Night And Day
Duke Ellington 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

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

And this torment won't be through




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

Overall Meaning

The song Night and Day by Duke Ellington is a poignant expression of the singer's love and longing for someone. The lyrics use various metaphors to describe this longing, such as the tom-tom beats of the jungle, the ticking of a clock, and the drip of raindrops. The repetition of "you, you, you" underscores the intensity and focus of the singer's emotions.


The lyrics convey a sense of yearning and desire that persists both day and night, regardless of the distractions of daily life. The singer muses on why these feelings are so persistent, and why they haunt him even in the midst of the bustling noise of city traffic or the quiet solitude of his room.


Finally, the singer alludes to a physical hunger and burning yearning for his lover, and suggests that these feelings will never be satisfied until they are together, making love day and night.


Overall, the lyrics of Duke Ellington's Night and Day are a powerful expression of love and longing, conveyed through evocative metaphors and a sense of deep emotion.


Line by Line Meaning

Like the beat, beat, beat of the tom-tom
Similar to the steady rhythm of the tom-tom in the jungle


When the jungle shadows fall
As darkness blankets the jungle


Like the tick, tick, tock of the stately clock
Just like the sound of the clock ticking on the wall


As it stands against the wall
Suggestive of an unmoving piece on the wall


Like the drip, drip, drip of the raindrops
Resembling the sound of raindroplets slowly falling


When the summer shower is through
After the heavy rain stops in the summer


So a voice within me keeps repeating you, you, you
A voice in my head that persists and repeats the thought of you


Night and day, you are the one
Day and night, my thoughts are consumed by you


Only you beneath the moon or under the sun
My focus and longing is directed solely towards you, regardless of time of day or location


Whether near to me or far
Distance between us does not diminish my thoughts of you


It's no matter, darling, where you are
Your physical location is not relevant to my continued adoration of you


I think of you
Your thoughts are ever-present in my mind


Day and night, night and day, why is it so
I am constantly and persistently thinking of you, and I wonder why that is


That this longing for you follows wherever I go
No matter where I am, my desire for you remains


In the roaring traffic's boom
Through the loud and busy sounds of traffic


In the silence of my lonely room?
Even in the stillness of a quiet and lonely room


Under the hide of me
Beneath my physical exterior


There's an, oh, such a hungry yearning burning inside of me
There is a strong and overwhelming yearning within me for you


And this torment won't be through
This emotional pain and longing will not cease


Until you let me spend my life making love to you
Only through a life fully shared with you, can this desire and torment be quenched


Day and night, night and day
Throughout all time, my thoughts remain steadfastly on you




Lyrics © Roba Music Verlag GMBH, Red Brick Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cole Porter

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@brianlemaire4221

I want this version of Night and Day played at my funeral.

@perfectbeat

I love this version.

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