin de toi
Et j’ai tant besoin de ta voix
Je veux tomber dans tes bras
Je voudrais marcher dans tes pas
On invente les règles du jeu
Quand on est tous les deux
Ensemble nous irons jusqu’au bout du chemin
Je tiendrai dans ton ombre
Si tu me prends la main (all of the time)
Retiens-moi si je sombre, je suis ta prisonnière
Si loin de notre monde j’ai la tête à l’envers
J’ai vraiment besoin de toi
Si demain commençait ce soir
Si demain commençait ce soir
Il était une fois une femme amoureuse
Peut-être un p’tit peu trop rêveuse
Tant pis si j’en pleure
Tu as tous les droits sur mon cœur
A total eclipse of the heart
Et j’ai tant besoin de toi
Et j’ai tant besoin de ta voix
Et je veux tomber dans tes bras
Je voudrais marcher dans tes pas
On invente les règles du jeu
Quand on est tous les deux
Together we can take it to the end of the line
Love is like a shadow on me all of the time (all of the time)
Retiens-moi si je sombre, je suis ta prisonnière
Si loin de notre monde j’ai la tête à l’envers
I really need you tonight
Forever’s gonna start tonight
Si demain commençait ce soir
Il était une fois une femme amoureuse
Peut-être un p’tit peu trop rêveuse
Tant pis si j’en pleure
Tu as tous les droits sur mon cœur
Total eclipse of the heart
Si demain commençait ce soir
Regarde-moi droit dans le cœur
Bonnie Tyler’s ‘Turn Around’, also known more famously as ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’, stands out as an exemplar of the 80s power ballad: a melodious concoction of longing, passion, and a touch of melodrama. The song has reverberated through the decades, becoming a defining anthem for anyone who’s felt the tumultuous stirrings of love.
Deceptively simple in its repetitive structure, ‘Turn Around’ is rich with emotional complexity, which unfolds like a multi-layered novel, inviting listeners to embed their own experiences into its lyrical folds. Let us embark on a lyrical excavation to unearth the resonance that has kept this song in the hearts of many for generations.
The Eternal Dance of Love and Fear
The song’s ostensible simplicity masks the profound truths of human relationships—the oscillation between the warmth of union and the cold dread of isolation. Tyler encapsulates this pendulum swing of the heart with her repeated entreaties of ‘Turn around’, a metaphor for the reassurance we seek amidst the emotional whirlwinds of love.
Each chorus plys deeper into the vulnerabilities that come with intense affection—the restlessness, helplessness, even the terror that can accompany love. These are not casual feelings; they are the extreme ends of the emotional spectrum, highlighting love’s capacity to bring both elation and existential dread.
Peering Into the Melodic Mirror
The power of ‘Turn Around’ lies not just in its lyrical content but in its evocative melody. The rising and falling of the music parallels the ebb and flow of the song’s emotional tides, creating a powerful empathic bridge for the listener to cross.
This auditory wave is what captures the listener, lulling them into the song’s embrace, allowing the symphony of words and notes to tap into a deeper consciousness. It is a journey through sound, bearing the weight of nostalgia and the yearning for connection.
A Hidden Ode to Innermost Desires
Beneath its surface, ‘Turn Around’ is a quest for self-understanding and a reflection of the yearning to be seen. The concept of turning around suggests the idea of someone being there when you need them the most—acknowledging your presence in their world, a theme that rings universally true for many.
The hook—’Turn around, bright eyes’—functions as a call to recognition and a plea for an intimate connection, underscoring the song’s hidden meaning as a narrative of desire for emotional validation.
The Unforgettable Line: ‘A Total Eclipse of the Heart’
Tyler delivers a line that has become emblematic beyond the bounds of the song itself: ‘A total eclipse of the heart’. This imagery of a celestial event conveys the blackout of reason that can occur when love’s intensity overshadows all else, coating the world in a penumbra of feeling.
The phrase has endured in popular culture, providing a vivid illustration of love’s overpowering moments—where nothing else can be seen, felt, or understood but the all-encompassing darkness that is the absence of the beloved’s light.
The Song’s Timeless Appeal: A Heartbeat Across Eras
The surging popularity of ‘Turn Around’ decades after its release is testament to its enduring emotional resonance. Its place in the pantheon of classic love anthems is assured not by its era-specific sound, but by its ability to encapsulate the timeless nature of human emotion.
This song has achieved the rare feat of crossing generational divides, resonating with listeners who may have never experienced the cultural context of its origin, yet feel the universal pulse of its heartache and hope.
