by SMF·Published · Updated
“I Just Died In Your Arms” is a rock song performed by the 1980s English rock band Cutting Crew. The lyrics of the song are inspired by a real romantic affair that Nick Van Eede (lead singer of Cutting Crew) had. According to Eede, he wrote the song about a “gypsy” girlfriend of his whom he had been separated from for about a year and was “pining away” until he eventually met her on a New Year’s Eve. The meeting led to a brief affair that apparently lasted only a night. Eede said the legendary line “I just died in your arms tonight” came to him while he was in bed with her that night. According to Eede, the next morning he wrote down the line. The brief affair eventually led to the pair having a daughter named Lauren.
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You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Cutting Crew's I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight at Lyrics.org.
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With regard to the second famous line from the lyrics “I should’ve walked away”, Eede shed some light on it. According to him, while he was with his former girlfriend during that one night, he was overcome with worry and fear about what he was doing with her. And why? Because to him, it was obviously not right.
Facts about “I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight”
- The song was written entirely by Nick Van Eede. He stated that he wrote the basic lyrics of the song in about an hour.
- A number of producers worked on the song’s production. They included members of Cutting Crew and British record producer Terry Brown.
- The song was one of the four singles released from the band’s debut studio album titled “Broadcast”.
- British singer Mika used the melody of this song in his 2006 hit debut single “Relax, Take It Easy“. Owing to this, Eede was credited as one of the songwriters on said hit single by Mika.
- The song reached number 1 in America and number 4 on the UK Singles chart, thereby making it Cutting Crew’s most successful song.
- The song has been covered or sampled by a number of prominent artists, including U.S. rapper Jay-Z.
Related posts:
- Meaning of “Relax, Take It Easy” by Mika
23 Responses
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A J says:
May 31, 2019 at 11:12 pm
There’s some truth in the story behind the song. But, it was far from a ‘brief affair’. He and his girlfriend were together for eleven years ( had a break or two during that time). Nick wrote the song after a passionate night with her….nine months later, their daughter Lauren was born. A rather wonderful story behind the classic….All true!
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James says:
September 15, 2021 at 1:14 pm
Wow that’s pretty flipping awesome. Better still you should know that your name is plastered across the verses and the chord progressions
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Maria says:
September 6, 2019 at 3:19 pm
How do you know this?
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Andrea says:
October 26, 2019 at 11:29 pm
The song is about me.
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Jay says:
See AlsoThe Meaning Behind The Song: (I Just) Died in Your Arms by Cutting Crew - Old Time MusicCutting Crew - (I Just) Died in Your Arms Lyrics | SongMeaningsOctober 29, 2019 at 11:20 pm
This is the most awesome thing I’ve ever come across! :). Thank you…
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Emerson S says:
June 17, 2021 at 1:21 pm
Holy Guacamole, now that’s something unexpected.
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Anonymous says:
October 21, 2021 at 5:07 am
That’s as cool as the arctic. I doubt you’ll ever see this.. but what did it feel like having someone write a song about you?
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Jay says:
October 29, 2019 at 11:18 pm
That’s a beautiful story Andrea, you’re Blessed!
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Elle says:
January 8, 2020 at 8:52 pm
Just read the story for the first time on the inspiration for this fabulously passionate song. And so appropo–I’d had a very lovely and memorable dance to this luscious musical gem on New Year’s Eve!
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Mariana says:
July 14, 2020 at 12:59 pm
It’s a story I relate to also
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Cash says:
August 28, 2020 at 6:08 am
what does he mean that she’s loving by proxy? Hi Andrea. if this is true, this song is about you, what happened that there wasn’t a relationship?
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Andrea says:
December 13, 2020 at 8:46 pm
Nick and I were together for 11 years. We still speak occasionally as we have a daughter together.
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Becky Earnhart says:
October 15, 2020 at 5:58 am
I have loved that song since I first heard it. I would die in his arms every night!! It is a truly meaningful track.
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Anonymous says:
January 20, 2021 at 1:56 pm
Hi Andrea
i wouldlike to know the meaning of the following…..
The curtains are closed, the cats in the cradleReply
Torin says:
November 19, 2022 at 6:24 am
Speculative but likely:
Curtains are closed = relationship is over
Cats in the cradle = Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin – about not spending enough time with your kid(s).Reply
Lala says:
February 1, 2021 at 5:04 pm
This is one of THE Most Powerful songs EVER!! My first Love and I, this was Our Song, it was playing in the background the first time we were ever together! This was in the 80s, to this day we are friends and when it plays we both now in our late 40s still think of eachother. Amazing how a song can instantly take you back in time!
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Trevor White says:
June 25, 2021 at 4:56 am
I will simply say, like others, I did fall in love with this song. It is only tonight that I researched it some and arrived here. I just had to research and get the history of the song. Great song, I love it. A huge thank you to CUTTING CREW to create such a wonderful masterpiece. Come on…give us some more.
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Fiore DCC says:
June 26, 2021 at 10:43 pm
Can’t believe this, yet truly believe ! Such beautiful story !! Cause so powerful ever since I heard this song and actually seeing video – so passionate -I was an ambitious young artist tgen , yet all into living the the moment living passionately , avid dancer -so this song would take me so far beyond my wildest dreams – I never got the lover or boyfriend I dream of , still I have kept traveling with same passion- This song takes you, swaps you away, so wonderful! -Still dreaming!!
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Glen says:
November 9, 2021 at 2:35 pm
Who is the blond woman in the video as the motorcycle rides around past the stage…she has something in her hand maybe a cup of coffee…
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ron bishop says:
November 23, 2021 at 4:19 pm
what is the female gymnast’s name?
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Anonymous says:
June 28, 2022 at 1:59 am
I had always heard that the song was about having an org*sm.
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Anonymous says:
March 14, 2023 at 4:02 pm
I think that comes (no pun intended) from the phrase “la petite mort,” or “the little death,” which is slang for an org*sm (or the period directly after).
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_petite_mortReply
Gordon Gill says:
November 29, 2022 at 12:28 pm
Andrea, this is one of the most wonderful stories I have ever read. It makes me smile knowing the song is about you and Nick and you have a beautiful daughter together. Love and Respect to all of you.
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