“Here I Go Again” is a power ballad by the British rock band Whitesnake, originally released in 1982 on the album Saints & Sinners and re-recorded in 1987 for their self-titled album. The track was written by lead singer David Coverdale and former guitarist Bernie Marsden, with Coverdale drawing inspiration from the breakdown of his first marriage to Julia Borkowski.
Original Version (1982): Recorded during a turbulent period, this blues-rock version featured the lyric “Like a hobo I was born to walk alone.” It reached #34 on the UK charts but failed to gain traction in the United States.
- Re-recorded Version (1987): Driven by record label pressure to succeed in the US market, the song was re-recorded as a polished glam metal power ballad. The lyric was changed to “drifter” to avoid misinterpretation, and the production was handled by Keith Olsen.
- Chart Success: The 1987 version topped the Billboard Hot 100 on October 10, 1987, becoming the band’s biggest American hit and Coverdale’s most successful radio single.
- Iconic Music Video: Directed by Marty Callner, the video featured actress Tawny Kitaen performing acrobatics on the hoods of two Jaguar cars. This visual became a defining image of 1980s hard rock and MTV culture.
- Legacy: The song is widely recognized for its anthemic chorus and has been used in various media, including the film The Fighter, where it served as a training theme for boxer Micky Ward.
I don’t know where I’m going
But I sure know where I’ve been
Hanging on the promises in songs of yesterday
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
[Chorus]
Here I go again
Here I go again
[Verse 2]
Though I keep searching for an answer
I never seem to find what I’m looking for
Oh, Lord, I pray you give me strength to carry on
[Pre-Chorus]
‘Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
[Chorus]
And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
[Verse 3]
I’m just another heart in need of rescue
Waiting on love’s sweet charity
And I’m gonna hold on for the rest of my days
[Pre-Chorus]
‘Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
[Chorus]
And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
But here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go
[Guitar Solo: Bernie Marsden]
[Bridge]
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
[Chorus]
Here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
[Pre-Chorus]
‘Cause I know what it means
To walk along the lonely street of dreams
[Chorus]
And here I go again on my own
Going down the only road I’ve ever known
Like a drifter, I was born to walk alone
And I’ve made up my mind
I ain’t wasting no more time
[Outro]
But here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go again
Here I go
Here I go again
