High 'n' Dry (Saturday Night)

Album: High 'n' Dry (1981)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This rocker was the title track to Def Leppard's second album. Written by lead singer Joe Elliott, bass player Rick Savage and guitarist Steve Clark, the song is about getting drunk and rowdy on a Saturday night. It's very AC/DC in subject matter, but unlike that group, Def Leppard balanced out their rock/drinking/party songs with ballads, notably the High 'n' Dry hit "Bringin' On the Heartbreak."

    Def Leppard did suffer mayhem-related tragedy: drummer Rick Allen got in a car accident in 1984 that cost him an arm, and guitarist Steve Clark died in 1991 from an overdose of drugs and alcohol.
  • The expression "high and dry" means to be left helpless - it comes from ships that get stranded when the water recedes. Def Leppard puts a different meaning on the phrase, using "high" to mean blotto drunk. "Dry" generally means the opposite when it comes to alcohol, but here it's transmogrified into something else.
  • The album was produced by Mutt Lange, who had recently helmed AC/DC's Back In Black.
  • This song made the notorious "Filthy 15" list issued by the Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC) of songs they deemed horribly offensive. This song was cited for "drug and alcohol use" thanks to it's shameless depiction of a reckless evening. The PMRC formed in 1985; as a result of their efforts, albums with objectionable lyrics were affixed with stickers to warn parents. By the time this happened, Def Leppard had issued their wildly successful Pyromania album, which with tracks like "Photograph" and "Too Late for Love," was unlikely to offend anyone.
  • Def Leppard's famously meticulous album production style started as a necessity to match the "big boys" of rock. Early on, they tried Queen-style overdubbing but did it quickly and imperfectly on their debut album. It wasn't until they teamed up with producer Mutt Lange for High 'n' Dry that they learned to treat albums as intricate, layered works, pushing rock music forward like The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper or The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds.

Comments: 2

  • Matt from Nj"Pyromania" unlikely to offend? It's got two songs about someone going on a shooting spree: "Die Hard The Hunter" and "Billy's Got A Gun."
  • Dan Gillespy. from Courtenay Bc.A perfect party song.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

16 Songs With a Heartbeat

16 Songs With a HeartbeatSong Writing

We've heard of artists putting their hearts into their music, but some take it literally.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

History Of Rock

History Of RockSong Writing

An interview with Dr. John Covach, music professor at the University of Rochester whose free online courses have become wildly popular.

Carol Kaye

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic Furs

Tim Butler of The Psychedelic FursSongwriter Interviews

Tim and his brother Richard are the Furs' foundation; Tim explains how they write and tells the story of "Pretty In Pink."

Krishna Das

Krishna DasSongwriter Interviews

The top chant artist in the Western world, Krishna Das talks about how these Hindu mantras compare to Christian worship songs.