Night Song
Nina Simone & Hal Mooney Lyrics
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Not a bit of breeze,
Neon signs are shining,
Through the tired trees,
Lovers,
Walking to and fro,
Everyone has someone,
And a place to go
Hear the cars go past,
They don't even see me,
Flying by so fast,
Moving,
Going who knows where,
Only thing I know is,
I'm not going there
Where do you go,
When you feel that your brain is on fire,
Where do you go when you don't even know
What it is you desire,
Listen
Laughter everywhere,
Hear it
Life is in the air,
As the night comes
And the town awaits,
Sound o' children calling
And the squeal of brakes,
Music
But a lonely sound
When you can't help wond'ring
Where do I belong
The lyrics to Nina Simone and Hal Mooney’s song Night Song depict a sense of loneliness and alienation in the midst of a bustling city. The first verse describes summer without, ironically, any breeze. The neon signs shining through the tired trees suggest an artificial and forced type of atmosphere rather than natural beauty. The lovers walking to and fro, seemingly happily, underscores the singer’s sense of isolation in being alone. The sounds of cars passing by highlight how the singer feels left behind, moving and going somewhere, but without a sense of direction or purpose. As the lyrics continue, the singer asks where to go when your brain is on fire, when you don’t know what you want. The laughter and life in the air further emphasize the singer’s sense of being an outsider, creating a contrast between their sense of dislocation and the people who seem to know where they belong. The music in the final verse is described as a “lonely sound,” further highlighting the feeling of detachment from others. The song’s overall message speaks to the universal feeling of loneliness and lostness that can affect individuals in any environment, even in the midst of a vibrant city.
Line by Line Meaning
Summer,
A season of the year characterized by hot weather and long days
Not a bit of breeze,
There is no wind at all
Neon signs are shining,
Bright electric signs that glow in the dark
Through the tired trees,
The trees look old and worn out
Lovers,
People who are in love
Walking to and fro,
Moving back and forth
Everyone has someone,
Everyone has a person they count on
And a place to go
A destination in mind
Now listen,
Attention is required
Hear the cars go past,
Listening to the sounds of the cars that pass by
They don't even see me,
The drivers do not notice me
Flying by so fast,
The speed at which the cars go past is very high
Moving,
Going from one place to another
Going who knows where,
The destination is unknown
Only thing I know is,
The only piece of information I have is that
I'm not going there
I am not headed in that direction
Where do you go,
Asking where one goes
When you feel that your brain is on fire,
When overwhelmed by thoughts and emotions
Where do you go when you don't even know
When you are not sure
What it is you desire,
What you really want
Listen
Pay attention to the following
Laughter everywhere,
The sound of people laughing is heard all over
Hear it
Listen to it
Life is in the air,
The atmosphere is full of vitality
As the night comes
As the evening approaches
And the town awaits,
The city is ready for the night
Sound o' children calling
Kids can be heard calling out
And the squeal of brakes,
Brakes from cars are producing a high-pitched noise
Music
Art that involves sound patterns
But a lonely sound
The music feels unwelcoming
When you can't help wond'ring
When you are lost in thought
Where do I belong
Wondering where your place is in the world
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: IRVING MILLS, JUAN TIZOL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind