Night and Day
Buddy Bregman & Orchestra; Ella Fitzgerald Lyrics


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Like the beat, beat, beat of the tom-tom
When the jungle shadows fall
Like the tick, tick, tock of the stately clock
As it stands against the wall

Like the drip, drip, drip of the raindrops
When the summer shower is through
So a voice within me keeps repeating you, you, you

Night and day, you are the one
Only you beneath the moon or under the sun
Whether near to me or far
It's no matter, darling, where you are
I think of you

Night and day, day and night, why is it so
That this longing for you follows wherever I go?
In the roaring traffic's boom
In the silence of my lonely room

I think of you
Night and day, night and day
Under the hide of me
There's an, oh, such a hungry yearning burning inside of me

And its torment won't be through
'Till you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night, night and day

Night and day
Under the hide of me
There's an, oh, such a hungry yearning burning inside of me
And its torment won't be through




'Till you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night, night and day

Overall Meaning

The song "Night and Day" performed by Ella Fitzgerald is a sentimental and romantic piece that expresses the singer's constant longing for their love interest. The use of various sound devices such as onomatopoeia, repetition, and imagery all contribute to the intricate construction of the song. The repetition of the phrases "you, you, you" and "night and day" emphasize the singer's preoccupation with their lover, which they cannot seem to escape no matter what they do or where they go. The use of onomatopoeia, such as the "beat, beat, beat of the tom-tom" and the "tick, tick, tock of the stately clock," produce a sensory effect that conveys the singer's deeper emotions. The tropical imagery and metaphorical language, including the "jungle shadows," the "raindrops," and the "hide of me," all work together to create a dreamlike and passionate tone throughout the song.


Furthermore, the use of parallelism and repetition, as well as the modulation of the melody in the chorus, contribute to the song's structure and emotiveness. The singer's desperation to be with their love interest is expressed through the line "Its torment won't be through/Till you let me spend my life making love to you." By highlighting the singular focus on this one person, the song also emphasizes the power of love and its ability to consume and provide direction for the singer's thoughts and actions.


Line by Line Meaning

Like the beat, beat, beat of the tom-tom When the jungle shadows fall
The steady rhythm of my heart reminds me of the sound of a tom-tom drum in the jungle when the sun goes down and the shadows creep in.


Like the tick, tick, tock of the stately clock As it stands against the wall
Your presence stays with me, like the sound of a clock ticking on a wall, reminding me of the passing of time as I wait for you.


Like the drip, drip, drip of the raindrops When the summer shower is through So a voice within me keeps repeating you, you, you
Like the sound of raindrops falling gently after a summer storm has passed, a voice inside me echoes, repeating your name over and over again.


Night and day, you are the one Only you beneath the moon or under the sun Whether near to me or far It's no matter, darling, where you are I think of you
Whether it's daytime or nighttime, you are the only one I think of - always on my mind, no matter where you are.


Night and day, day and night, why is it so That this longing for you follows wherever I go? In the roaring traffic's boom In the silence of my lonely room I think of you
I don't understand why I cannot escape this desire for you, day or night - even amidst the hustle and bustle of city traffic, or in the stillness of my empty room, my thoughts always turn to you.


Under the hide of me There's an, oh, such a hungry yearning burning inside of me And its torment won't be through 'Till you let me spend my life making love to you Day and night, night and day
Deep inside me, there's an insatiable hunger for you that never fades - I won't be able to find peace until I can spend my life with you, loving you day and night.




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Red Brick Music Publishing
Written by: Cole Porter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@Lisawrit

My favorite Cole Porter song by one of the most spectacular divas of all time. Ella forever!

@ManagerGuy1

Great song sung by the best! Thanks.

@salvatorearmandosantoro3706

Fantastica!

@BGCruise

amazing!

@sesufficiensestregium8992

Beautiful! Bonita! 

@eduardomora27

Esto si es musica, fantastica Ella

@cumbiera2intelectual

Happy bday Ella :)

@nnt1323

esto te hace volar ,bellisimo

@jamesanguslinney7926

N one does it it like as does Ella. I didn't realize it was written for the play "Gay Divorce", which, considering Porter's love life, is quite fitting.

@clearspiritnow

Yep, Fred Astaire sang it to Ginger Rogers in "Gay Divorce."

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