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
Our Eyes Open 
Comments
42 responses to “Song Lyric Sunday – Sister Christian by Night Ranger”
I always liked this song, but I was not aware of the group that sang it. I guess that is that your Marine Corps photo at the bottom, very nice.
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Yep Jim! That is me in 1984. I look the same. 😂😉
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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.
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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. 🙂
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I don’t think I could have hacked the Marine Corps. I am impressed you did!
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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. 😎
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Great song, love that photo of you, you look so young💜
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Thanks Willow! I was 18 at the time that photo was taken. Just a baby, but thought I had it all figured out! I’m 55 and still don’t have it figured out! LOL! 🙂
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Lol me either and I am twelve years older than you 😂
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Well you look awesome! My hubby is 10 years older than me and does things physically that some guys can’t do in their 40’s. Pretty amazing! 😊
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It all in the mind 😜💜
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Attitude counts for most of it!!! 😊 how are you feeling?
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I didn’t have a good day yesterday, I am hoping today will be better. 💜
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I’m so sorry Willow! I know your pain and continue to pray for you to get to the point where you can have surgery and get well! 🙂
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I know and I am grateful 💜
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🙂
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How are you 💜
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I’m doing okay. I’ve had a migraine for 2 days now. Yesterday was a bad day for me too. I had an out of body experience like I did a couple of years ago when the docs think I had a TIA. I didn’t go to the emergency room or anything, but it took about 3 hours to disperse. I think it was just a migraine that lasted for way too long. It’s still lingering today, but I’m working through it. Got to! The weather has cooled and I have my windows open throughout the whole house. It’s so nice! 🙂
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You must be careful Lisa don’t ignore health warnings the only happen for a reason 💜💜💜
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Yes, but I’ve had 2 MRI and an MRA. They are only guessing and don’t know what the problem is except they are migraines. I could go on Aimovig, but they haven’t been bad enough or often enough for me to inject myself every month and deal with the side effects. 🙂
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It’s very difficult isn’t it 💜
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Yes it is! I swear they don’t know what they are doing 1/2 the time! Now I don’t have medical insurance because I couldn’t afford to keep the COBRA after losing my job. I have the VA (Veteran’s Administration) but the nearest hospital is in Gainesville (1 1/2 hours) away. I can still go to the emergency room, but unless it is a real emergency, nope! I will be able to get on Obamacare in November. Just another month! 🙂
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Oh! I really get so angry when I think of all the medical in justices that happening in America. They are not far off happening here. Sad days, I hope you are okay 💜
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I’m fine. I’ll be better in November if dumb ass is voted out. I think that is part of my stress. Sad isn’t it?
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Yes it is dumbass and an old man you’ve not got a lot of choice 💜
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That’s the truth! At least Biden said it out loud. “Worst in US history”. Trump is the worst president in the history of the United States!
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Yes indeed, there is no argument with that !
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😊
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💜
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One of my favorite songs! And you’re adorable!
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Yay!!! I’m glad. When we have that glass of wine, we can tell Alexa to play it for us. Awe, the things we have to look forward to. 😉
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Right?!
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Semper fi!
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Semper fi, John! Were you in the Marine Corps?
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No, but according to several sources of heraldry, “Semper Fidelis” is the motto of the Holton family. I worked with a few guys who were inactive Marines and they used to say that…
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It is the motto of the Marine Corps. Means, Always Faithful. “Semper Fi, Do or Die”. No man left behind. Now man or woman. When I was in, women were not allowed in combat. 🙂
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Love this song, and I hear it on the oldies stations all the time. Good to actually read the lyrics. Nice video, too. Love your photo! 🙂
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Thanks Barbara! It sure meant a lot to me. I was a kid in that photo! LOL! 🙂
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A vague recollection of the song. Not big in Australia. You were/are super cute 🙂
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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! 🙂
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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
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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. 😂
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