in the heat of the night
Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio Lyrics


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He promises you things'll be different
If you just give him one more try
Want so bad to believe
Though you know it's just another lie

Wants to know if he can come over
And that he's sorry ‘bout the other night
Though your mind says no
Your heart tells him it's alright

Deep in the night
Promises you love forever
Don't you know better, girl
Than to believe a man

In the heat of the night (Heat of the night)
There's nothin' but promises (Heat of the night)
Heat of the night (Heat of the night)
Be careful, baby (Heat of the night), whoa

He starts with touching you all over
Whispering sweet nothings in your ear
Though you know it's jive
At the time it's what you want to hear

I am intelligent enough to know better
But you just for a moment get weak
As nature takes control
And you start to feel the heat, oh, hoo, hoo

Then the next day you're wondering why
“Why me, oh, why me”
You got caught, baby
With your defenses down

In the heat of the night (Heat of the night)
Nothin' but lies (Heat of the night)
Heat of the night (Heat of the night), whoa
Heat of the night, baby (Heat of the night), whoa

His passion made you think
He loved only you
When he slipped and cried out another woman's name
You shoulda knew

You'll never see the truth
Till he's through (He's just been usin' you)
You should have known better, girl
Than to believe a man

In the heat of the night, baby (Heat of the night)
There's nothin' but promises (Heat of the night)
Heat of the night (Heat of the night)
Baby, why must you get burned to learn (Heat of the night)

In the heat of the night (Heat of the night)
There's nothin' but promises (Heat of the night)
You shoulda known better, girl (Heat of the night)
Than to believe a man in the heat of the night (Heat of the night), whoa





(Heat of the night)
(Heat of the night)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "In the Heat of the Night" by Ray Parker Jr. & Raydio convey the story of a woman who is torn between her mind and heart. She knows that her partner's promises are empty and his apologies are insincere, yet she is unable to resist his charms. The first verse highlights the woman's internal conflict as she wants to believe that things will be different if she gives him another chance, despite knowing it is just another lie. The chorus cautions her to be careful as there are no promises in the heat of the night, and she should not believe a man.


In the second verse, the man tries to tempt the woman physically and seduce her with sweet words. She realizes that it is just a ploy to win her over, and although she is aware of his true intentions, she succumbs to her desires. The bridge suggests that the woman is rational enough to know better but gets caught up in the passion and heat of the moment. The final verse reveals that the man has been using her, and she has fallen for his lies. The chorus repeats the warning to be careful and know better than to believe a man.


Overall, the lyrics of "In the Heat of the Night" caution against falling for false promises and manipulations in the moment of passion. It urges listeners to be cautious and wise when it comes to their relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

He promises you things'll be different
He is making empty promises to convince you to give him another chance


If you just give him one more try
He is begging for another opportunity to prove himself


Want so bad to believe
You desperately want to trust him, despite knowing his true character


Though you know it's just another lie
You are aware that his promises are insincere and will not be fulfilled


Wants to know if he can come over
He is trying to arrange a meeting with you


And that he's sorry ‘bout the other night
He is apologizing for past actions or behavior


Though your mind says no
You are hesitant or reluctant to agree to his request


Your heart tells him it's alright
You are tempted to forgive him and allow him back into your life


Deep in the night
Late at night, when emotions and passions are heightened


Promises you love forever
He is making declarations of love and commitment, despite lacking sincerity or follow-through


Don't you know better, girl
You should be aware that his promises and professions of love are not genuine


Than to believe a man
You should not trust a man's words or intentions, as they may not be truthful


There's nothin' but promises
In the heat of passion, he is only making empty promises with no real substance or honesty


He starts with touching you all over
He is initiating physical contact and intimacy with you, as a means of seduction


Whispering sweet nothings in your ear
He is saying affectionate or romantic things to you to manipulate your emotions


Though you know it's jive
You realize that his words and actions are false or disingenuous


At the time it's what you want to hear
In the moment, his words and attention are validating and appealing, even if they are insincere


You got caught, baby
You have been deceived or entrapped by his false promises and manipulations


With your defenses down
You were vulnerable and open to his advances, and therefore more susceptible to his tactics


His passion made you think
His intensity and focus on you made you believe that he truly cared for you


He loved only you
You believed that he was devoted exclusively to you


When he slipped and cried out another woman's name
He revealed his infidelity or unfaithfulness by accidentally mentioning another woman


You'll never see the truth
You will continue to be blinded by his lies and deceit, unless you take action to protect yourself


Till he's through (He's just been usin' you)
You will not realize how he has taken advantage of you until it's too late


Baby, why must you get burned to learn
Why must you experience pain and suffering in order to realize the truth about his intentions?


You shoulda known better, girl
You should have been more cautious and skeptical of his advances and promises from the beginning


Than to believe a man in the heat of the night
You should not trust a man's words or intentions when emotions and passions are heightened and irrational




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAY ERSKINE PARKER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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