Round Midnight
Mel Torme Lyrics

Mel Torme's song, Round Midnight, explores the complex emotions of heartbreak, longing, and regret. The opening lines set the scene for the song's melancholic tone, "It begins to tell, 'round midnight, midnight." The singer reveals that they do "pretty well" until after sundown, but that supper time marks the beginning of feeling low. However, the real sadness sets in "round midnight" when memories of a lost love start to overwhelm the singer. The line "Memories always start round midnight" is particularly poignant. The singer is unable to escape their heartbreak, even when everyone else is sleeping soundly. The final lines of the song suggest that the singer hopes their love will return, "Let the angels sing, For your returning. Till our love is safe and sound." The repetition of the word "round" creates a sense of cyclical nature to these emotions. The singer continues to feel sadness and heartbreak every night, as the clock strikes midnight.

The song's lyrics tap into the human experience of heartbreak and the difficulties in moving on. The metaphor of midnight symbolizes the dark and lonely feelings associated with heartbreak, but the song also offers a sense of hopefulness that the singer's love might return. The repetition of "round midnight" emphasizes that these emotions are cyclical and suggests that the singer is stuck in a never-ending loop of heartbreak and longing.

Interesting facts about the song "Round Midnight":

1) The song was composed by jazz pianist Thelonious Monk in 1944.
2) Mel Torme's version of the song was released in 1957.
3) The song has been covered by numerous artists, including Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan.
4) The song was featured in the 1986 film of the same name, starring Dexter Gordon.
5) "Round Midnight" is considered a jazz standard and has been covered in a variety of styles, including Latin jazz and bossa nova.
6) Monk's original composition includes a complex melody with chromatic harmonies and a dissonant chord progression.
7) The song's lyrics were written by Cootie Williams and originally titled "It's Moanin' Time."
8) Monk's piano solo from the original recording has been transcribed and studied by jazz musicians and scholars.
9) The song was awarded a Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1993.
10) The song has been featured in numerous television shows and films, including The Simpsons, The West Wing, and Mighty Joe Young.

Chords for "Round Midnight" are as follows:
Intro: Gmaj7 Am7 D7 Gmaj7
Verse: Gmaj7 Am7 D7 Gmaj7 Bbm7 Eb7 Am7
Bridge: Dm7 G7 Bbmaj7 G#dim7 Am7 D7 Gmaj7