Nights In White Satin
London Festival Orchestra; Peter Knight; The Moody Blues Lyrics
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Never reaching the end
Letters I've written
Never meaning to send
Beauty I'd always missed
With these eyes before
Just what the truth is
'Cause I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Gazing at people, some hand in hand
Just what I'm going through they can't understand
Some try to tell me, thoughts they cannot defend
Just what you want to be, you will be in the end
And I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Oh how I love you
Nights in white satin
Never reaching the end
Letters I've written
Never meaning to send
Beauty I've always missed
With these eyes before
Just what the truth is
I can't say any more
'Cause I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Oh how I love you
'Cause I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Oh how I love you
The Moody Blues' iconic song 'Nights in White Satin' is a reflection on love, loss, and confusion. The first stanza speaks about the unspoken thoughts and emotions of the singer, encapsulated in letters that were never sent. The singer reflects upon the beauty that they missed in the past, unsure of what the truth is, but they are certain of one thing - their love for the person they are addressing. The phrase 'Nights in White Satin' is a metaphor for pure, white nights that are shiny and shimmering, possibly representing the singer's longing for a pure love, which they feel they have found.
The second stanza portrays the singer's feeling of isolation and misunderstanding, revealed in the phrase "Just what I'm going through they can't understand." Despite the people who are around the singer, they feel alone in their experiences, while the people who try to offer help and guidance do not quite comprehend what they are going through. The final repetition of the chorus again emphasizes the singer's love, which seems to be the only constant in their life, which will go on without regard for the singer's lack of understanding about the world.
Line by Line Meaning
Nights in white satin
The evening is dark and somber, a feeling that is enhanced by the purity of the white satin.
Never reaching the end
The night seems to be never-ending, and there is a sense of timelessness in the air.
Letters I've written
The singer has written letters to someone, but has not sent them.
Never meaning to send
The intention behind these letters was never to send them, but more to express the artist's innermost emotions.
Beauty I'd always missed
The artist has missed the beauty of life with his or her own eyes up until now, possibly because he or she had been blinded by past experiences or preconceptions.
With these eyes before
But now, with a fresh perspective, the singer is seeing the beauty of life through his or her own eyes.
Just what the truth is
However, the singer is still unsure of what the underlying truth is behind this newfound beauty.
I can't say any more
The artist is at a loss for words to describe this feeling of beauty and truth, as it is too complicated to put into words.
'Cause I love you
The artist is expressing his or her love for someone, but it is ambiguous who this person is specifically addressed to.
Yes I love you
This love is undoubtedly strong and sincere.
Oh how I love you
This love is so intense that words alone cannot express it.
Gazing at people, some hand in hand
The artist is observing couples who are holding hands and may be feeling envious of their happiness.
Just what I'm going through they can't understand
Even though others are around the singer, they may not understand the complex emotions they are feeling.
Some try to tell me, thoughts they cannot defend
Others may try to give advice, but they cannot fully comprehend the depth of the singer's emotions.
Just what you want to be, you will be in the end
The singer acknowledges that one's destiny is determined by their desires and eventual actions.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Justin Hayward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind