A closer examination into Rick Springfield’s “Don’t Talk to Strangers”
A look back on an underrated but disturbing gem from the former Noah Drake.
For a while now, I’ve been annoyed by all of the 80’s nostalgia.
Kids wearing Def Leppard t-shirts when they couldn’t name one deep cut on the “High ‘n’ Dry” album.
The horrific attempt to reboot the Ghostbusters franchise.
The “retro” candy aisle in my Wegmans store that sells Charleston Chews and Necco Wafers.
The embarrassment that is/was “Fuller House”.
Even the dreaded shoulder pads are back for you ladies.
And while I haven’t watched a second of “Stranger Things”, I’m fairly certain it will annoy me as well.
I was born in 1972, so the 80’s were my formative years. I reflect back on the decade in a positive light; Empire Strikes Back, Atari and the Hair Metal movement were highlights.
But a lot of it was shit.
TV shows were horrendous. Have you tried watching an old episode of “Mr. Belvidere”?
Music was god awful. Need I remind you of Deborah Gibson and Glass Tiger?
Clothing styles were cringe worthy. “Miami Vice” turned many of my friends into assholes overnight.
Nostalgia for nostalgia sake doesn’t cut it for me. It has to hold up.
This past weekend my wife and were driving through the New Jersey countryside on an exceptionally warm afternoon with the windows rolled down and not a care in the world. No kids meant no Drake or Ariana Grande on the radio.
That alone made the drive worth it.
At some point, we happened upon SiriusXM’s “80’s on 8” and a classic tune from ’82 which gave us no choice but to crank that shit up. We both sang along like we were at the school dance in the cafeteria enjoying a Tang or two.
This is the kind of nostalgia I can get into.
Integrity of the highest form.
About half way through the song, without hesitation or irony, my wife belted out:
“Fais l’amour avec moi”
What just happened?
How did I not know that Mr. Noah Drake, aka Rick Springfield, had french lyrics in “Don’t Talk to Strangers”? And how did my wife rattle them off with ease? Did she really not throw away her concert tee like I demanded?
Was it still an affair of the heart for her?
Was the upcoming girls weekend to the Jersey Shore a lie? Were they going here instead?
After thoroughly checking her cell phone and calming down, I found myself obsessed with this song.
Impossibly catchy.
A true musical composition.
The chorus alone makes me feel like I’m being taken for a joy ride in an Alfa Romeo with ALF (that’s a good thing).
It was the lyrics that grabbed me.
I knew about 75% from memory (sans the French stuff) but never pieced the story together. It always had a semi-stalkerish vibe but I needed to deconstruct the lyrics fully in order to understand just what Rick was looking to convey during his obviously pained state of romantic longing.
This is why Google was invented.
The entire lyrics of the song are to follow.
Take your time and allow the creepy romanticism to wash over you.
I’ve added my own commentary in parenthesis along the way for additional context/questioning.
Enjoy.
When you were just a young girl and still in school
How come you never learned the golden rule (was this a class taught in Australia?)
Don’t talk to strange men, don’t be a fool
I’m hearing stories (first hint of stalking), I don’t think that’s cool
Why don’t you tell me, someone is loving you
’Cause you’re my girl, some say it’s no longer true (starting to feel Lifetime Movie like)
You’re seeing some slick continental dude (my favorite male description ever. Investment banker is my guess)
I’m begging you, please
Don’t talk to strangers, baby don’t you talk
Don’t talk to strangers, you know he’ll only use you up (did he really mean “use you up”? Feels overly condescending and I think he is underestimating her a bit.)
Don’t talk, don’t talk, don’t talk,
Don’t talk, don’t talk to him (I’m starting to feel real concern for her. The demands are now blatant. It is all escalating too quickly.)
Nobody, talk, nobody, ever told you, don’t talk (The first sign of true paranoia. Don’t talk. Talk. Don’t talk.)
Now tell me, how’s life in the big city (safe to assume LA)
I hear the competition’s tough (for acting roles?), baby that’s a pity (Sarcasm, right?)
And every man’s an actor, every girl is pretty (such 80’s sexism)
I don’t like what’s getting back to me (he has eyes and ears everywhere)
Now who’s this, don juan (are Don Juan and Slick Continental Dude the same gentleman?) I’ve been hearing of
Love hurts when only one’s in love (first sign of self awareness)
Did you fall at first sight or did you need a shove (Shove? Had to rhyme it with love I assume)
I’m begging you, please
Don’t talk to strangers, baby don’t you talk
Don’t talk to strangers, you know he’ll only use you up
Don’t talk, don’t talk, don’t talk,
Don’t talk, don’t talk to him
Nobody, talk, nobody ever told you, don’t talk
Fais l’amour avec moi (Make love with me)
What’s he saying baby
Viens dormir, mon amour (Come to sleep my love)
I asked you not to talk to him
Je t’aime donne moi ton coeur ce soir (I like you to give me your heart this night)
I’m begging you
Prior stanza questions: Is he dreaming they are together? Is he speaking French so Slick Continental Dude won’t understand? An inside joke? Or is he trying to show that he can be continental as well?
This should be more actively debated and added to all collegiate Lit classes.
Don’t talk to strangers, baby don’t you talk
Don’t talk to strangers, you know he’ll only use you up
Don’t talk, don’t talk, don’t talk,
Don’t talk, don’t talk to him
Nobody, talk, nobody ever told you, don’t talk
Don’t talk to strangers, baby don’t you talk
Don’t talk to strangers, you know he’ll only use you up
Don’t talk to strangers, baby don’t you,
Baby don’t you talk,
Don’t talk to strangers
So what do you think?
I think a lot of the answers lie in the video below.
Please watch now.
And watch the under the table leg rub multiple times because there has never been anything like it in music video history.
For some additional backstory, check out these little factoids I hunted down as part of my research:
- The song was written to Rick Springfield’s then girlfriend Barbara (later his wife)
- He was worried she was getting involved with other people while they were apart.
- Springfield said looking back on the song, “Back then, I was scared that she was fucking around because I was doing the same thing”.
So romantic.
You should also know that Rick’s real name is Richard Lewis Springthorpe.
That says a lot right there.
