Jennifer’s Blog

“On the Dark Side”

The dark side’s callin’ now
Nothin’ is real
She’ll never know just how I feel
From out of the shadows
She walks like a dream
Makes me feel crazy
Makes me feel so mean

Ain’t nothin’ gonna save you
From a love that’s blind
You slip to the dark side
Across that line
On the dark side, oh yeah
On the dark side, oh yeah

The dark side’s callin’ now
Nothin’ is real
She’ll never know just how I feel
From out of the shadows
She walks like a dream
Makes me feel crazy
Makes me feel so mean

Ain’t nothin’ gonna save you
From a love that’s blind
You slip to the dark side
Across that line
On the dark side, oh yeah
On the dark side, oh yeah

[Instrumental Interlude]

Ain’t nothin’ gonna save you
From a love that’s blind
You slip to the dark side
Across that line
On the dark side, oh yeah
On the dark side, oh yeah
On the dark side, oh yeah
On the dark side, ooooooh yeah

The lyric poem, “On the Dark Side” portrays temptations and forbidden love. The “dark side” is state of mind, a place one goes “across that line.” It the state of temptation, yet and when in fact one goes “across that line” they give in. It is not that one simply goes to the dark side, but rather you “slip,” diction that hints that going to the dark side is almost a mistake, something that should not be done, but one wants to do so badly. The narrator is driven there by a mysterious female. “From out of the shadows/she walks like a dream.” Her mystery adds to the temptation. The imagery of a lady walking out of the shadows is simply seductive, it is like she is coming directly to the narrator as he enters the “dark side.” She also is described as “like a dream,” a simile that divulges her perfection, just what the narrator has wanted (to him, she is perfect.)  It is implied that he feels love for her, but this is not acceptable for once more it could only be on “the dark side,” the love is temptation. Love is described as “blind” indicating that nothing else matters but it. It takes control, clouding the judgment of the poor speaker, pushing him to slip “across that line,” because “ain’t nothin’ gonna save [him.]” The repetition of the same stanza over and over again allows the song to echo. All in all, the idea and theme is expressed in a few words, yet these words bombard the listener due to the repetition.  The blatant repetition of the phrase, “the dark side,” makes it clear that the “dark side” is non-escapable, and “ain’t nothin’ gonna save you.”

I love this song. It was written by Wordman in the movie, Eddie and the Cruisers, presumably about Joann, who is Eddie’s girl (in truth it was written by John Cafferty for the movie, but I believe the creation portrayed in the movie is more exciting.) The theme thus comes because Frankie (Wordman) has a crush on Joann, but cannot act on his love because Eddie is his friend, and especially back then you didn’t go behind your friend’s back (when he does he is called Toby Tyler.) One must actually hear the song to get the true meaning, for the simple lyrics do not incorporate the strategically placed caesuras and the emphasis with which it is sung. It is meaningful, and reminds me of my favorite movie, which is why I love it so much. The entire film has influenced me, showing me the importance of not being phony, the importance of being great (If you can’t be great, there’s no sense in ever makin’ music again,) and acceptance (Eddie says different.) I could not keep something so important to me from my blog (thanks for the tip mrobinson.) The movie also introduced me to Rimbaud, who also gave me new perspective, and two poems to write about on my blog. Ultimately, this song is much more than words and music, words and music.

WORKS CITED

Eddie And The Cruisers. “On The Dark Side.” Scotti Brothers, 1983.

Note: I do own a 45 where Eddie And The Cruisers are labeled as the original artist, so this is technically correct.