Elkie Brooks (born Elaine Bookbinder on 25 February 1945, Broughton, Salfor… Read Full Bio ↴Elkie Brooks (born Elaine Bookbinder on 25 February 1945, Broughton, Salford, England) is an English singer, formerly a vocalist with Vinegar Joe, and later a solo artist.

A professional singer since she was fifteen, Brooks' début, a cover of Etta James's "Something's Got A Hold On Me", was released on Decca in 1964. Later she became the vocalist with a British 12-piece Stax-influenced, jazz-rock fusion band called Dada that released one, eponymous, album in 1970.

Brooks, along with guitarist Pete Gage, singer Robert Palmer and bassist Steve York formed Vinegar Joe in 1971, adding keyboard player Dave Thompson. The band was without a drummer; Conrad Isidore and Rob Tait drummed on the first album, released in 1972.

In 1974, after three albums Vinegar Joe split and Brooks went solo. After a time in the US as backing singer with the American southern boogie band Wet Willie, she returned to England. Her first solo album on A&M records was Rich Man's Woman (1975).

We've Got Tonight
Elkie Brooks Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I know it's late, I know you're weary
I know your plans don't include me
Still here we are, both of us lonely
Longing for shelter from all that we see
Why should we worry, no one will care girl
Look at the stars so far away
We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
We've got tonight babe

Why don' you stay?

Deep in my soul, I've been so lonely
All of my hopes, fading away
I've longed for love, like everyone else does
I'll keep searching, even after today
So there it is, I've said it all
And here we are, what do we say?
We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
We've got tonight babe
Why don't you stay?

I know it's late, I know you're weary
I know your plans don't include me
Still here we are, both of us lonely
And so lonely

We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
Let's make it last, let's find a way
Turn out the light, come take my hand
We've got tonight babe
Why don't you stay?
Oh oh oh

Stay, we've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
Let's find a way
Turn out the light, oh take my hand
We've got tonight
Why don't you stay?
We've got tonight
Who needs tomorrow
Let's make it work
Oh let's find a way
Turn out the light

We've got tonight baby
Let's find a way

Overall Meaning

Elkie Brooks's song "We've Got Tonight" tells the story of two lonely individuals who have come together to find refuge from the bleakness of the world around them. The lyrics are imbued with a sense of longing and sadness, as both individuals are acutely aware of their isolation and vulnerability. The chorus of the song, "We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?" encapsulates the sense of urgency and desperation that underpins the lyrics. The individuals seem to be saying that they will seize the moment and create a temporary refuge from their loneliness, even if it means that their brief encounter will not last.

The song is a poignant exploration of the human experience of love and loneliness. It speaks to the universal desire for connection, and the recognition that sometimes, even the briefest moment of intimacy can bring solace and comfort. The lyrics are beautifully written, with a raw emotional honesty that is rare in popular music. The melody is haunting and evocative, and perfectly complements the poignant lyrics.

Overall, Elkie Brooks's song "We've Got Tonight" is a truly beautiful and memorable piece of music that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt lonely or isolated. It is a tribute to the transformative power of love, and a reminder that even the briefest moment of connection with another person can have a profound impact on our lives.

Line by Line Meaning

I know it's late, I know you're weary
I understand it's late and you're tired

I know your plans don't include me
I'm aware that you didn't plan to be with me

Still here we are, both of us lonely
Despite our loneliness, we're still here together

Longing for shelter from all that we see
We both need solace from the difficulties we face

Why should we worry, no one will care girl
There's no reason to fret, no one will mind

Look at the stars so far away
Observe the distant stars shining above

We've got tonight, who needs tomorrow?
We have this moment, why worry about the future?

We've got tonight babe
We can make the most of tonight

Why don't you stay?
Won't you remain with me?

Deep in my soul, I've been so lonely
My loneliness runs deep within me

All of my hopes, fading away
All of my dreams are slipping away