"Hysteria" is a song by English rock band Def Leppard. It is the tenth track on their 1987 album of the same name and was released as the album's fourth single in November 1987. The song became the band's first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 10.
"The song really is about finding spiritual enlightenment," said Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen in an interview. "Not many people know that because it sounds like just getting hysterical, but it's actually about that. It's about finding this deeper thing, whether you believe it or not."
With Mutt Lange producing, Def Leppard layered a bunch of guitars on this song, which made it impossible to replicate live. In an interview with Kaos2000 magazine, lead singer Joe Elliott explained: "The song 'Hysteria' has 11 guitar parts. What we did is made a hybrid of them into two - the ones that people could really hear and the ones that aren't that important to hear live."
Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Out of touch, out of reach, yeah
You could try to get closer to me
I'm in love, I'm in deep, yeah
Hypnotized, I'm shaking to my knees
[Pre-Chorus]
I got to know tonight
If you're alone tonight
Can't stop this feeling
Can't stop this fire
[Chorus]
Oh, I get hysterical, hysteria, oh, can you feel it, do you believe it?
It's such a magical mysteria
When you get that feeling better start believing
Because it's a miracle, oh, say you will, ooh babe
Hysteria when you're near
[Verse 2]
Out of me, into you, yeah
You can hide, it's just a one way street
Oh, I believe I'm in you, yeah
Open wide that's right, dream me off my feet
Oh, believe in me
[Pre-Chorus]
I got to know tonight
If you're alone tonight
Can't stop this feeling
Can't stop this fire
[Chorus]
Oh, I get hysterical, hysteria, oh, can you feel it, do you believe it?
It's such a magical mysteria
When you get that feeling better start believing
Because it's a miracle, oh, say you will, ooh babe
Hysteria when you're near
[Pre-Chorus]
I got to know tonight
If you're alone tonight
Can't stop this feeling
Can't stop this fire
[Chorus]
Oh, I get hysterical, hysteria, oh, can you feel it, do you believe it?
It's such a magical mysteria
When you get that feeling better start believing
Because it's a miracle, oh, say you will, ooh babe
Hysteria when you're near
[Chorus 2]
I get hysterical, hysteria
When you get that feeling, you'd better believe it
Better start believing, because it's a miracle
Oh, say you will, oh babe, say you will
[Outro]
Get closer to me, get closer baby
Baby, closer, get closer, closer to me
