Robertson's work with the Band was instrumental in creating the Americana music genre. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Canadian Music Hall of Fame as a member of the Band, and into Canada's Walk of Fame, with the Band and on his own. He is ranked 59th in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 greatest guitarists. He wrote "The Weight", "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down", and "Up on Cripple Creek" with the Band and had solo hits with "Broken Arrow" and "Somewhere Down the Crazy River", and many others. He was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Academy of Songwriters.
Robertson collaborated on film and TV soundtracks, usually with director Martin Scorsese, beginning in the rockumentary film The Last Waltz (1978) and continuing through dramatic films including Raging Bull (1980), The King of Comedy (1983), Casino (1995), Gangs of New York (2002), The Wolf of Wall Street (2013), Silence (2016), The Irishman (2019), and Killers of the Flower Moon (2023).
Robbie Robertson died in Los Angeles on August 9, 2023, at the age of 80, after a year-long battle with prostate cancer.
Sonny Got Caught In The Moonlight
Robbie Robertson Lyrics
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A wanted man with a haunted heart
Sonny found out the hard way
Playing for keeps, loser weeps
He said he'd come back when the lion sleeps
Struck by lightning, the fire is dying
Sudden thunder, the sky is crying
Can't tell the tears from the rain
Sonny got caught in the moonlight
Paint graffiti on the subway wall
Sonny got lost in the blue night
They stood like statues, legs spread wide
Catch him in the crossfire and take him by surprise
Struck by lightning, the fire is dying
And she called out your name
Sudden thunder, the sky is crying
Can't tell the tears from the rain
Can't tell the tears from the rain
Most my life I've been running
Paint a portrait of a fool
With my heart in my hands
They've come to take me down
Sonny got caught in the moonlight
By the power that can turn the tide
I heard three shots around midnight
Driven by the passion, running from the heat
No questions asked, he's just a kid from the street
Struck by lightning, the fire is dying
And she called out your name
Sudden thunder, the sky is crying
Can't tell the tears from the rain
Can't tell the tears from the rain
The lyrics of Robbie Robertson’s song “Sonny Got Caught in the Moonlight” tell the story of a man named Sonny who is on the run from the law. The lyrics evoke a sense of danger, fear, and desperation as Sonny is portrayed as a wanted man with a haunted heart. The repeated reference to “caught in the moonlight” adds to the ominous atmosphere of the song, suggesting that Sonny is trapped, with no way out. The lyrics also reference the violence and danger that come with Sonny’s life, with lines like “Playing for keeps, loser weeps,” which suggest that Sonny’s livelihood is based on the outcome of high-stakes games in which the losers suffer greatly.
Additionally, the song talks about Sonny’s love interest and her dilemma as she comes to terms with Sonny’s situation. The lines “Struck by lightning, the fire is dying/ And she called out your name/ Sudden thunder, the sky is crying/ Can't tell the tears from the rain” show her mixed emotions of love and despair. The song concludes with a sense of inevitability as Sonny is finally caught, and the lyrics suggest that he has been killed with the words: “I heard three shots around midnight.”
Overall, "Sonny Got Caught in the Moonlight" is a story of love and desperation that plays out against a backdrop of violence and danger. It paints a vivid picture of the life of a man on the run and the toll it takes on him and those around him.
Line by Line Meaning
Sonny got caught in the moonlight
Sonny got caught in the act by someone or something illuminated by the moonlight
A wanted man with a haunted heart
Sonny is a criminal on the run with a conscience that troubles him
Sonny found out the hard way
Sonny learned a harsh lesson through painful experience
Playing for keeps, loser weeps
Gambling big comes with big risks and losses
He said he'd come back when the lion sleeps
Sonny said he would return when danger subsides
Struck by lightning, the fire is dying
Sonny is facing a bleak situation that's losing steam
And she called out your name
Someone is calling out to Sonny
Sudden thunder, the sky is crying
A sudden commotion and chaos surrounds Sonny
Can't tell the tears from the rain
The situation is so intense that it's impossible to distinguish tears from rain
Paint graffiti on the subway wall
Sonny is engaging in criminal activity
Sonny got lost in the blue night
Sonny was lost and alone in the dark
They stood like statues, legs spread wide
The people around Sonny are unmoving and unresponsive
Catch him in the crossfire and take him by surprise
Sonny is vulnerable and can easily become a victim
Most my life I've been running
Sonny has been on the run for most of his life
Paint a portrait of a fool
Sonny's actions make him appear foolish
With my heart in my hands
Sonny is vulnerable and overwhelmed
They've come to take me down
Sonny is about to be caught and punished
By the power that can turn the tide
The power that can change Sonny's fate is greater than him
I heard three shots around midnight
Sonny is in a dangerous and violent situation
Driven by the passion, running from the heat
Sonny is motivated by strong emotions and is trying to escape danger
No questions asked, he's just a kid from the street
Sonny is not treated fairly and is wrongly judged based on his background
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBBIE ROBERTSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind