Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit lonely and you're never coming round
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit tired of listening to the sound of my tears
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit nervous
That the best of all the years have gone by
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit terrified
And then I see the look in your eyes
Turnaround bright eyes, every now and then I fall apart
Turnaround bright eyes, every now and then I fall apart

Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit restless and I dream of something wild
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit helpless and I'm lying like a child in your arms
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit angry and I know I've got to get out and cry
Turnaround, every now and then I get a little bit terrified
But then I see the look in your eyes
Turnaround bright eyes, every now and then I fall apart
Turnaround 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
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
But 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

Turnaround bright eyes
Turnaround bright eyes
Turnaround, every now and then I know you'll never be the boy you always wanted to be
Turnaround, every now then I know you'll always be the only boy who wanted me the way that I am
Turnaround, every now and then I know there's no one in the universe as magical and wondrous as you
Turnaround, every now and then I know there's nothing any better
And there's nothing that I just wouldn't do
Turnaround bright eyes, every now and then I fall apart
Turnaround 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'll 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
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
But now I'm only falling apart
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



Lyrics submitted by Ice

Track duration: 04:30

"Total Eclipse of the Heart" as written by Jim Steinman

Lyrics © CARLIN AMERICA INC

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Total Eclipse of the Heart song meanings
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  • +5
    General Comment:I found the meaning here: faqs.org/lyrics/…

    Long before singer Bonnie Tyler had a hit single with ``Total Eclipse of the Heart,'' songwriter Jim Steinman was already using the phrase ``turn around bright eyes'' in a song from his 1969 musical, ``The Dream Engine.'' Then, according to singer Meat Loaf, the song was slated to appear on his 1983 album, ``Midnight at the Lost and Found,'' but he couldn't get his record company to pay for Steinman's lyrics. The song was then passed along to Tyler, whose raspy vocals contributed to the song's success, hitting #1 on music charts worldwide.

    Once upon a time I was falling in love, but now I'm only falling apart

    There's nothing I can do, a total eclipse of the heart

    The song was inspired by the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff in the novel, ``Wuthering Heights.'' While they shared an intense, passionate love for each other, their relationship was also toxic and destructive.

    And so it is in ``Total Eclipse of the Heart.'' The singer is afraid to have her lover in her life, yet terrified at the thought he might leave. When they're together, their relationship is explosive, but when they're apart, the singer can find no light in her life. The lyrics clearly show just how torn the singer is.
    Flagged Michellelfon October 14, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Sad? This is the most optimistic "sad" song I've ever heard. First of all, it's a duet, man and woman, yes? His voice is there anyhow, calling her. Second, it's not a nova, it's an eclipse- and who can't weather a frigging eclipse?



    Phrases that really make the difference: Now and then ... then I see the look in your eye ... we can make it to the end of the line ... forever's gonna start tonight...

    It's for listening to when you're about to give up and there's no relief in sight but, nobody's packing their bags... Because all you gotta do is:

    Turn around, bright eyes.
    Flagged jotokaion July 24, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I never saw the video before tonight! Very strange. I have always thought this song was about a woman having a long-term affair with a married man who "was never coming round" and she realized that she had spent years waiting for him. All she had left was "love in the dark". And he was reassuring her that he was still there- but for how long?
    Flagged Jennysueon May 05, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I think she's singing about her lover having died, and she's joining him by committing suicide. Morbid as fuck, but hey. It makes sense.
    Flag Freyjaon March 26, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I just want to talk about the arrangements in the song, which to me, are absolutely perfect. dramatic drums, piano, synths...shit's crashing everywhere...the vocals come right over the top at the right time...i could go on forever. the producer is god. i'm going to find out.
    Flag summerteeth99on February 23, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:One more thing, because there has been so many comments about "it's about this girl, that loves this guy, but he doesn't lover back, she is passed her prime, blah blah blah." The song's author is a GAY man.
    Flag jp410on January 20, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Oh my god, I can't believe the sappy comments about this song, actually, I can. What makes this song great, and when I say great, I mean like a guilty pleasure, is it is SOOO melodramatic and over the top cheesy, you have got to love it! From the writer, whose style was over the top, to the the scratchy 80's belting of Bonnie, it very well be the best, over the top one-hit wonder of the 80s. You people actually feeling real emotion from this have got be twelve year olds with puppy love crushes or simply quite pathetic.

    (Of course the Dan Band cover is AWESOME!)
    Flag jp410on January 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:memories of the worst valentine's day 2009 listening to this song... and wanting to kill yourself.

    its about never being able to love again...the feelings i had listening to this I hope I never will experience again.
    Flag bjorton August 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is an extremly sad and emotional song.

    To me it is about a girl who lost the love of her life, and the turn arounds are him speaking to her, as a ghost

    If you listen to it it all makes sence, she says theres nothing she can do, she knows hes not comming around, shes scared that the best of all the years have gone by.

    She keeps falling apart bc of this....... "once upon a time there was light in my life, now theres only love in the dark"

    Very depressing song in my opinion, but extremly strong, you can definatly tell that Jim Steinman wrote it......Bonnie Tyler did an amazing job, but I think Meat Loaf would rly do a great job as well, consider the amount of emotion he puts into all of his songs.


    Flagged XmeatXloafXfreakXon July 28, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Yes musicmuse, I too had a similar experience. As I walked away from the grave, the wind blew and my cloak swirled up and carressed the tombstone, and I heard the voice of my lover telling me forever would start tonight. THEN I DIED!!!! OOOOOOO
    Flag TheChampion4lon July 09, 2009   Link

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