Born in Tacoma, Washington, vocalist Diane Schuur has earned respect and ga… Read Full Bio ↴Born in Tacoma, Washington, vocalist Diane Schuur has earned respect and garnered praise from such legendary musicians as Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie and B.B. King. Known for her three-and-a-half octave vocal range, Schuur’s remarkable career began at age nine with her first professional gigs, including those at the local Holiday Inn. While still a student at the Washington State School for the Blind, a 16-year-old Schuur was performing original material and wowing audiences with her playful and distinctive voice. Then, Schuur made her Monterey Jazz Festival debut in 1975. The legendary Stan Getz became one of her biggest fans and an important mentor after hearing her perform at the Festival. The rest is history.

Since then, Schuur has become a legend herself. She has been nominated for five and received two GRAMMY® Awards for "Best Jazz Vocalist," as well as headlined many of the world's most prestigious music venues, including Carnegie Hall. Schuur has toured the world and has performed with such greats as Stan Getz, B.B. King, Maynard Ferguson, Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, and Quincy Jones. She has performed countless times on The Tonight Show, has performed at The GRAMMY’s and at the White House.

'Round Midnight
Diane Schuur Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

It begins to tell
'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

Haven't got the heart to stand those memories
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

Overall Meaning

The song "Round Midnight" by Diane Schuur is a soulful ballad about the pain of missing someone you love in the dead of night. The lyrics capture the feelings of melancholy and nostalgia that often come with the end of the day, when the weight of the world seems to fall on your shoulders. The opening line, "It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight," sets the stage for the rest of the song, which explores the emotions that arise in the early hours of the morning.

The second verse focuses on memories of past love, and the difficulty of letting go of those memories when they resurface in the late hours of the night. The lyric "Haven't got the heart to stand those memories" speaks to the pain of holding onto something that is no longer there, while the line "When my heart is still with you, and ol' midnight knows it, too" adds an extra layer of poignant longing to the sentiment.

The final verse gives voice to the hope that sometimes arises in the midst of heartbreak, as the singer imagines an idyllic future when the two lovers are reunited. The repetition of the phrase "Round, Round, Round Midnight" throughout the song underscores the circular nature of time and the way that the same emotions can resurface again and again.

Line by Line Meaning

It begins to tell
The story starts to unfold

'Round midnight, midnight
In the middle of the night, when darkness prevails

I do pretty well, till after sundown
I cope fine until the sun goes down

Suppertime I'm feelin' sad
At dinner time, I start to feel unhappy

But it really gets bad
But things go downhill

'Round midnight
In the middle of the night

Memories always start 'round midnight
Recollections usually begin at this time

Haven't got the heart to stand those memories
I can't bear the pain of them

When my heart is still with you
When my love for you remains

And ol' midnight knows it, too
And even midnight is aware of it

When a quarrel we had needs mending
When a fight we had requires resolution