'Round Midnight
Mel Tormé / Gerry Mulligan / George Shearing 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
The lyrics of 'Round Midnight describe a sense of loneliness and longing that comes with the night, especially around midnight. The lyrics begin by describing the singer's ability to cope with their sadness during the day, but as night falls and midnight approaches, their memories start to flood back and they feel a deep sense of sadness that they can't escape even with the comfort of suppertime. The singer is clearly pining for someone they have lost or are separated from, as they mention that their heart is still with this person despite the passage of time.
As the song continues, the singer grapples with the question of whether their love is ending or not. They lament a recent quarrel that has left them feeling disconnected from the person they love and wonder if this means that their relationship is in trouble. Despite these doubts, the singer desperately needs this person in their life and feels like they are going out of their mind without them. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer imagining their love taking flight like birds and angels and finding a way to be reunited and safe.
Overall, 'Round Midnight is a deeply emotional song that captures the feeling of heartbreak and yearning that often accompanies the lonely hours of the night.
Line by Line Meaning
It begins to tell,
The story starts with the onset of midnight.
'round midnight, midnight.
The timing of the memory being discussed is precisely midnight.
I do pretty well, till after sundown,
The singer is able to hold himself together up until the sun sets each day.
Suppertime I'm feelin' sad;
As dinnertime approaches, the artist begins to feel melancholy.
But it really gets bad,
As midnight approaches, the artist's emotional state deteriorates further.
'round midnight.
The emotional nadir of the story is specifically at midnight.
Memories always start 'round midnight
The singer's memories of a past love always come to mind at midnight.
Haven't got the heart to stand those memories,
The artist is unable to bear the emotional weight of those memories anymore.
When my heart is still with you,
The source of the artist's pain is a lingering attachment to a former lover.
And ol' midnight knows it, too.
The artist feels as though midnight itself is aware of their emotional state.
When a quarrel we had needs mending,
The singer is hopeful that a conflict between the two parties can be resolved.
Does it mean that our love is ending.
The artist is uncertain whether or not there is hope for the relationship.
Darlin' I need you, lately I find
The singer realizes that they still need the other person in their life.
You're out of my heart,
However, the other person seems to have moved on from the relationship.
And I'm out of my mind.
The singer is driven to a state of emotional instability by the loss of the relationship.
Let our hearts take wings'
The artist hopes that their shared love will eventually soar again.
'round midnight, midnight
It is only under the cloak of midnight that this shared love can have a chance to reignite.
Let the angels sing,
The singer hopes for divine intervention or guidance in the situation.
for your returning.
The singer longs for the other person to come back into their life.
Till our love is safe and sound.
The artist wants their love to be strong and steady, free from the insecurities of the past.
And old midnight comes around.
It is only when midnight arrives that the artist can confront their true feelings about the other person.
Feelin' sad,
The artist cannot escape their emotions of sorrow and longing.
really gets bad
As midnight approaches, the singer's internal turmoil reaches its peak.
Round, Round, Round Midnight
The refrain, repeated multiple times throughout the song, emphasizes the central importance and meaning of the midnight hour to the artist's emotional journey.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cootie Williams, Bernard D Hanighen, Theolonious S Monk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind