P… Read Full Bio ↴Composed by Thelonious Monk, Bernie Hanighen, and Cootie Williams.
Personnel on 'Round About Midnight/Miles Davis and the Modern Jazz Giants:
Miles Davis – trumpet
John Coltrane – tenor saxophone
Red Garland – piano
Paul Chambers – bass
Philly Joe Jones – drums
Personnel on Directions/In Person Friday and Saturday Nights at the Blackhawk:
Miles Davis – trumpet
Hank Mobley – tenor saxophone
Wynton Kelly – piano
Paul Chambers – bass
Jimmy Cobb – drums
'Round Midnight
Miles Davis 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 Miles Davis's song 'Round Midnight evoke a sense of melancholia and wistfulness which is typical of Davis's works. The opening line, "It begins to tell 'Round midnight, midnight," conveys the feeling of a story that is unfolding under the cover of darkness when most people are asleep. The singer reveals that he does pretty well until after sundown, when suppers usually end and people retire to their own space. However, having to endure that time without his loved one by his side really gets to him. Memories of their past come rushing every night around midnight, a time that has become inextricably linked to their relationship.
Throughout the song, the singer grapples with feelings of loss and uncertainty. He wonders if a quarrel they had means that their love is ending, and he confesses that he needs his lover. However, he also feels that his heart is out of his control and that he is "out of his mind" without his lover. The final lines of the song offer a glimmer of hope as the singer implores his lover to come back to him so that their love can be "safe and sound" once again. The imagery of letting their hearts take wings and having the angels sing is lovely and contrasts nicely with the sadness that pervades the earlier parts of the song.
Overall, the lyrics of 'Round Midnight convey a sense of longing, regret and nostalgia for a love that has been lost or is temporarily out of reach. The use of the midnight hour as a framing device creates a moody, atmospheric tone that is reflective of the song's overall vibe.
Line by Line Meaning
It begins to tell
The feeling of sadness starts creeping in as the night sets in.
'Round midnight, midnight
The sad feelings are most prominent when it is late at night, around midnight.
I do pretty well, till after sundown
The singer manages to keep the sad thoughts at bay until the sun goes down.
Suppertime I'm feelin' sad
As it gets closer to the night, the artist feels sadder and yearns for someone.
But it really gets bad
As the night gets darker and deeper, the artist's sadness becomes intense and overwhelming.
'Round midnight
The feeling of sadness comes to a head at around midnight.
Memories always start 'round midnight
Memories of the person being yearned for always come up around midnight.
Haven't got the heart to stand those memories
The artist can't bear to remember the memories because they are too painful.
When my heart is still with you
The thoughts are consumed with memories of the person who is no longer there.
And ol' midnight knows it, too
The artist's emotions are so intense that they resonate with the atmosphere around midnight.
When a quarrel we had needs mending
When there is a need to reconcile with the person they long for.
Does it mean that our love is ending
The artist is questioning if the rift between them is a sign that their love has come to an end.
Darlin' I need you, lately I find
The singer longs for the person and is struggling to deal with their absence.
You're out of my heart
The person has left the singer's heart.
And I'm out of my mind
The pain is causing the singer to feel out of control.
Let our hearts take wings'
The artist wants to be reunited with the person they are yearning for.
'Round midnight, midnight
The artist's longing is heightened at around midnight.
Let the angels sing
The singer wants the feeling of love and hope to be restored.
For your returning
The singer longs for the person to return to them.
Till our love is safe and sound
Until they can be reunited and feel secure in their love.
And old midnight comes around
The cycle of feeling sad at midnight continues.
Feelin' sad
The artist is overwhelmed with sadness.
Really gets bad
The feeling of sadness intensifies as the night deepens.
Round, Round, Round Midnight
The artist is emphasizing the persistent cycle of sadness that they feel every midnight.
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Cootie Williams, Bernard D Hanighen, Theolonious S Monk
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Ideal Father
Had this at my grandfathers funeral. Listening to it makes me feel like I'm lying on the floor in his living room and drawing with crayons while there is a faint but distinct aroma of tobacco in the air.
Lorenzo Simoncelli
So poetic
Ryan W
God bless❤️
steve fullyard
damn man. this almost made me cry. all the best.
leeFbeatz
I’m sorry to hear about your grandpa 🙏🙏🙏 may he rest easy
RDKC
Beautiful memories…
kirnek
Any time it's nice to listen to Miles Davis, but at midnight listening to "Round Midnight" is like being in the sky, close to the stars. Thanks.
Edie Anderson
How sweet is that. Exactly how I picture it.
XxlilyflowerxX1
Listening to Round midnight by Miles after midnight when it is really quiet is complete different sensation.
Some Guy
Wherever you are, whatever the time of day, when this track comes on, it's just around midnight.