Nightwatch
Boyd Rice & Friends Lyrics
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Who can tell?
There might be someone in the night
What was that?
The dropping of a leaf?
Or a footfall in the darkness?
Is someone there?
No
I keep my good eye open just the same
Tomorrow, maybe
Boyd Rice's song Nightwatch is a haunting and ominous portrayal of someone who is alone in the night, watching and waiting for something to happen. The lyrics suggest a heightened sense of paranoia and anxiety as the singer keeps their "good eye open" for any potential danger that may lurk in the darkness. The repetition of questions ("Who can tell?", "What was that?", "Is someone there?") underscores the uncertainty and unease of the situation.
The juxtaposition of the mundane ("The dropping of a leaf") with the sinister ("Or a footfall in the darkness") creates a sense of unease, as the singer becomes increasingly hyper-vigilant. The final line, "I keep my good eye open just the same/Tomorrow, maybe" suggests that this sense of anticipation and dread is a continual state for the singer, with no release or resolution in sight.
Line by Line Meaning
I keep my good eye open
I'm vigilant and alert
Who can tell?
It's impossible to know for sure
There might be someone in the night
There's a possibility of a person being present in the dark
What was that?
I'm questioning a sound
The dropping of a leaf?
Could that sound be the falling of a leaf?
Or a footfall in the darkness?
Or, perhaps, it's a sound of footsteps in the dark?
Is someone there?
I'm trying to confirm the presence of a person
No
There is no one there
Only the shaking of a leaf
The sound was caused by the shaking of a tree's leaves
I keep my good eye open just the same
Despite there being no one there, I remain cautious and vigilant
Tomorrow, maybe
There's always a possibility that something could happen in the future
Contributed by Dylan Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.