Total Eclipse of the Heart ditulis Jim Steinman, penulis semua hits-nya Meat Loaf. Lagu-lagunya khas panjang, seperti halnya lagu ini yang berdurasi 6 menit 51 detik. Lagu ini tak jadi dibawakan Meat Loaf, tapi oleh Bonnie Tyler, penyanyi asal Wales.
Bonnie Tyler mengawali karirnya pada awal 70-an, menyanyi untuk pub dan club seputaran South Wales. Hingga kemudian ia mendapat tawaran rekaman RCA Records pada tahun 1975. Albumnya 'The World Starts Tonight' rilis dua tahun kemudian. Tahun 1978 single-nya It's a Heartache mencetak hit dan menempati posisi 4 dan 3 di tangga lagu Inggris dan Amerika.
Memasuki tahun 80-an, Tyler memulai karir barunya sebagai penyanyi rock, setelah memenangkan The 10th World Popular Song Festival untuk Britania Raya pada tahun 1979. Karirnya menanjak berkat kolaborasinya dengan Jim Steinman, lewat lagu Total Eclipse of the Heart dan Holding Out for a Hero. Lagu ini rilis tahun 1983 bersama album 'Faster Than The Speed Of Night'. Masa ini disebut-sebut sebagai masa keemasan Tyler. Total Eclipse of the Heart menjadi nomor satu di Inggris dan Amerika. Ia mendapatkan dua Brit Award dan tiga nominasi Grammy Award. Lewat album ini juga, namanya masuk daftar Guinness Book of British Hit Albums sebagai artis wanita yang menjadi nomor satu dalam 'UK Album Charts'.
Lagu ini terjual lebih dari 5 juta copy di seluruh dunia. Beberapa penyanyi membawakan kembali lagu ini, menjadi soundtrack film, di antaranya 'Bandits' yang dibintangi Cate Blanchett pada tahun 2001 dan hadir dalam salah satu episode Serial "Glee" pada tahun 2010.
Total Eclipse of the Heart
(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 reckless
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 livin' in a powder keg and givin' 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
(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 now)
And I need you more than ever
And if you only hold me tight (if you only)
We'll be holding on forever
And we'll only be making it right (and we'll never)
'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
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 say
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, ooh ooh
