Bonnie Tyler sang Total Eclipse of the Heart in 1983, and it still stands as her most recognized song. It also ranked among the top music releases in the UK for the same year. The song was written back in 1969 by Jim Steinman for the musical production The Dream Engine. Jim and Bonnie worked on the song together in the ‘80s, and it is a song that has stuck in the public consciousness, says BBC.com. It is one you hear played during eclipses or during ‘80s revivals. This classic has some lyrics that really stand out, like the line “turn around, bright eyes”. We are going to dive into the Total Eclipse of the Heart meaning and lyrics, and maybe the song will mean more to you after we are done…
Total Eclipse of the Heart Meaning
This love song discusses the way someone feels when they love somebody who doesn’t necessarily love them back in the same way. The lyrics evolve as the song goes on, showcasing a change in the way the singer feels.
The song could be about a love story between a vampire and a human, and that might be why their love is said to not be something that will last forever, says TheList. This theory gains some traction since it is used in the musical production of Tanz der Vampire by Jim Steinman himself. Bonnie Tyler disagrees, though, and said that she only sees the song as a romantic one.
As the song continues, the emotions get bigger and stronger. The singer says she sometimes has feelings of nervousness and loneliness, and her lines are mixed in with the words “turn around”. Those words change to the famous “turn around, bright eyes”, which is her calling to her lover in a desperate hour.
(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
By the second verse, the emotions have become even more intense. The singer has feelings of anger and helplessness. As her lover goes farther from her, the feelings worsen. The love is a lifeline for her, and the distance and absence make life harder for her the longer they continue.
(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
The Chorus
During the chorus, we see the end of the story, and it is an open admission of desperation and need. Love is speaking to her and telling her that they have to be together. The shadow of the eclipse is a lovely picture of something that follows you around, and its constant presence is like a constant reminder of the necessity of this love. In the end, the singer wishes that her troubles will end, with the words “forever’s gonna’ start tonight”. Her desire is that she can finally enjoy their love.
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
That first chorus is on the setup. The second chorus is a progression, and Bonnie starts talking about the past. She refers then to a love that is impossible and a departed lover. The eclipse is shadowing her heart, blocking out the light of love with its darkness. Realization sets in that the love they have is not what she really needs.
Once upon a time I was falling in love
Now I’m only falling apart
There’s nothing I can do
A total eclipse of the heart
Her emotions change from there with the understanding that the love of this man is not giving her what she really needs. However, her desire is still for him, and she goes back to that first request of “I need you,” asking for his presence. Him being in her life, she says, is all that would bring her happiness.
(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
This is how the emotional turmoil ends, and the progression of emotions the singer goes through is something that is key to what makes this song so special. The central message of the song is that she loves him and he is necessary for her happiness. At the same time, she shows that he isn’t right for her, and that causes an eclipse to take place in her heart. Even still, she longs for him and needs him in her life. There is a conflict of emotions that make the song so timeless.
The song lasts for five minutes, and in that time, the singer goes through a whole gamut of emotions. We can feel the depth of the love and the strength of the feeling through the course of the song.
Total Eclipse of the Heart 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
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
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
A total eclipse of the heart
A total eclipse of the heart
(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around, bright eyes)
(Turn around)
Last Updated: September 8, 2023
