UP ALL NIGHT
Richard Franklin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sway, as I clean up the place
It's been a while since they all came around
It's been a while since I mellowed out
Janie asks why I'm still alone
Suggesting it might be time to move on
Rather wait cause nothing compares
Found a way to keep you near
Dancing with you by the pale moonlight
I'll be up all night
And I hope you're too
Suddenly, you appear to me
In that velvet dress that you bought last year
I won't ever understand why you're here
If you can't come back
I'll be up all night
Dancing with you by the pale moonlight
I'll be up all night
And I hope you're too
I'll be up all night
Dancing with you by the pale moonlight
I'll be up all night
And I hope you're too
I'll be up all night
Dancing with you by the pale moonlight
I'll be up all night
And I hope you're too
Yeah, I'll be up all night
Dancing with you by the pale moonlight
I'll be up all night
And I hope you're too
The lyrics to "Up All Night" by Richard Franklin paint a vivid picture of a lonely individual who is reminiscing about lost love. The very first lines of the song set the somber tone: "It's late and taillights fade/ I sway, as I clean up the place." The singer of this song is alone, mildly drunk, and cleaning up after a gathering of friends who have long since left. The opening sets the stage for a narrative of loss and heartbreak.
As the song progresses, the singer's thoughts turn to the one that got away. A character named "Janie" from the past tries to convince the singer that it's time to move on from the lost love. The singer is hesitant, suggesting that he has found a way to keep the lost love near. As Franklin croons, "Rather wait cause nothing compares/ Found a way to keep you near," the listener gets a sense of desperation that hints at the lengths the singer might go to hold onto the memory of the lost love.
The chorus repeats the phrase "I'll be up all night" four times, solidifying the idea that the singer does not want to let the memory of the lost love fade. The chorus's suggestion that the singer will be dancing with the lost love by the pale moonlight serves as a reminder that while the love may be lost, the memories remain. The closing lines, where the singer hopes that the lost love is up all night too, reveal how desperately the singer clings to the idea that the lost love is still out there somewhere.
Overall, "Up All Night" is a melancholic, introspective song about lost love, memories, and missed connections. Richard Franklin's performance is raw, emotional, and leaves a lasting impression.
Line by Line Meaning
It's late and taillights fade
The night is getting old and people are starting to leave.
I sway, as I clean up the place
I'm cleaning up after everyone and feeling a little tipsy.
It's been a while since they all came around
It's been a while since I've seen all of my friends in one place.
It's been a while since I mellowed out
I haven't relaxed like this in a long time.
Janie asks why I'm still alone
My friend Janie wonders why I haven't found someone yet.
Suggesting it might be time to move on
She thinks I should start looking for a new love interest.
Rather wait cause nothing compares
I'd rather wait for the right person than settle for someone who doesn't measure up.
Found a way to keep you near
I found a way to keep my memories of you close to my heart.
I'll be up all night Dancing with you by the pale moonlight
Even though you're not physically here, I'll dance as if you are.
And I hope you're too
I hope you're here with me, even if it's just in my mind.
Suddenly, you appear to me In that velvet dress that you bought last year
You come to mind and I remember the last time I saw you in that gorgeous dress.
I won't ever understand why you're here
I can't explain why I still think about you and long for you.
If you can't come back
If you can't return to me in reality.
I'll be up all night Dancing with you by the pale moonlight
I'll dance with the memory of you for as long as I need to.
And I hope you're too I'll be up all night Dancing with you by the pale moonlight
Again, I hope you're with me in spirit as I dance alone.
Yeah, I'll be up all night Dancing with you by the pale moonlight
I'll keep dancing and thinking of you for as long as I have to.
And I hope you're too
And again, I hope you're with me in some way.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: SCOTT RUSSO, ROBERT BREWER, WADE YOUMAN, STEVEN MORRIS, PAT KIM
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind