Fan Reviews / Comments
TONIGHT
 (Music & Lyrics by Rick Springfield)

 

Patty's working, but she's watching the clock
She's in the back room counting stock
And down in a warehouse out by the dock
Jessie's lifting crates and breaking rock
But when the whistle blows to end the daily fight
And the working forces turn out the light
Jessie takes that little girl and he holds her tight
As the day fades away he says
We're all that matters tonight

Tonight's the night, I know I'm right
And heart to heart, we'll make it tonight
So hold me tight, and love me right
The world can wait for tomorrow tonight

Patty comes like an angel and takes his hand
Jessie says, "Baby, I've got a plan"
He says, "I wanna get married and make a stand,
But there's just one thing you gotta understand,
Now the pressure of living and the daily fight
Could hurt us in time if our perspective ain't right,
So shut the door and put out the light
And baby be here, because we're all that matters tonight"

Tonight's the night, I know I'm right
And heart to heart, we'll make it tonight
So hold me tight, and love me right
The world can wait for tomorrow tonight

Break your back from nine to five
Sweating blood just to stay alive
Running home to the harbor light
Safe and warm, in love so right, tonight

Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight
Tonight

Tonight's the night, I know I'm right
And heart to heart, we'll make it tonight
So hold me tight, and love me right
The world can wait for tomorrow tonight

Tonight's the night, I know I'm right
And heart to heart, we'll make it, tonight
So hold me tight, and love me right
The world can wait for tomorrow tonight

Tonight's the night, I know I'm right
And heart to heart, we'll make it tonight

 

(total playing time 3:19)

  

I don't think I paid much attention to this song when I first listened to SHSMY in the 80's. Now, I really like this song.   I think a common theme seen in some of Rick's songs shows up here again. The  theme being that the idea of human touch--be that physical and/or emotional contact with another person or being in a relationship can help make things alright in a person's life. Rick seems to send a message that he believes this human contact can provide a safe place to escape from life's daily grind, problems, disappointments and stresses. 

"As the day fades away, we're all that matters tonight" "So shut the door and put out the light and baby be here because we're all that matters tonight" -Jessie and Patty are working hard day in and day out just to make ends meet.  Rick, through Jessie, continues telling Patty, and probably himself, to close a mental door on all the day's troubles and just focus on what really matters in life.

"The world can wait for tomorrow tonight" -Let's forget about problems, stresses of the day or what we have to do tomorrow and just focus on what's good in our lives tonight.

"Running home to the harbor light Safe and warm, in love so right, tonight" -I think Rick finds a safe harbor in a relationship and mentions it in many of the songs he writes.

I thought that this was a follow up to Jessie's Girl . The first time I heard this, I remembered thinking, "so Jessie's Girl's name is Patty". I thought I was having a revelation!!

I really like the "clapping" in this song. This is a take it or leave it song, and I can definitely say I have not heard Rick do this one live nor do I expect to.

Definitely a different tone to this one. I really like the lyrics.. Not one of my absolute faves music wise,  but I still like the song. Ths one just has such an against all odds kind of feel. Kind of a love overcomes all, hopeful even, song. 

Ok, add me to the "thought this was the follow up to Jessie's Girl" list!  I thought I was so dang smart!!! 

I actually really like this song..it has a good message....."now the pressure of livin' and the daily fight could hurt us in time if our perspective ain't right".   Very true.  And I liked the clapping...it kind of screams "1982"...but it brings back fond memories of this album. 


SONG FACTS:

This song appears on the following releases:
Success Hasn't Spoiled Me Yet and Legendary.