Whitesnake leader David Coverdale wrote this song with guitarist, Bernie Marsden. While it's typically thought of as an inspiring song about facing challenges head-on, it is also a song about heartbreak and the loneliness that comes with it. The song is said to document the breakdown of Coverdale's first marriage to Julia, who he tied the knot with in 1974.
The song was written in 1981 after Whitesnake toured the UK. The band went on hiatus when lead singer David Coverdale's daughter got sick that year, but this was resurrected in 1982 when he reformed the group and released Saints 'N' Sinners. The new version changed the line "Like a hobo I was born to walk alone" to "Like a drifter I was born to walk alone."
This was first released in 1982 on Whitesnake's album Saints 'N' Sinners. The album went to #34 in the UK, but was hardly noticed in the US. In 1987, it was remixed with new backing vocals and more slick production for the album Whitesnake 1987. It became a huge hit in the US and also did well in England, where it was released as the "US Mix."
The video features very quick clips of the actress Tawny Kitaen dancing seductively on the hood of two Jaguar cars. One belonged to Coverdale, the other belonged to Marty Callner who directed the video. The video was a huge hit on MTV, and was listed as one of the 15 Essential Hair-Metal Videos by the New York Times.
Kitaen, who was in the movie Bachelor Party, also appeared in the Whitesnake videos "Still Of The Night," "Is This Love?," and "The Deeper The Love." She and Coverdale were married in 1989 and divorced in 1991.
This song entered the news in 2002 under some strange circumstances. Tawny Kitaen married the baseball player Chuck Finley in 1997. In April, 2002, she was arrested for spousal abuse after kicking him with her high-heeled shoes while he was driving. Finley filed for divorce soon after. Soon after Kitaen was arrested, the D.J. for the Chicago White Sox was fired for playing this to the stadium while Finley was warning up for his team the Cleveland Indians.
As portrayed in the 2010 movie The Fighter, this was the theme song for the boxer Micky Ward, who used it for inspiration during training and before fights. Coverdale recalled on the VH1 Classic program That Metal Show that he read the script for The Fighter before he gave permission for the song to be used in the movie. "I [didn't] know how good it [was] going to be," he said. "But to see Christian Bale, 'Batman' singing your tune, are you kidding! It was amazing, very uplifting and inspiring. I thought the movie was great."
Original 1982 version from Saints & Sinners:
David Coverdale – lead vocals
Bernie Marsden – guitar
Micky Moody – guitar, backing vocals
Neil Murray – bass
Ian Paice – drums
Jon Lord – keyboards
Mel Galley – backing vocals
1987 version from Whitesnake:
David Coverdale – lead vocals
John Sykes – guitar, backing vocals
Neil Murray – bass
Aynsley Dunbar – drums
Adrian Vandenberg – guitar solo
Don Airey – keyboards
Bill Cuomo – keyboards
1987 radio-mix version:
David Coverdale – lead vocals
Dann Huff – guitar
Mark Andes – bass
Denny Carmassi – drums
Don Airey – keyboards
Bill Cuomo – keyboards
Here I Go Again On My Own
Whitesnake Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I sure know where I've been
Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday
And I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time
Here I go again, here I go again
Though I keep searching for an answer
I never seem to find what I'm looking for
'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
Here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time
I'm just another heart in need of rescue
Waiting on love's sweet charity
And I'm gonna hold on for the rest of my days
'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time
But here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go
'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I've made up my mind
I ain't wasting no more time
And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
'Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I've ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again On My Own" is a power ballad that speaks to the universal experiences of longing and independence. The lyrics are the manifestation of intense self-reflection and the desire for a fresh start. The singer seems to have a rich history of promises and love, but that has not brought him satisfaction. He is searching for something new, for the answer to a question he has not yet articulated. Although he is on an unknown path, he knows too well where he has been.
The line "Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday" summarizes the pursuit of staying in a familiar and comfortable zone of existence rather than embarking on a journey of self-discovery. The chorus is the real driving force behind the song, where the singer proclaims that he will no longer waste any more time and will not wait for someone to rescue him. Instead, he is going to assert his independence and walk on the lonely street of dreams. The metaphorical importance of the street of dreams is that the singer's life path is enigmatic, but he has accepted that mystery and is willing to embrace it.
In conclusion, the song "Here I Go Again On My Own" is a powerful statement of personal independence and self-realization. The lyrics and the message are both relatable and inspiring, reminding us that sometimes the only way to fully achieve our aspirations is to walk alone, with conviction and determination.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't know where I'm goin'
I am unsure of my destination
But I sure know where I've been
However, I am certain of my past experiences
Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday
I hold onto the hope and inspiration of past music
An' I've made up my mind, I ain't wasting no more time
I have decided and am committed to not wasting any more time
Here I go again, here I go again
I am starting over again
Tho' I keep searching for an answer
Although I am still searching for a solution
I never seem to find what I'm looking for
I have yet to find what I am seeking
Oh Lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on
I ask for divine intervention and the strength to continue my journey
'Cause I know what it means to walk along the lonely street of dreams
I am familiar with the feeling of pursuing a difficult path alone
Here I go again on my own
I am once again starting my journey without companionship
Goin' down the only road I've ever known
I am on the path that is most familiar to me
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
I have always felt like an outsider, destined to walk solo
Just another heart in need of rescue
I am seeking help and affection
Waiting on love's sweet charity
I hope to receive love and compassion from others
An' I'm gonna hold on for the rest of my days
I plan to persevere and continue this quest for the remainder of my life
But here I go again, here I go again,
I am starting over again, once more
'Cause I know what it means to walk along the lonely street of dreams
I am familiar with the feeling of pursuing a difficult path alone
Here I go again on my own
Starting anew, alone once again
Goin' down the only road I've ever known
I am continuing on the path that is most comfortable for me
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
I have always felt like an outsider, walking my path alone
'Cause I know what it means to walk along the lonely street of dreams
I am familiar with the feeling of pursuing a difficult path alone
Here I go again on my own
I am once again starting my journey without companionship
Goin' down the only road I've ever known
I am on the path that is most familiar to me
Like a drifter I was born to walk alone
I have always felt like an outsider, destined to walk solo
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: David Coverdale, Bernie Marsden
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kisiekaren
Anyone in 2024? ❤️
@guyschmitt8637
Yes
@hugoalejandro27
Here i go again.....
@waylon825
Right here 🖐️
@Ukr.774
I am😂
@user-jj3wl9ho1z
Yes, it. Is. Still. 2024!!!
@kyrkosekaterinaris1328
I am here to pay my respects to Miss Tawny Kitaen. She is gone but will never be forgotten.
@fidelsolis6070
Really the model. My condolences
@williamtm1965
RIP Tawny
@fanaberia7778
I'm crying...this can't be true :((