Blue Moon
Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers Lyrics

The lyrics of "Blue Moon" convey a feeling of loneliness and longing, described through the metaphor of the moon. The singer of the song is standing alone, without a dream or a love to hold, when the blue moon appears. This blue moon seems to know exactly what the character is there for, as if it's a sign from the universe. The character prays for someone to care for, and a person suddenly appears, the only one they will ever hold. The moon seems to approve, turning to gold as if to bless the union. The song ends on a happier note, with the singer no longer alone and finally having found the love they were looking for.

The concept of a "blue moon" generally refers to the second full moon in a calendar month, meaning that it's a relatively rare occurrence. However, in the original meaning of the phrase, a blue moon referred to the third full moon in a season with four full moons. This is because seasons are generally three months long, and usually only have three full moons. The song "Blue Moon" has contributed to the modern definition of a blue moon, which is now the more commonly accepted one.

Interestingly, "Blue moon" wasn't originally written as a romantic song - it was meant to be a sad one. The song was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for a movie called "Hollywood Party", and was sung by a character who had just been dumped. Over time, the song became more associated with love and romance, perhaps because of the wistful quality of the melody.