'Round Midnight
Bobby McFerrin And Chick Corea Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'round midnight, midnight.
I do pretty well, till after sundown,
Suppertime I'm feelin' sad;
But it really gets bad,
'round midnight.
Memories always start 'round midnight
When my heart is still with you,
And ol' midnight knows it, too.
When a quarrel we had needs mending,
Does it mean that our love is ending.
Darlin' I need you, lately I find
You're out of my heart,
And I'm out of my mind.
Let our hearts take wings'
'round midnight, midnight
Let the angels sing,
for your returning.
Till our love is safe and sound.
And old midnight comes around.
Feelin' sad,
really gets bad
Round, Round, Round Midnight
The song 'Round Midnight was written by Thelonious Monk in 1944, and has since become a jazz standard that has been covered by countless artists. The lyrics of the Bobby McFerrin and Chick Corea version focus on the loneliness and heartache that can come with the nighttime, especially when memories and thoughts of lost love come flooding in. The opening lines set the scene, with the singer admitting that they do pretty well until after sundown, when suppertime brings a feeling of sadness. However, it's not until 'round midnight that things really get bad, as memories of a lost love flood in and the singer is left feeling out of their mind.
The song's chorus repeats the idea that memories always start 'round midnight, and that the singer hasn't got the heart to stand those memories when their heart is still with the person they lost. They wonder if a quarrel they had means the end of their love, and express their need for the person lately. The final lines of the song express a desire for the person they lost to return, so that their love can be safe and sound, before ending with the repetition of the phrase "Round, Round, Round Midnight."
Overall, the song 'Round Midnight is a poignant and melancholic meditation on lost love, and the way that memories can come flooding back at the most unexpected times. The song's simple yet powerful lyrics are enhanced by the lush harmonies and virtuosic improvisations of McFerrin and Corea.
Line by Line Meaning
It begins to tell, 'round midnight, midnight.
As the clock strikes midnight, a story begins to unfold.
I do pretty well, till after sundown, Suppertime I'm feelin' sad;
The singer is generally okay during the day, but as evening comes and dinnertime arrives, they start to feel down.
But it really gets bad, 'round midnight.
As the evening wears on and midnight approaches, the singer's mood worsens.
Memories always start 'round midnight
Midnight seems to trigger memories for the artist.
Haven't got the heart to stand those memories, When my heart is still with you, And ol' midnight knows it, too.
The artist is still in love with someone from their past, and remembering them is painful. Even midnight seems to know about their heartache.
When a quarrel we had needs mending, Does it mean that our love is ending.
The singer is worried that a recent argument with their love might be the beginning of the end for their relationship.
Darlin' I need you, lately I find You're out of my heart, And I'm out of my mind.
The singer is desperate for their love to return to them, but lately they've been feeling like their love is slipping away, driving them to a state of madness.
Let our hearts take wings' 'round midnight, midnight Let the angels sing, for your returning. Till our love is safe and sound. And old midnight comes around.
The artist hopes that their love will come back to them, and they urge the powers that be to make it happen, so that their love will be secure until the next midnight arrives.
Feelin' sad, really gets bad Round, Round, Round Midnight
As the night wears on, the artist's sadness intensifies, until it feels like they're trapped in an endless cycle of pain and sorrow.
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COOTIE WILLIAMS, BERNARD D. HANIGHEN, THEOLONIOUS S. MONK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind