Round Midnight
Eydie Gorme' Lyrics


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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

Eydie Gorme's song "Round Midnight" is a song about heartbreak and longing. The song begins with the singer saying that they do pretty well until after sundown, but it really gets bad around midnight. Memories of the past always start around midnight, and the singer hasn't got the heart to stand those memories when their heart is still with their past love. The singer implies that they are going through a tough time, and they can't move past the person they lost. The lyrics "when a quarrel we had needs mending, does it mean that our love is ending" suggests that they may have had an argument, and perhaps they feel that their love may not be repairable, leaving them feeling lost and heartbroken. The singer concludes by saying that they need their love back, and they are out of their mind until they get it back.


One interesting fact about "Round Midnight" is that it was written by Thelonious Monk, a renowned jazz pianist, and composer. It is said that he wrote the song in the late 1930s, but it wasn't until the 1940s that he started performing it. The English lyrics were penned by Bernie Hanighen several years later. The song has been covered by artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Amy Winehouse, to name a few. In 1981, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.


Another interesting fact about the song is that it has been featured in several films and TV shows, including the 1986 film "Round Midnight," which starred Dexter Gordon and won an Academy Award for Best Original Score. The song has also been used in the TV series "Boardwalk Empire" and "Mad Men."


The chords of "Round Midnight" are as follows:
Am7b5 - D7 - Gm6 - Bbm6 - Am7b5 - D7 - Gm6 - Bbm6 - Am7b5 - D7 - Gm6


Line by Line Meaning

It begins to tell, 'Round midnight, midnight.
As the clock strikes midnight, it marks the beginning of a story that is about to unfold.


I do pretty well, till after sundown, Suppertime I'm feelin' sad;
Throughout the day, everything is fine but as the sun sets and suppertime arrives, a sense of sadness sets in.


But it really gets bad, 'Round midnight.
As the night deepens and the clock strikes midnight, the feeling of sadness intensifies.


Memories always start 'round midnight
Midnight triggers memories, which flood the mind and consume the thoughts.


Haven't got the heart to stand those memories,
The memories are so painful that the heart can't bear to think about them.


When my heart is still with you, And ol' midnight knows it, too.
The heart still belongs to a loved one and the midnight hour bears witness to this fact.


When a quarrel we had needs mending, Does it mean that our love is ending.
A quarrel between two lovers can test the strength of their love and make them question their future together.


Darlin' I need you, lately I find, You're out of my heart, And I'm out of my mind.
The singer desperately needs their lover but is struggling to keep them in their heart and mind, causing immense distress.


Let our hearts take wings' 'Round midnight, midnight
Despite the heartache, the hope is to rekindle love during the midnight hour.


Let the angels sing, for your returning.
The desire is for the angels to celebrate the return of the loved one.


Till our love is safe and sound. And old midnight comes around.
The hope is to restore the love and have it remain so that when the midnight hour returns, it will be a happy time.


Feelin' sad, really gets bad, Round, Round, Round Midnight
The sadness deepens as midnight approaches, creating a cycle of sadness and despair.




Lyrics Ā© EMI Music Publishing, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: COOTIE WILLIAMS, BERNARD D. HANIGHEN, THEOLONIOUS S. MONK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@MALP1231

Thank you very much for posting this. I LOVE Eydie Gorme. This is my favorite rendition of this classic Tholonius Monk melody. Eydie's voice was so pretty, rich, and pure. It was a very sad day, when she passed.

@Karen_of_Kanada

I have been looking for this forever- had it on an old cassette of my mom's, and never could find that album again. Loved this song. :)

@revniw1

I 've listened to many renditions of this DG anthem over the years, but this one with its solidly simple presentation of the tune, with very little variation, wipes me out. and Eydie's ending note is like the cherry on the sundae and I keep coming back for a refill.

@Johnnycdrums

Thanks for uploading, this is great.
Joanie Sommers does this very nicely also.

@felixdonnelly7449

This is perfection! A lost love, mourned. X

@bennyjazzful

WOW WOW WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
From a mad keen 73yo Aussie fan.

@2ndEndingVintage

Greatr recording...but honestly...Mr. ifcopod...knock off the verbose descriptions, OK ?
Stuff like this....whether by Eydie or Billie or Carmen or Ella...can stand on its own. No need to overthink/analyze it. Just let your viewers enjoy, and be grateful to you for posting it....

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