Behind the Lyrics: Never Gonna Give You Up by Rick Astley
“Never Gonna Give You Up” is a classic pop song that was released in 1987 by English singer and songwriter Rick Astley. The song became an instant hit and reached the number one spot on charts around the world, including the UK, US, and Australia.
It was also famously used in the internet phenomenon known as “Rickrolling,” where unsuspecting internet users were tricked into clicking a link that would lead them to the music video for the song.
The lyrics of “Never Gonna Give You Up” are about love and commitment. The song is essentially a promise to the singer’s lover that he will always be there for them, through thick and thin.
The chorus, which is the most famous part of the song, goes:
“Never gonna give you up Never gonna let you down Never gonna run around and desert you Never gonna make you cry Never gonna say goodbye Never gonna tell a lie and hurt you”
The lyrics express a deep sense of devotion and loyalty. The singer promises to never let his lover down or abandon them, to never hurt them, and to always be honest. It’s a romantic sentiment that has resonated with listeners for over three decades.
In terms of the band history, Rick Astley was signed to the record label Stock Aitken Waterman (SAW) in the late 1980s. SAW was a highly successful production team that was responsible for producing some of the biggest pop hits of the era, including songs by Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan. “Never Gonna Give You Up” was written and produced by SAW, and they also created the music video for the song.
The video features Astley singing and dancing in a variety of settings, including a nightclub and a city street.
The song was released as the lead single from Astley’s debut album, “Whenever You Need Somebody.” The album was a massive commercial success, selling over 15 million copies worldwide. Astley went on to release several more albums throughout the 1990s, but he never quite matched the success of “Never Gonna Give You Up.”
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