As a teenager, she attended the Institute of Musical Arts; she soon began singing radio commercial jingles and took part in (and won many of) local TV and radio talent shows. In 1963, she moved to New York City and worked with many different singers including Quincy Jones, Pearl Bailey, and Bill Cosby. During that same year, her debut album (of jazz), After the Lights Go Down Low and Much More!!!, was released on the Impulse! label. Three years later, she released her second album of jazz, How Do You Say I Don't Love You Anymore, for MGM Records.
In 1969, her old friends back home in Detroit, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier, and Edward Holland, Jr., persuaded her to sign with their newly-formed record label Invictus. During that same year, her first Invictus single, "Unhooked Generation" (a minor R&B hit), was released. Shortly thereafter, songwriters Edythe Wayne and Ron Dunbar offered her a song entitled "Band of Gold". Almost immediately, in early 1970, the song became an instant pop smash reaching #3 in the US and #1 in the UK; it also gave Payne her first gold record. An album of the same name proved to be fairly successful as well. Other Invictus singles included "Deeper and Deeper", "You Brought the Joy", and the Vietnam protest song "Bring the Boys Home" (#12, 1971; her second gold record). Her other Invictus albums were Contact (1971), The Best of Freda Payne (1972, a compilation which included four new, unissued songs), and her last Invictus album Reaching Out (1973).
In 1973, being dissatisfied with her royalties (which were very low to begin with), she left Invictus and recorded albums for ABC/Dunhill and Capitol, but she never found the commercial success she had with Invictus.
Round Midnight
Freda Payne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
'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
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
In Freda Payne's "Round Midnight," the lyrics tell a story of heartache and longing that is heightened by the late-night hour of midnight. The song begins with the singer admitting that things are going well for her until nighttime sets in, and then she becomes sad - but the real struggle comes 'round midnight. The memories of a lost love always seem to come flooding back at the late hour, and it's hard for the singer to ignore them. She can't bear to recall those memories because they remind her of how her heart is still broken from the relationship. Adding to the heartbreak is the possibility that the argument that ended their relationship might signal the end of their love for good. It's a poignant song about heartbreak that is compounded by the late-night hour and the memories it brings.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was composed by Thelonious Monk, the famous jazz pianist and composer, in collaboration with Bernard Hanighen. The lyrics are actually by Hanighen, and the song was first recorded in 1944 by Cootie Williams and his Orchestra. Another interesting fact is that the song has been covered by many famous singers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Amy Winehouse. The song's lyrics have also been used as the title of a novel and a film. Additionally, the song has been featured in several movies, including "Round Midnight" (1986), "Angel Heart" (1987), and "Before Sunrise" (1995).
The song's chords are relatively simple and are a staple of many jazz standards. In the key of C minor, the chords are as follows:
Verse:
Cm7 / F7 / Bbmaj7 / Ebmaj7
Am7b5 / D7b9 / Gm7 / C7
Chorus:
Fm7 / Bb7 / Ebmaj7 / D7
G7 / Cm7 / F7 / Bbmaj7 / Ebmaj7
Overall, "Round Midnight" is a beautiful and melancholic jazz standard that has stood the test of time. Its poignant tale of heartache and longing is only made more acute by the late-night hour of midnight, and the song's beautiful melody and elegant chord progression make it a favorite among jazz musicians and fans alike.
Line by Line Meaning
It begins to tell, 'Round midnight, midnight.
The time of midnight is significant because it marks a change in the singer's mood or situation.
I do pretty well, till after sundown, Suppertime I'm feelin' sad; But it really gets bad, 'Round midnight.
The singer's mood starts to decline as the day progresses, reaching its worst around 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.
Midnight brings back painful memories for the singer, reminding them of a lost love that they still miss deeply.
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.
The artist wonders if a recent argument with their lover is a sign that their relationship is coming to an end. They express a strong desire to be with their lover again and feel as if they're losing their mind without them.
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.
The artist hopes that their lover will return to them, and they can patch things up so that their love can be strong again. Midnight is again the time when this desire is strongest.
Feelin' sad, Really gets bad Round, Round, Round Midnight
The singer is overwhelmed by sadness, especially at midnight, and feels as if they can't escape it.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PASCAL DIEZ TENTET, WAYNE SHORTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind