Here I Go Again

For other uses, see Here I Go Again (disambiguation).

"Here I Go Again"
Song

"Here I Go Again"
Song

"Here I Go Again"
Song

"Here I Go Again" is a song recorded by Whitesnake. Originally released on their 1982 Saints & Sinners album, it was re-recorded for their eponymous 1987 album Whitesnake. The 1987 version is more well known as it hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts on October 10, 1987.

Background and writing

The song was written by lead singer David Coverdale and former Whitesnake guitarist Bernie Marsden. The most notable differences between the original and revamped version are the style of the music (blues vs rock) and a slight change in the lyrics. The chorus of original version features the lines:

"An' here I go again on my own

Goin' down the only road I've ever known

Like a hobo I was born to walk alone"

whereas the newer version is:

"Like a drifter I was born to walk alone"

The change was made because even before finishing writing and recording the 1987 album Coverdale had decided to release a new version Here I Go Again as one of the singles. He was afraid an American audience might think he was singing "Like a homo I was born to walk alone" so had the lyrics changed.

Music video

File:Whitesnake Kitaen.JPG

Tawny Kitaen in the "Here I Go Again" music video.

The music video for the song was directed by Marty Callner who directed most of Whitesnake's videos in the 1980's. It became memorable due to actress Tawny Kitaen's appearance wearing white lingerie. In the video she is seen prancing on the hood of Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale's Jaguar and massaging him while he is trying in vain to concentrate on driving. Kitaen would later become Coverdale's wife for a couple of years.

The music video was parodied in an American Dad! episode. The music video was also parodied in Bowling for Soup's "1985" music video. Originally recorded by SR-71, the song itself contains further reference with the lyrics "She was gonna shake her ass/On the hood of Whitesnake's car", referring to Tawny Kitaen's dancing on Coverdale's car. The music video was alluded to in the film Talladega Nights and Death Proof. It was also featured a number of times in the Frat Pack film Old School.

Single versions

There are several different versions of the song, all recorded officially by Whitesnake. They are:

1. The original version from the 1982 Saints & Sinners album (5:03)
2. The 1987 re-recorded version which appears on the Whitesnake album (4:36)
3. A 1995 acoustic version recorded for the Starkers in Tokyo album.

In 1987, EMI released a limited Collectors Poster Edition 'USA Single Remix' 7" vinyl [EMP 35], the B-side of which consists of an engraved signature version, and the sleeve of which unfolds into a poster of the band.

Mandaryna version

"Here I Go Again" was rendered anew as the debut single by Polish dance/pop singer Mandaryna. Remixed by Groove Coverage, the song was a smash hit in Poland, Europe and Asia, peaking at #2 on the Polish Singles Chart.

Music video

The music video for the song was directed by Mariusz Palej and Kacper Sawicki. At the beginning Mandaryna is singing in a classroom and thinking about shopping. After the lesson she goes leaves the school and goes to a basketball court, where she starts dancing with your school friends. At the end of the video, she and her girlfriends are dancing in a shopping mall.

That video was nominated in the Yach Film 2004 festival in the category Cytryna (the worst music video).

Polish Track listing

1. Here I Go Again (Groove Coverage radio version)
2. Here I Go Again (Groove Coverage extended version)
3. Spoken bonus track 1
4. Spoken bonus track 2
5. Spoken bonus track 3
6. Spoken bonus track 4

International Track listing

1. Radio Mix
2. Axel Konrad RMX Cut
3. Extended Mix
4. Axel Konrad RMX

Other versions

Christian Rock Parody band ApologetiX released a parody of this song titled "Here I Go (Against All I've Known)" on their 2006 studio album, Wordplay.