Saturday Nite
Earth/Wind/Fire Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
One, two, three, four
It was Saturday night, the moon was bright shining
Saturday night
Shining down
It was Saturday night, the moon was bright
Shining down, it's harvest light
Music all around to hear, set the stage and atmosphere
Participate in the ego race
Tonight's the night, for you to be
Biggest man in history
Saturday night's your curtain call
You found your place after all
I saw a face now in the crowd
Sayin' nothin', yet talking loud
Life is just a day
Living games we play
London Bridge is fallin' down
Do what Simon says
Doing what you feel
Games can be unreal
Humpty-dumpty when you fall
There be no one here to call
Life is still your mystery
You see, you see, you see
Many friends, who gather 'round
In hope, to feel safe and sound
We emphasize, to make it clear
Our stumbling nation's atmosphere
While looking through the looking glass
Our vision show, a stormy past
When you gonna wake, and see the sun
Stop wasting time and having fun, yeah
Life is just a day
Daily games you play
London Bridge has fallen down
You did what Simon said
Doing what you feel
Games are so unreal
Humpty-dumpty why'd you fall
You see there's no one here to call
Now we've solved this mystery
You see, you see, you see
Doing what you feel be unreal life is just a day
Life is still a mystery daily game we play
Saturday night, tonight's the night
Participate, Saturday night
What you gonna do when the night is blue
When the cloud is gone and your dream is true, ooh yeah
Saturday night, tonight's the night
Participate, Saturday night, yeah
The lyrics to Earth/Wind/Fire's song Saturday Nite describe the atmosphere of a weekend night out. The song is a call to have a good time and leave behind the daily struggles and mundanity of life. The artist highlights the feeling of recklessness and liberation that comes with being out at night with friends. The opening lyric "It was Saturday night, the moon was bright shining" sets the stage for a night of adventure.
The artist further describes the essence of the night by stating that "Many dress to suit their taste participate in the ego race." This line suggests that individuals try to stand out in their fashion choices as they approach the night with a self-centered attitude. However, the line "Saturday night's your curtain call, you found your place after all" also highlights the sense of belonging that comes with the night. The artist reminds the listener that Saturday night is when one can let loose and truly be themselves.
The song then transitions to a message about the reality of life; "Life is just a day/Living games we play." The artist is reminding the listener that life is short and that they should enjoy the time they have. The song concludes with the line "Saturday night, tonight's the night participate, Saturday night, yeah" reminding us to embrace the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
One, two
Counting to start the song
One, two, three, four
Counting to start the music
It was Saturday night, the moon was bright shining
Setting the scene for the story
Saturday night
Repeating the theme of the song
Shining down
Continuing to set the scene
It was Saturday night, the moon was bright
Repeating the scene to emphasize the setting
Shining down, it's harvest light
Adding detail to the moon's light
Music all around to hear, set the stage and atmosphere
Describing the environment of the story
Many dress to suit their taste
Noting the clothing choices of the characters
Participate in the ego race
Suggesting competition between the characters
Tonight's the night, for you to be
Implying a key moment for the characters
Biggest man in history
Exaggerating the importance of that moment
Saturday night's your curtain call
Comparing the moment to the finale of a play
You found your place after all
Confirming the importance of the moment
I saw a face now in the crowd
Introducing a character to the story
Sayin' nothin', yet talking loud
Contradicting the character's appearance with their behavior
Life is just a day
Making a statement about life
Living games we play
Adding detail to the statement about life
London Bridge is fallin' down
Referencing a children's song to add metaphorical weight to the statement about life
Do what Simon says
Referencing a children's game to add humor to the statement about life
Doing what you feel
Repeating the idea of living life one's own way
Games can be unreal
Warning of the dangers of games or distractions from reality
Humpty-dumpty when you fall
Referencing another children's song to continue the theme of nursery rhymes
There be no one here to call
Indicating loneliness or abandonment
Life is still your mystery
Returning to the statement about life from earlier
You see, you see, you see
Adding emphasis to the statement
Many friends, who gather 'round
Returning to the scene of the story
In hope, to feel safe and sound
Describing the intentions of the characters
We emphasize, to make it clear
Reinforcing the importance of the moment mentioned earlier
Our stumbling nation's atmosphere
Metaphorically describing the state of the group
While looking through the looking glass
Referencing Alice in Wonderland to add metaphorical weight
Our vision show, a stormy past
Indicating the group's troubled history
When you gonna wake, and see the sun
Urging the characters to change their ways
Stop wasting time and having fun, yeah
Challenging the idea of leisure and entertainment
Saturday night, tonight's the night
Returning to the theme of the song
What you gonna do when the night is blue
Adding a sense of uncertainty to the theme
When the cloud is gone and your dream is true, ooh yeah
Expressing hope for the future
Participate, Saturday night
Repeating the advice to engage with life
Life is still a mystery daily game we play
Summarizing the song's message
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Philip Bailey, Al McKay, Maurice White
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@smokinjz
It was Saturday nite,
the moon was bright
Shining down, it's harvest light
Music all around to hear, set the stage
And atmosphere-many dress to suit
Their taste, participate in the ego race
Tonite's the night, for you to be
Biggest man in history
Saturday nite's your curtain call
You found your place after all
I saw a face in the crowd
Sayin' nothin', yet talking loud
Life is just a day
Living games we play
London Bridge is fallin' down
Do what Simon says
Doing what you feel,
Games can be unreal
Humpty-Dumpty when you fall
There be no one here to call
Life is stil your mystery
You see, you see, you see
Many friends, who gather 'round
In hope, to feel safe and sound
We emphasize, to make it clear
Our stumbling nations atmosphere
While looking thru the looking glass
Our vision show, a stormy past
When you gonna wake, and see the sun-
Stop wasting time and having fun
Life is just a day
Daily games we play
London Bridge has fallen down
You did what Simon said
Doing what you feel
Games are so unreal
Humpty-Dumpty why'd you fall
You see there's no one here to call
Now we've solved this mystery
You see, you see, you see
@Charles-tt3dr
RIP to the ancestor Maurice White who transitioned 5 years ago today.
@kenperkins7921
The SUPER 70S, MUSIC WAS SO GRANDTHAT ALL OTHERS WERE NOT NECESSARY!😊
@TWATCU
🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💔💔💔💔😢😢😢😢 Maurice White. You left is tooooo sound. You are missed
@bkrain7817
🙏🏽💫🕊🎶🌷💕Thank u Maurice 4 the gift of your wonderful music
@LooseBooty-ik5cs
@@TWATCUAnd his brother Fred, on drums...R.I.P
@theresajackson1514
Did you hear that horn section in the beginning (powerful), can't say enough about the harmony...BEST BAND EVER.💕
@danablake9349
That horn arrangement held you hostage indeed.
@dbrown5784
I seriously think that Popeyes stole that horn sample for their "I love that chicken from Popeyes " song
@TonyGPizza
Farewell Fred, and thank you for the drum work that blasted off "Getaway," "September," the magisterial "Serpentine Fire" and "Fantasy" and all EWF's mighty hits. His drum opening on this song was a party starter all by itself.
@jaywad8876
Yeah I know