Song Lyric Sunday – Sister Christian by Night Ranger

Posted on September 27, 2020 by

42 Comments

This week Jim Adams has prompted us with choosing songs pertaining to Brother | Sibling | Sister for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday.

This week I have chosen “Sister Christian” by Night Ranger. I have a personal connection to this song. The song was released about 2 1/2 months before I graduated from high school.

Being an 18 year old senior who enjoyed her long “big” hair and was getting ready to embark on life’s journey away from family, I took to this song immediately. As the song became popular and was playing over the loudspeakers in the bars that I frequented, not to mention, MTV played it constantly that summer, “Sister Christian” became my own personal theme song. In July of that year, I left for Marine Corps boot camp. Even though the saying wasn’t popular in Texas, I was “motorin'”!

Drinking Age in 1984 was 18 in the U.S.

Night Ranger’s drummer, Kelly Keagy wrote the song about his sister who was coming of age. Keagy’s sister, Christy was 10 years younger than him and was growing up fast. The lead singer, Jack Blades sang lead vocals on most songs for the band, but Keagy sang the lead on this one from his drums. The original song title was “Sister Christy” but the band thought Keagy was singing “Sister Christian” so that became the title.

Keagy grew up in Eugene Oregon and the day after he graduated high school, he packed his bags and left home to seek out a career as a full-time drummer. After years of playing in clubs, he started touring with the San Francisco band, Rubicon. In 1979, Keagy, along with fellow band members, Jack Blades and Brad Gillis formed Night Rangers. Rubicon became a thing of the past.

Once Night Ranger got some experience in San Francisco through local gigs, the rock concert promoter, Bill Graham started booking Night Ranger as the opening act for bands such as Judas Priest, Santana, and the Doobie Brothers. Night Ranger became one of the most popular mainstream rock bands of the mid-1980’s. The group disbanded in 1989 when front man, Jack Blades left the band.

SONG FACTS

  • Written by Kelly Keagy, Night Ranger’s drummer.
  • Released in March, 1984 as the second single from their album Midnight Madness.
  • Reached #1 on Canada’s (RPM) chart
  • Reached #2 on U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks & #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
  • Stayed on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for 24 weeks.
  • Ranked #32 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs of the 1980’s.
  • Plays during the drug deal scene in the film Boogie Nights.
  • On the soundtrack for the movie Superstar.
  • Prominently featured in the Broadway play “Rock of Ages” which is suspended due to the pandemic. Rock of Ages is a story about a small-town girl, a city boy, and a rock n’ roll romance on the Sunset Strip.

“Sister Christian”

Sister Christian
Oh, the time has come
And you know that you're the only one
To say, okay
Where you going
What you looking for
You know those boys
Don't want to play no more with you
It's true

You're motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding mister right
You'll be alright tonight

Babe, you know
You're growing up so fast
And mama's worrying
That you won't last
To say, let's play
Sister Christian
There's so much in life
Don't you give it up
Before your time is due
It's true
It's true, yeah

Motoring
What's your price for flight
You've got him in your sight
And driving through the night
Motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding mister right
You'll be alright tonight

[Instrumental interlude]

Motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding mister right
You'll be alright tonight
Motoring
What's your price for flight
In finding mister right
You'll be alright tonight

Sister Christian
Oh, the time has come
And you know that you're the only one
To say, okay
But you're motoring
Yeah, motoring
September, 1984

Category: music, Songs, Uncategorized, Writing PromptsTags: , , , , , , , ,

42 Comments on “Song Lyric Sunday – Sister Christian by Night Ranger”

  2. Great song and one that always resonates with me, Lisa. Thank you for your service. I , too, chose a similar path out of high school twelve years earlier, but mine was the Air Force. Great choice for a very different time for high school seniors.

    Liked by 1 person

    • Thank you for your service. If I had to do it all over again, I would have chose the Air Force. I was more of a brainy child than a physical one. I could keep up, but I hate to run and my short little legs had to do a lot more work than the taller people. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • Thanks! It was tough! There’s reason they say, “The Few, The Proud”. That stuff is for real! So add the fact that I’m 5’1” & was all of 90 lbs back then, I had to work 5 times harder than everyone else. 😎

        Like

    • Thanks for the compliment! I was a spitfire back then! I’m a little thing at 5’1″ and to keep up with the boys, I had to be! Not sure if you saw the bird weekly this week, but I mentioned it there because it is short legged birds. LOL! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      • I am sure you would have been quite a firebrand Lisa 🙂 I hope it was a positive experience and enjoyed the rough and tumble of Marine life. Short legged birds made me laugh. I didn’t read the post as I was going to see what I had. If time later I’ll try to pop something in

        Liked by 1 person

      • Being in the military is a totally different lifestyle. I was in during peace time plus women weren’t allowed in combat like they are now. I was a tomboy growing up with 4 boy cousins. Made me tough. I’m a grandma now unless someone knows me, they would think I’m just a soon to be “little” ole lady. I don’t think I look my age though. 😂

        Liked by 1 person

Bird Weekly Challenge
Interviews by Marsha Ingrao
Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge
Becky’s Squares Challenge
Advertisements
Follow Our Eyes Open on WordPress.com
Blog Stats
  • 63,398 hits
%d bloggers like this: