Midnight
DJ Shadow/Gift of Gab Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The clock on the wall is a quarter past midnight
I don't love you
Heading to garden of love, ah
Life come seeking of love, of love
Midnight, midnight, midnight, midnight
Now, now, now, now, now, now
Ah ooh
12 o'clock
Ah ooh
Rock rock rock rock the midnight rush
Ah ooh
Ah ooh
Now, now, now, now, now, now
Midnight, midnight, midnight, midnight
I don't love you
The midnight rush
Heading to garden of love, ah
Life come seeking of love , of love
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
Now now now now now approach now approaching now approach now approaching
Now now now now now now now now approaching midni-
Now now now now now now approaching mid
Now now now now approaching midni-
Now now approaching now now now now approaching midnight
The lyrics to DJ Shadow's "Midnight in a Perfect World" are repetitive and enigmatic, but they create an atmosphere of introspection and mystery. The opening line of "Insight, foresight, more sight" suggests that the singer possesses an exceptional vision or grasp of things that others do not. This is reinforced by the next line, "The clock on the wall is a quarter past midnight," which evokes a sense of timelessness and the discovery of hidden truths that only become apparent during the late night hours.
The chorus is almost mystical, with the repetition of the word "midnight" and the eerie background music that accompanies it. The sparse lyrics that follow, "I don't love you, heading to garden of love," create a sense of yearning and longing, but also of detachment and disconnect. The line "life come seeking of love, of love" could be interpreted in different ways, as if it refers to the eternal search for love, the elusiveness of happiness, the cycle of life and death, or simply the wandering and searching for meaning in a vast and complex world.
The second half of the song incorporates more vocalizations that create a sense of urgency and excitement, with the repeated "now now now" and the crescendo of "rock rock rock rock the midnight rush." The song ends with a sense of anticipation and excitement, with the singer approaching the elusive "midnight" that holds the promise of revelation and transcendence.
Line by Line Meaning
Insight, foresight, more sight
Deep understanding, perception of the future, and heightened awareness
The clock on the wall is a quarter past midnight
Time is passing, and it's late at night
I don't love you
A lack of affection or connection
Heading to garden of love, ah
Looking or searching for love
Life come seeking of love, of love
Life is always searching for love
Midnight, midnight, midnight, midnight
Reinforcing the late-night setting
Now, now, now, now, now, now
Emphasizing the immediacy of the present moment
Ah ooh
An expression of emotion or feeling
12 o'clock
The time is late at night
Rock rock rock rock the midnight rush
Creating excitement through music and energy
Now, now, now, now, now, now
Emphasizing the immediacy of the present moment
Midnight, midnight, midnight, midnight
Reinforcing the late-night setting
Oh oh oh oh oh oh
An expression of emotion or feeling
Now now now now now approach now approaching now approach now approaching
Building tension and anticipation
Now now now now now now now now approaching midni-
Getting closer to midnight
Now now now now now now approaching mid
Almost reaching the stroke of midnight
Now now now now approaching midni-
Still getting closer to midnight
Now now approaching now now now now approaching midnight
Finally reaching the late-night hour
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: JOSH DAVIS, PEKKA POHJOLA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ansu'
Gift of Gab (from the group Blackalicious) Lyrics;
Peep through the door
It seems as though the grass was much greener before
The dead life has been washed upon the sea shore
Money and greed deluded what is truly pure
And yet our flesh keeps screeching out for more
Now you're trapped
A hole in the ozone about to make the world collapse
Pollution fills the air and minds with bullet twisted facts
Midnight is now upon us people righteous laws are coming back
Don't turn your head away cause you can't get away
Your mind is lost because your spirit has been led astray
Don't ever say you gave it all if you ain't gave it all
Just fade it in the hazy purple twilight
No more time I tried to warn you all it's now approaching midnight
Panic's in the air
Some jumping out of buildings others on their knees in prayer
Some cry out to the sky and yell they aren't quite prepared
You looked god in the face and said forgive me all he did was stare.
Now you can run,
But where you gonna hide from all the power of the sun?
The cosmic reprecussions of what human kind has done
No understanding of the fullness everything is simply one
Soon to be none again so that new life can come again
Illusions rule the mind your soul is never gonna end
So don't pretend you gave it all if you ain't gave it all
Just fade it in the hazy purple twilight
No more time I tried to warn you all it's now approaching midnight
So I bid farewell.
No more good times or bad times, no more heaven no more hell.
Now brace yourself for impact it's a half hour to twelve
Complete in total darkness empty space is where you're left to dwell.
And all you had to do was live today for your tomorrow
But now it's over and you're drowning deep inside your sorrow
You could've led but instead you confirmed and chose to follow
So once again I bid farewell
There's only seconds left you'd like to second guess
But through your foolish ways you've literally beckoned death
So just don't say you gave it all if you ain't gave it all
Just fade it in the hazy purple twilight
No more time I tried to warn you all it's now approaching midnight
Ansu'
Gift of Gab (from the group Blackalicious) Lyrics;
Peep through the door
It seems as though the grass was much greener before
The dead life has been washed upon the sea shore
Money and greed deluded what is truly pure
And yet our flesh keeps screeching out for more
Now you're trapped
A hole in the ozone about to make the world collapse
Pollution fills the air and minds with bullet twisted facts
Midnight is now upon us people righteous laws are coming back
Don't turn your head away cause you can't get away
Your mind is lost because your spirit has been led astray
Don't ever say you gave it all if you ain't gave it all
Just fade it in the hazy purple twilight
No more time I tried to warn you all it's now approaching midnight
Panic's in the air
Some jumping out of buildings others on their knees in prayer
Some cry out to the sky and yell they aren't quite prepared
You looked god in the face and said forgive me all he did was stare.
Now you can run,
But where you gonna hide from all the power of the sun?
The cosmic reprecussions of what human kind has done
No understanding of the fullness everything is simply one
Soon to be none again so that new life can come again
Illusions rule the mind your soul is never gonna end
So don't pretend you gave it all if you ain't gave it all
Just fade it in the hazy purple twilight
No more time I tried to warn you all it's now approaching midnight
So I bid farewell.
No more good times or bad times, no more heaven no more hell.
Now brace yourself for impact it's a half hour to twelve
Complete in total darkness empty space is where you're left to dwell.
And all you had to do was live today for your tomorrow
But now it's over and you're drowning deep inside your sorrow
You could've led but instead you confirmed and chose to follow
So once again I bid farewell
There's only seconds left you'd like to second guess
But through your foolish ways you've literally beckoned death
So just don't say you gave it all if you ain't gave it all
Just fade it in the hazy purple twilight
No more time I tried to warn you all it's now approaching midnight
LouSaidSo
Everything about this is SO DOPE. I only wish I had discovered this sooner. RIP Gift of Gab
Southern Hills Creative
I was sick when I heard he passed.
Southern Hills Creative
It's been 20 years since I heard this the first time and it still gives me goosebumps
AbbottSupreme
The lyrics, production and visuals are brilliant...Maximum Respect Due!
Peace!
armand duarte
Every time I need a reality check i come here
VendaRec
Wow! Thank you! That means a lot to me. :)
XxDoctorPD420xX
shit this video has replaced a lot of stuff for me. good and bad.
EdgarAllanSwole
This is a solid visual reflection of the lyrics in the context of modern day humanity. The images and soundscapes married very well. You have a narrative eye. Great edit VendaRec.
adervishagentred
This will bang for eternity….. Absent not dead….