Reilly was born in Glasgow. Her early career included singing with the Scottish Jazz Funk band Cado Belle. In 1992, she issued her debut solo album "Echoes", from which the singles "Everytime We Touch", "Tears in the Rain" and "Wait" were the most successful ones, followed by "Midnight Sun" in 1993, "Elena" in 1996, "Starcrossed" in 2000, "Save it for a Rainy Day" in 2003 and "Rowan" in 2006.
In 2006, a Eurodance-styled cover of Maggie's "Every time We Touch" by the German trio Cascada became a world-wide hit.
She has also worked with many others including Mike Batt (on his "The Hunting of the Snark" album), Jack Bruce, Dave Greenfield & Jan-Jacques Burnel, Lesiëm, Ralph McTell, Simon Nicol (of Fairport Convention), Runrig, The Sisters of Mercy and Smokie.
in the heat of the night
Maggie Reilly Lyrics
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Amber fireflies dance across the shore
Helping her to keep her hopes alive
All those tiny sparks of flame
But in the heat of the night
Her blood runs cold, can she survive?
And in the heat of the night
Her mind is reeling
And she can feel the earth revolving
In the heat of the night
She needs him oh so much
Many miles away
Under a starlit sky
He's lying all alone
Waiting for the dawn
But in the heat of the night
His blood runs cold, can he survive?
And in the heat of the night
He's burning for her touch
How could he let it slip
Right through his fingers
When in the heat of the night
He needs her oh so much
Come to me now
(Come to me now)
Please take my hand
Look in my heart and you'll find
Someone forever true
You know our love is alive
Waiting for you
It's shining a light on the path
That leads me back to you
But in the heat of the night
Her blood runs cold, can she survive?
And in the heat of the night
She's burning for his touch
How could she let it slip
Right through her fingers
When in the heat of the night
She needs him oh so much
But in the heat of the night
His blood runs cold, can he survive?
(How could he ever feel so lonely?)
And in the heat of the night
He longs to feel her touch
(He's dreaming all his life for this love to come along)
His mind is reeling
And he can feel the earth revolving
(And now it's falling apart around him)
When in the heat of the night
He needs her oh so much
(How could he get it oh so wrong?)
The song "In The Heat Of The Night" by Maggie Reilly tells the story of two lovers who are physically apart and yearning for each other's touch. The first stanza sets the scene with the image of blossom petals falling like rain under a sleepless moon while fireflies dance across the shore. The second stanza introduces the two characters, both alone and yearning for each other. The lyrics use the motif of heat to evoke the passions of the lovers and their struggles to survive without each other.
The chorus repeatedly asks if they can survive the heat of the night and longs for their touch. The third stanza reveals that the man is many miles away but yearns for his lover's touch just as she does for his. The fourth stanza asks how they could let their love slip away through their fingers and expresses their desperate need for each other. The final stanza is a plea for them to be together, for him to take her hand and for her to find someone forever true. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus and the question of how they could get it oh so wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
Blossoms fall like rain under a sleepless moon
Flowers drop like water droplets under a moon that keeps me awake
Amber fireflies dance across the shore
Glowing insects move gracefully over the beach
Helping her to keep her hopes alive
Assisting her that her aspirations do not fade away
All those tiny sparks of flame
All the small elements that she carries with her
But in the heat of the night
In the tough moments of the night
Her blood runs cold, can she survive?
She feels afraid, will she make it?
She longs to feel his touch
She yearns to be caressed by the man she desires
Her mind is reeling
Her thoughts are causing turmoil
And she can feel the earth revolving
She senses that the world is always in motion
She needs him oh so much
She desires him intensely
Many miles away
Far, far from here
Under a starlit sky
Beneath a canopy of shining stars
He's lying all alone
The man is lonely
Waiting for the dawn
Prepared for the sunrise
His blood runs cold, can he survive?
He feels frightened, will he make it?
He's burning for her touch
He strongly desires to feel her skin
How could he let it slip
Why did he lose the opportunity?
When in the heat of the night
During the tough parts of the night
He needs her oh so much
He has a great longing for her
Come to me now
(Come to me now)
Please take my hand
Come closer to me now
(Take my hand, please)
Look in my heart and you'll find
If you see deep into my soul
Someone forever true
A person that will always be loyal
You know our love is alive
You are aware that our love still exists
Waiting for you
Anticipating your arrival
It's shining a light on the path
That leads me back to you
It's illuminating the way
That guides me to your location
He longs to feel her touch
He deeply desires for her embrace
He's dreaming all his life for this love to come along
He has always dreamed about finding love
And now it's falling apart around him
But it seems that everything is collapsing on him now
How could he get it oh so wrong?
What did he do incorrectly?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GAVIN HODGSON, MAGGIE REILLY, STUART MACKILLOP
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind