Hailing from South London, more specifically Croydon, RAYE (real name - Rac… Read Full Bio ↴Hailing from South London, more specifically Croydon, RAYE (real name - Rachel Keen) is a British singer-songwriter. Aside from writing hits for other artists, RAYE has bounced between R&B, pop and dance music in regards to her own discography. Her debut album and one of her first independent releases "'My 21st Century Blues'', was released on February 3 2023.

RAYE’s debut EP 'Welcome To The Winter' was released in 2014 and was comprised of predominantly R&B sounds. After signing with Polydor Records, RAYE had her breakthrough by featuring on the 2016 singles; "By Your Side" by Jonas Blue and "You Don't Know Me" by Jax Jones. The latter, co-written by RAYE herself, would peak at number three on the UK Singles Chart. Both songs were certified platinum or higher by the BPI, and marked a shift in RAYE’s career both commercially and sonically. After releasing the 'Second' EP in 2016, RAYE released "I, U, Us" as the lead single alongside a Charli XCX directed music video. This marked the first collaboration of several between the British songwriters. RAYE later co-wrote XCX's song "After the Afterparty" and appeared on a remix version, as well as featuring on the track "Dreamer" from her 2017 mixtape 'Number 1 Angel'. RAYE was short-listed for the BBC Music Sound of... award for 2017 and was named in third place. Later in the year, RAYE released the platinum certified hit "Decline" featuring Mr. Eazi, which would serve as the lead single from her 'Side Tape' EP which followed in May 2018. In October 2018, RAYE embarked on her own headlining tour, visiting a number of cities around the UK and Ireland.

After releasing multiple singles in 2019 and 2020, RAYE’s debut mini-album, 'Euphoric Sad Songs' was released on 20 November 2020. The project featured the top 10 hit "Secrets" with Regard as well as "Regardless" with Rudimental. In early 2021, RAYE released the single "Bed" with Joel Corry and David Guetta. The song would peak at number three on the UK Singles Chart, becoming RAYE’s highest charting single as a lead artist on the chart. Later in the year, RAYE took to social media to reveal that her record label, Polydor Records, has been withholding her debut album for several years. Following the statements, RAYE disclosed in July that she is now officially an independent artist.

RAYE was brought up in a musical family - her parents met at church - both of them musicians in the parish, and her musical heritage goes right back to her Grandfather, who was a songwriter and musician in his own right. Since the age of 10, she's been writing her own music, slowly developing all the time to become the artist she is today. Along the way, RAYE has become confidently adept at various different instruments including the cello, flute, and piano, alongside honing her production skills (and learning to play the guitar). Music has always been a huge part of RAYE’s life. Brought up on the classic soul/jazz maestros of the 40's and 50's like Nina Simone, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole etc - this is where her love for songwriting and melody began. Since then her influences, have aligned with the times, citing Drake, and her all time hero Lauryn Hill as huge sources of inspiration.

midnight strikes
RAYE Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Midnight strikes and I am gone too soon
Boys and girls move underneath of the moon (moon, moon, moon), oh
12 o'clock, don't wanna stop, not anytime soon (no)
Midnight strikes and the truth is I want you, you, you, you

He starts fallin' over
He had to park the Rover
Please, get him off the sofa (please, get him off the sofa)

I found time to roll up, some sweet marijuana
Flip like a Motorola, round like a rollercoaster

Midnight strikes and I am gone too soon
Boys and girls move underneath of the moon, oh
12 o'clock, don't wanna stop, not anytime soon (no)
Midnight strikes and the truth is I want you, you, you, you

He starts fallin' over
He had to park the Rover
Please, get him off the sofa (please, get him off the sofa)
I found time to roll up, some sweet marijuana
Flip like a Motorola, round like a rollercoaster

Midnight strikes and the truth is I want you, you, you, you
Midnight strikes and I am gone too soon (mm-hmm)
Boys and girls move underneath of the moon (mm-hmm, mm), oh
12 o'clock, don't wanna stop, not anytime soon (mm-hmm)
Midnight strikes and the truth is I want you, you, you, you (mm-hmm, mm)

Give it to me
Give it tonight
Give it to me
And spend the night (yeah, yeah, yeah)
Give it to me
Give it tonight
Give it to me-ee-ee

Are you vibin'? (Yeah)
Are you drunk yet? (Yeah)
Want another drink? (Yeah)
Are you tired yet? (No)
Should we switch clubs? (Yeah)
Smoke a cigarette? (Uh-huh)
Can we be bougie and book that UberX?
Should we stunt on 'em? (Yeah)
Should we take pics? (Mm-hmm)
It's 11:45, and we're this lit, baby
Everybody knows living this life
The real party starts after midnight

Midnight strikes and I am gone too soon
Boys and girls move underneath of the moon
12 o'clock, don't wanna stop, not anytime soon
Midnight strikes and the truth is I want you, you, you, you

Midnight strikes and I am gone too soon
Boys and girls move underneath of the moon, oh
12 o'clock, don't wanna stop, not anytime soon (no)
Midnight strikes and the truth is I want you, you, you, you

Midnight strikes and I am gone too soon (mm-hmm, yeah)
Boys and girls move underneath of the moon (mm-hmm, yeah)
12 o'clock, don't wanna sleep, not anytime soon (mm-hmm, yeah)
Midnight strikes and the truth is I want you, you, you, you

Midnight strikes and I am gone too soon (mm-hmm)
Boys and girls move underneath of the moon (mm-hmm, mm)

12 o'clock, don't wanna sleep, not anytime soon (mm-hmm, yeah)
Midnight strikes and the truth is I want you, you, you, you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Raye's "Midnight Strikes" describe the feeling of being swept away by the excitement and thrill of a night out. The singer admits that they are "gone too soon" when midnight hits, indicating that they are having too much fun to want to call it a night. They also observe that "boys and girls move underneath of the moon," suggesting that there is a magical quality to the night that heightens the experience. Throughout the song, the singer repeatedly insists that they want the object of their desire, and the line "the truth is I want you, you, you, you" is repeated multiple times.

In the second stanza, the singer describes the various activities that they and their companions are engaged in, including smoking weed and switching clubs. They are fully immersed in the experience, asking each other if they should take pictures or order an UberX to ride in style. The repeated lines of the chorus emphasize the sense of urgency and desire that the singer is feeling, suggesting that they want to make the most of their time before the night is over.

Line by Line Meaning

Midnight strikes and I am gone too soon
The singer is acknowledging that time flies by quickly, especially when enjoying the company of someone they desire.

Boys and girls move underneath of the moon
The atmosphere is romantic and sultry, as individuals have the courage to be themselves and explore their desires under the mystery of the moonlight.

12 o'clock, don't wanna stop, not anytime soon (no)
The singer is caught up in the moment and doesn't want the night to end.

Midnight strikes and the truth is I want you, you, you, you
The artist reveals their desire for their love interest, potentially looking for a moment of intimacy.

He starts fallin' over
The artist's friend is beginning to feel the effects of alcohol and is losing their balance.

He had to park the Rover
The singer's friend has become too intoxicated to drive, so they have to park their car somewhere safe.

Please, get him off the sofa (please, get him off the sofa)
The singer pleads with others to help them remove their friend from the couch to avoid any potential accidents or negative consequences.

I found time to roll up, some sweet marijuana
The artist has taken a moment to step away and roll a joint to enjoy.

Flip like a Motorola, round like a rollercoaster
The artist compares the emotions and energy of the night to the excitement of a rollercoaster, and how quickly emotions can change.

Give it to me
The artist is requesting attention and affection from their love interest.

Give it tonight
The singer wants to physically connect with their love interest tonight.

And spend the night (yeah, yeah, yeah)
The artist is looking for a night of passion and intimacy with their love interest.

Are you vibin'? (Yeah)
The singer is checking in with their company to see if they are having a good time or feeling the same energy.

Are you drunk yet? (Yeah)
The singer is trying to gauge the level of intoxication of their company.

Want another drink? (Yeah)
The singer is offering their company another drink.

Are you tired yet? (No)
The artist is confirming that their company is not yet ready to leave and is still enjoying the night's events.

Should we switch clubs? (Yeah)
The artist is suggesting that they move to another club to keep the night going.

Smoke a cigarette? (Uh-huh)
The singer is offering their company a moment to smoke to help them relax and chill out.

Can we be bougie and book that UberX?
The singer is proposing that they use Uber's premium service to enjoy a luxurious ride to their next location.

Should we stunt on 'em? (Yeah)
The artist is suggesting that they show off and impress others by spending extravagantly or having the best time at the club or party.

Should we take pics? (Mm-hmm)
The artist is suggesting that they capture moments of the night by taking pictures.

It's 11:45, and we're this lit, baby
The artist is having a great time, and the night is still young, leading them to be excited about what's to come.

Everybody knows living this life
The singer acknowledges that living life to the fullest involves enjoying good parties, good company, and good times.

The real party starts after midnight
The artist believes that the true fun and excitement of the night starts after midnight.

Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Jimir Reece Davis, Rachel Keen, Stephen McGregor

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS