Rick Springfield is in mourning for his mother, Eileen Louise Springthorpe, who died on Wednesday, December 21.
Rick posted on his website:
My Mummy has passed away. Dec 21st, 2016. She died while bringing in her washing from the clothesline. Sat on her walker and passed facing the blue spruce that my Dad planted in the backyard. Please send any money in lieu of flowers etc to http://www.lindablairworldheart.org/donate/
My mum loved her rescued dogs.
XOXO Rick
He returned to Facebook on Sunday, Christmas Day, to post lyrics he had written in the 90’s for his mother:
On a more positive note, my Mum had an incredible life. I am just now getting through the pain of her passing to remember that. “Hey Eileen” is a song I wrote in the ’90s about her. Here’s to my girl.
xo Rick
Here’s the lyrics:
Hey Eileen
Young and fourteen
Caught between a woman and a girl
Hey Eileen
Full of big dreams
Fate steps in and kicks you out into the worldHey Eileen
Sweet sixteen
Your Mama’s dead and your Daddy’s gone
Hey Eileen
Life’s been mean but
Headstrong girl’s gonna carry on
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Made up your mind
You’re going to bury your pain
You had no intention of ever again letting
someone get that close to you
You swore it, but it’s funny how things work out
Hey Eileen
Just turned eighteen
Clutches a bible to her broken heart
Hey Eileen
Working a washing machine
Your life is about to start
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na
He’s been watching you baby
When you felt most alone
Now he’s holding his hand out
He wants you to take it
And look into his eyes and
Find the love that’s hiding
Somewhere down inside of you EileenHey Eileen, Eileen
Ten dollars down on a wedding ring
and you married the man
You had the kids and you bought the house
Like you always planned
Life’s been good and life’s been bad
Did you suffer from the things that you never had?
You turn around and count to ten
And you’re left here standing on your own againHey Eileen
How’s your life been?
Looking back after all these years
Hey Eileen
I know what you mean when you count the rainbows in your tears
Eileen
Na na na na na na na na na na na na na na
On a lighter note, Rick has already announced 22 shows for 2017 including five with Richard Marx. The Springfield/Marx bills will be purely acoustic shows.
The announced dates so far:
01/18 – Palm Desert, CA – McCallum Theatre
01/19 – Santa Ynez, CA – Chumash Casino
01/21 – Roanoke, VA – Berglund Performing Arts Theatre
01/22 – Richmond, VA – Carpenter Theatre (with Richard Marx)
01/27 – Durham, NC – Durham Performing Arts Center (with Richard Marx)
01/28 – Pittsburgh, PA – Benedum Center (with Richard Marx)
01/29 – Akron, OH – E.J. Thomas Hall (with Richard Marx)
02/04 – Lawrenceburg, IN – Lawrenceburg Event Center and Hotel
02/08 – Englewood, NJ – Bergen Performing Arts Ctr.
02/10 – Nashville, TN – Wildhorse Saloon
02/11 – Nashville, TN – Wildhorse Saloon
02/12 – Collingswood, NJ – Scottish Rite Auditorium
02/14 – Springfield, OH – Clark State Community College Performing Arts Center
02/16 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre (with Richard Marx)
02/17 – New Buffalo, MI – Four Winds Casino / Silver Creek Event Center
02/18 – Norman, OK – Riverwind Casino
02/26 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Cafe / Hard Rock Live
03/02 – Jacksonville, FL – Florida Theatre
03/03 – Fort Pierce, FL – Sunrise Theatre
03/05 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Parker Playhouse
05/11 – Charleston, SC – Charleston Music Hall
05/12 – Florence, SC – FMU Performing Arts Center
