'Round Midnight
Joe Henderson 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

The lyrics to Joe Henderson's "Round Midnight" express a deep yearning and nostalgia for a lost love that still lingers in the singer's heart. The first stanza sets the scene at "round midnight," a time of day that often conjures feelings of melancholy or contemplation. Despite doing "pretty well" during the day, the singer begins to feel "sad" at "suppertime" as memories of their lost love start to surface. By the time it's "round midnight," the sadness becomes overwhelming.


In the second stanza, the singer reflects on how memories always start "round midnight," but they don't have the "heart" to face them when their heart is still with the person they miss. The line "and ol' midnight knows it, too" suggests a kind of eerie understanding between the singer and the time of day itself. The question of whether a quarrel means that their love is ending underscores the uncertainty and pain of the situation. The final lines express a longing for the lover's return and a resolution to the sadness that comes with "round midnight."


Overall, the lyrics to "Round Midnight" capture the intense emotions of lost love and the ways in which time can exacerbate or soothe those feelings depending on the situation.


Line by Line Meaning

It begins to tell
The song is starting off and setting the scene.


'Round midnight, midnight
The song is focusing on the time of 'round midnight, which is causing the singer to feel a certain way.


I do pretty well, till after sundown
The singer is doing well throughout the day until the sun goes down, which causes them to feel sad.


Suppertime I'm feelin' sad
During suppertime, the artist is feeling sad.


But it really gets bad
The sadness felt during suppertime intensifies as the night goes on.


'Round midnight
The time of 'round midnight is significant to the singer's feelings.


Memories always start 'round midnight
The time of 'round midnight triggers memories for the singer.


Haven't got the heart to stand those memories
The memories triggered by the time of 'round midnight are hard for the artist to handle emotionally.


When my heart is still with you
The memories are related to someone the artist still has strong feelings for.


And ol' midnight knows it, too
The time of 'round midnight seems to know the impact it has on the artist's memories and emotions.


When a quarrel we had needs mending
The singer and the person they have strong feelings for have had a quarrel that needs to be resolved.


Does it mean that our love is ending
The quarrel has made the artist question if their love is coming to an end.


Darlin' I need you, lately I find
The singer is expressing their need for the other person, and how they've been feeling lately.


You're out of my heart
The singer is feeling like the other person is no longer in their heart the way they used to be.


And I'm out of my mind
The singer is expressing how the situation is causing them to feel crazy or lose control.


Let our hearts take wings'
The artist is hoping for a change in the situation, where their hearts soar.


'Round midnight, midnight
The time of 'round midnight is still significant to the artist and their emotions.


Let the angels sing
The singer is hoping for a happy ending, as symbolized by the angels singing.


For your returning
The singer is hoping the person they still have feelings for will return to them.


Till our love is safe and sound
The artist is hoping for a happy and secure love with the other person.


And old midnight comes around
The time of 'round midnight will always be significant to the artist and their emotions.


Feelin' sad
The artist is still feeling sad, despite their hope for a happy ending.


Really gets bad
The sadness and emotions become even stronger and more intense.


Round, Round, Round Midnight
The artist emphasizes the significance of the time of 'round midnight to their emotions and memories.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cootie Williams, Bernard D Hanighen, Theolonious S Monk

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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