The first song I wrote [for Pony] was "Dead of Night," which is funny, because it's kind of become the "big song" or whatever. But I always say that if people wanna get into my music, that's a good one to start with, because I think it kind of achieves what I want to do as an artist, which is tell a story from my past.
Something that I think a lot of people can connect with, which is kind of the story that "Dead of Night" is, is unrequited love that you know is never gonna go anywhere, but you stay with that person and torture yourself because it's better than nothing. And then, even after it's ended, you're still kind of torturing yourself by thinking, "Wasn't that actually really nice?" It's kind of this sadistic thing that a lot of us put ourselves through with relationships, and people.
I wanted it to have a very specific sound, I wanted it to have a sense of the past, and something we all know -- like, we can see references and relate to it -- but I also wanted it to feel new. I think that's kind of the benchmark for what I wanted this album to be: I wanted it to be familiar to people so they could connect with it, but also like it was from a new perspective.
Read More: Story Behind the Song: Orville Peck, 'Dead of Night' | https://theboot.com/orville-peck-dead-of-night-lyrics/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral
Dead of Night
Orville Peck Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You're right by my side
You wake me up, you say it's time to ride
In the dead of night
Strange canyon road, strange look in your eyes
You shut them as we fly, as we fly
Stark, hollow town, Carson city lights
Spend a Johnny's cash, hitch another ride
We laugh until we cry
You say, "Go fast," I say, "Hold on tight"
In the dead of night, dead of night
See, see the boys as they walk on by
See, see the boys as they walk on by
As they walk on by
As they walk on by
As they walk on
It's enough to make a young man
Six summers down, another dreamless night
You're not by my side
Scratch on the moon, like a familiar smile
Stained on my mind
Some other town, someone else's life
Dead in the night, in the night
See, see the boys as they walk on by
See, see the boys as they walk on by
See, see the boys as they walk on by
As they walk on by
As they walk on by
As they walk on
It's enough to make a young man
The opening line "The sun goes down, another dreamless night, you're right by my side" sets the mood of the song, one of loneliness and desperation, but also hints at some sort of support system. The singer is with someone who wakes them up and says it's time to ride, leading them on a journey through a strange canyon road with a strange look in their eyes. There is a sense of danger and recklessness, with the singer feeling the need to hold on tight as they speed through the night. The lyrics are full of vivid imagery, creating a picture of a stark, hollow town with only the Carson city lights to guide them. They spend Johnny's cash and laugh until they cry, escaping from their troubles, but it's all fleeting as they are eventually left alone in another town with another dreamless night.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun goes down, another dreamless night
Another uneventful night has passed as the sun sets
You're right by my side
You're with me in this moment
You wake me up, you say it's time to ride
You urge me to get up and start moving
In the dead of night
In the darkest and quietest time of the night
Strange canyon road, strange look in your eyes
We're driving down an unfamiliar canyon road, and you have a peculiar expression on your face
You shut them as we fly, as we fly
You close your eyes as we speed ahead
Stark, hollow town, Carson city lights
We're passing through a desolate town with only the lights of Carson city visible
Baby, let's get high
Let's indulge in some substance abuse
Spend a Johnny's cash, hitch another ride
Let's spend all our money and catch another ride
We laugh until we cry
We're having so much fun that we end up crying
You say, "Go fast," I say, "Hold on tight"
You want to go faster and I hold on tightly in response
In the dead of night, dead of night
Once again emphasizing the moment we're experiencing
See, see the boys as they walk on by
Observing the boys pass us by
It's enough to make a young man
It has a profound impact on a young person
Six summers down, another dreamless night
Yet another boring night after six summers have already gone by
You're not by my side
You're no longer with me
Scratch on the moon, like a familiar smile
A slightly visible scratch on the moon is reminiscent of a familiar smile
Stained on my mind
It's a memory that has stuck with me
Some other town, someone else's life
I'm in a different town and living someone else's life
Dead in the night, in the night
Once again echoing the concept of deathly stillness at night
See, see the boys as they walk on by
Repeating the observation of boys walking past
It's enough to make a young man
Reinforcing the idea that it has a significant impact on young people
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Daniel Pitout, Louise Burns
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@subpop
LYRICS/ Dead Of Night
The sun goes down, another dreamless night - you’re right by my side
You wake me up, you say it’s time to ride - in the dead of night
Strange canyon road, strange look in your eyes - you shut them as we fly - As we fly
Stark, hollow town - Carson city lights - baby lets get high
Spend a Johnny’s cash, hitch another ride - we laugh until we cry
You say go fast I say hold on tight
In the dead of night - dead of night
See - see the boys as they walk on by
See - see the boys as they walk on by
It’s enough to make a young man -
Six summers down, another dreamless night - you’re not by my side
Scratch on the moon like a familiar smile - stained on my mind
Some other town, someone else’s life - dead in the night - in the night
See - see the boys as they walk on by
See - see the boys as they walk on by
It’s enough to make a young man -
@YukiNoRiingo
Lana Del Rey and Orville Peck are singing about the same men
@popycute13
I wanted to say Orville Peck is the male version of Lana, but ok, I like how u phrase it more :)))
@Mark-dc1su
I'll be seeing both at Hangout 2020. This comment makes me so excited.
@YukiNoRiingo
No Name i like your version too :)
@YukiNoRiingo
Mark Rainey oh man i’m so jealous! 😭
@DelilahGrace1324
No Name I was thinking the exact same thing when I first heard this song. Lol
@SamuelTucker9
This guy would have totally played at the Roadhouse in Twin Peaks
@ShanesSquirrelShack
OMG YES
@villeneuve1388
Correct
@melissalargent6425
Yes!!