MC5 had a promising beginning that earned them a January 1969 cover appearance in Rolling Stone magazine and a story written by Eric Ehrmann before their debut album was released. They developed a reputation for energetic and polemical live performances, one of which was recorded as their 1969 debut album Kick Out the Jams. Their initial run was short-lived, though. In 1972, just three years after their debut record, the band came to an end. Often cited as one of the most important American hard rock groups of that era, their three albums are regarded by many as classics.
Tyner died of a heart attack in late 1991 at the age of 46. Smith also died of a heart attack, in 1994 at the age of 45. The remaining three members of the band reformed in 2003 with The Dictators' singer Handsome Dick Manitoba as its new vocalist, and this reformed line-up occasionally performed live over the next nine years until Davis died of liver failure in February 2012 at the age of 68.
In 2022, Kramer announced that a tour would take place that spring, and that a new MC5 studio album with producer Bob Ezrin would also be released later that year with original MC5 drummer Dennis Thompson playing on two tracks. In 2023, Kramer announced that the album would be released in the spring of 2024. Kramer died in February 2024, leaving Thompson as the only surviving original member of the band.
Tonight
MC5 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel your heart goin' boom
You start to get the feelin'
And your head begins to reelin'
And you can't hear what the teachers say
Because the news is going down
About the rock and roll dance in town
And you know I just gotta hear that band play
Tonight (6x)
Oh tonight
Tuesday got the letter
The army thinks I better
Get myself down there right away
Well, it's not that I'm lazy, I'm just too crazy
For goin' doin' things that way
Because the kids will be in town
And the jams are going down
I wanna do things the natural way
Tonight (6x)
Oh tonight
Every day you gonna hear 'em say
You gonna get down in the U.S.A, tonight
Ok, kids, it's rockin' time!
Every day you gonna hear 'em say
You gonna get down in the U.S.A, tonight
Sun starts goin' down, I call my girl up on the phone
I said I'll pick you up at eight, at last we'll be alone
I hop in my machine, you know I gotta make the scene
Dancin' through the crowd, say the people goin' wild
When the bands really rockin' then there's no stoppin'
My girl begins to twirl, the room begins to whirl
It's out of this world, out of this world
Tonight (6x)
Oh tonight
Hey now everybody I gotta get movin'
I gotta muscle me up some action
Well I'll see you all later
Well bye bye
The lyrics of the song "Tonight" by MC5 are all about the excitement and energy of rock and roll music. The song starts off with the image of sitting in school, feeling your heart racing and your head spinning with the anticipation of the rock and roll dance that's about to take place. The lyrics capture the feeling of being so consumed by the music that you can't even hear what the teachers are saying. The singer wants to get out of class and go see the band play live.
The second verse shifts to the topic of the singer receiving a letter from the army telling him to report for duty. He explains that he's not lazy, he's just too crazy for the conventional way of doing things. He'd rather be with his friends, listening to rock and roll music. He talks about the excitement of the upcoming event and the natural feeling of enjoying the music.
The chorus repeats the word "tonight" six times and repeats the idea that tonight is the night to let loose and experience the joy of rock and roll music. The final verse describes the singer's anticipation of the night, calling his girlfriend on the phone to make plans to meet up. He gets in his car and finds himself dancing in the crowd, feeling the energy of the music and the people around him.
Overall, the song "Tonight" is a celebration of the energy, excitement, and rebelliousness of rock and roll music.
Line by Line Meaning
Sittin' in the classroom
The singer is in a classroom.
Feel your heart goin' boom
The singer's heart is beating quickly, likely due to excitement or anticipation.
You start to get the feelin'
The singer is beginning to feel excited or anticipatory.
And your head begins to reelin'
The artist's head is spinning, likely from excitement or anticipation.
And you can't hear what the teachers say
The artist is too distracted by their excitement to pay attention to the teachers in the classroom.
Because the news is going down
There is important news or information being spread, likely related to the rock and roll dance in town.
About the rock and roll dance in town
The news being spread is about a rock and roll dance in town.
And you know I just gotta hear that band play
The artist is eager to hear the band play at the rock and roll dance.
Oh tonight
The artist is excited about the upcoming events of the evening.
Tuesday got the letter
The artist received a letter on Tuesday.
The army thinks I better
The army believes that the singer should take action.
Get myself down there right away
The army wants the artist to come to them quickly.
Well, it's not that I'm lazy, I'm just too crazy
The singer isn't lazy, but they enjoy excitement and action too much to follow the army's request in a standardized way.
For goin' doin' things that way
The singer doesn't like the way the army wants them to take action.
Because the kids will be in town
The singer is referring to other young people in town who are going to attend the rock and roll dance.
And the jams are going down
There is music and dancing happening at the dance.
I wanna do things the natural way
The artist wants to act according to their own desires and interests, rather than follow the standardized way presented by the army.
Every day you gonna hear 'em say
People are talking about the upcoming events daily.
You gonna get down in the U.S.A, tonight
People are going to have fun dancing in the U.S.A. tonight.
Ok, kids, it's rockin' time!
The artist is addressing the young people attending the rock and roll dance, and indicating that it's time to start dancing and having a good time.
Sun starts goin' down, I call my girl up on the phone
As the sun begins to set, the artist calls their girlfriend to make plans for the evening.
I said I'll pick you up at eight, at last we'll be alone
The artist tells their girlfriend that they will pick her up at 8:00pm and that they will finally have some time alone together.
I hop in my machine, you know I gotta make the scene
The singer gets into their vehicle, eager to arrive at the rock and roll dance and be a part of the excitement.
Dancin' through the crowd, say the people goin' wild
The artist is dancing among the crowd of people, and everyone is very excited and enthusiastic.
When the bands really rockin' then there's no stoppin'
When the band is playing well and the atmosphere is energized, the excitement is non-stop.
My girl begins to twirl, the room begins to whirl
The singer's girlfriend starts twirling and dancing, and the excitement in the room grows even more intense.
It's out of this world, out of this world
The singer feels overwhelmed and amazed by the excitement and energy of the moment.
Hey now everybody I gotta get movin'
The artist announces that they need to leave soon.
I gotta muscle me up some action
The artist wants to find more excitement and action.
Well I'll see you all later
The singer says goodbye to everyone, indicating they will see them later on.
Well bye bye
The singer says goodbye and ends the song.
Lyrics © Cloud9, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DENNIS THOMPSON, FRED SMITH, MICHAEL DAVIS, ROBERT W. DERMINER, WAYNE KRAMER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The ZUGU Project | ONE
I'm ashamed and have to admit, at 53 years old, I never listened to MC5 before,. Not for any reason either, just so much music so little time kind of thing......but I came across the Tarter Field concert video a few months back and was completely blown away. I've been watching and listening to them just about non stop since, I'm in love with this band and angry at myself for waiting so long to delve in........what a massively powerful band, and Wayne Kramer, just brilliant, ..... kick ass!! How did I miss this? I'm a believer, sign me up! I have to put them up there with the Beatles and other groundbreakers and innovators...and why they're not in the Hall of Fame is astounding, they should've been in a long time ago. Where and what would Punk Rock be without this band? Nowhere and nothing....MC5/Godfathers........Wayne Kramer...Thank You!
Duncan Baynton
They are the only true revolutionary band 🤘🏾
SR XIII
I got into MC5 because of corrosion of conformity and seeing their drummer reed mullin (rip) often wearing an MC5 tshirt in their promo pic.
Rod Bottomley
52, same shit. I lived in Windsor. How this got by me is beyond me. So much music and so little time. Good point. Cheers!
Pravin Daswani
Im 47yo and im a fan since i was 10 years old
Freedom From Religion 1
Born 68.greatest band ever.Beatles quit.Stones wished they could kick a jam.Just my opinion. Greatest live band out if the states ever.
FuriousMess
Whoa...Fred's got the 'Official' Sonic Smith Uniform on. I really miss him, you, Fred and Ron Ashton were my guitar heroes growing up and still are
RSR423
MC5, listen up people of 2019, real rock gods playing bitching sounds, man what an impact this band had on me back in the day.
Mike Wines
Never been another band like the MC5, before or since. With the White Panther and revolution stuff on the side and their sound was so loud and aggressive for thst time. They came on the scene just tearin shit up and taking no prisoners. MC5 said enough of this SF hippy dippy jam rock crap let's punch em in the face with some Detroit muscle. One of the most interesting bands ever and one of the greatest live bands ever.
Shawn Malie
Awesome! Should be in the R&R HOF!