Tonight's The Night
SHIRELLES (THE) Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You said you're gonna meet me,
Tonight's the night.
You said you're gonna kiss me,
Tonight's the night,
Well I don't know,
Said I don't know right now
I might love you so.
You say you're gonna beg me,

Turn the lights down low
You said you're gonna make me
Feel all aglow.
Well I don't know,
Well I don't know right now
I might love you so.
I might love you so much.
You may break my heart.
I may want you so much
And all my dream been torn apart.
You say you're gonna love me,
Tonight's the night.
You say you're gonna hold me,
Tonight's the night.
I don't know.
Said I don't know right now.
I might love you so.
Let's take a chance.
Gonna be a great romance
Movin' right now,

Gonna be a great romance
Gonna be a great romance

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Tonight's The Night" by The Shirelles discuss the uncertain excitement and nervousness that comes with a potential new romantic relationship. The singer is told by her love interest that they will meet and kiss tonight, but she is unsure about the depth of her feelings for him. She is afraid that he may break her heart, yet she may still want him so much that her dreams could be destroyed. The singer acknowledges that there is a possibility for a great romance, but it is uncertain and scary at the moment.

The lyrics are full of contradictions and ambivalence, which is relatable to anyone who has been in the early stages of a romantic encounter. The uncertainty about how you feel, the possibility for a great romance or failure, and the vulnerability of being exposed to someone new are all referenced in the lyrics. The Shirelles' smooth harmonies and catchy melody make this a relatable and timeless song.

Line by Line Meaning

You said you're gonna meet me, Tonight's the night.
You promised we'd finally see each other tonight.

You said you're gonna kiss me, Tonight's the night,
You also promised we'd finally share our first kiss tonight.

Well I don't know, Said I don't know right now I might love you so.
I'm not sure if I love you yet, but I might end up falling for you.

You say you're gonna beg me, Turn the lights down low You said you're gonna make me Feel all aglow.
You plan on seducing me by making the atmosphere romantic and intimate.

I might love you so much. You may break my heart.
I could end up loving you deeply, but that also puts me at risk of getting my heart broken.

I may want you so much And all my dream been torn apart.
Wanting you badly could ruin all the hopes and dreams I've had for myself.

You say you're gonna love me, Tonight's the night. You say you're gonna hold me, Tonight's the night.
You promise to show me affection and physical intimacy tonight.

I don't know. Said I don't know right now. I might love you so.
Again, I'm not completely sure of my feelings for you yet.

Let's take a chance. Gonna be a great romance Movin' right now, Gonna be a great romance Gonna be a great romance
Let's risk it and see where this leads us. It might turn out to be a beautiful love story in the making.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LUTHER DIXON, SHIRLEY OWENS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Paolo Turchi

ou said you're gonna meet me (tonight, tonight)
Tonight's the night (tonight, tonight)
You said you're gonna kiss me (tonight, tonight)
Tonight's the night (tonight, tonight)
Well I don't know
I said I don't know right now
I might love you so (tonight, tonight)
You say you're gonna make me (tonight, tonight)
Turn the lights down low (tonight, tonight)
You said you're gonna make me (tonight, tonight)
Feel all aglow (tonight, tonight)
Well I don't know
I don't know right now
I might love you so (tonight, tonight)
I might love you so much
You may break my heart
I may want you so much
And all my dreams may be torn apart
You say you're gonna love me (tonight, tonight)
Tonight's the night (tonight, tonight)
You say you're gonna hold me (tonight, tonight)
Tonight's the night (tonight, tonight)
Well I don't know
Said I don't know right now
I might love you so (tonight, tonight)
Let's take a chance (tonight, tonight)
It's gonna be a great romance (tonight, tonight)
Feel it in my heart now (tonight, tonight)
It's gonna be a great romance (tonight, tonight)
Upsettin' my soul (tonight, tonight)

Gonna be a great romance (tonight, tonight)
Let's take this chance

All comments from YouTube:

Philip Sanfilippo

2y↑17

Nothing better than the windows down this song full blast and driving thru a hamburger drive in !!! It’s going to be a great romance !!! Those were the days!!!!!

Linda Hegyi

4y↑30

Shirelles were one of the greatest groups ever. Beautiful harmonies and romantic lyrics. Most songs today pale in comparison to this era.

Steve Nance

6y↑84

The Shirelles were one of the absolute greatest groups ever...

PEPE ALFALLA

Like they set one of best group ever

Deborah McCoy

They.really was.

Terri garza

2y↑1

The crystals as well

PAJ

4y↑31

Was 17, and headed for college for the first time, in fall of 1960, this song reigned on the airwaves, followed soon afterwards by the 'answer song', 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow', one of the all-time best tunes ever recorded, imo.

Dom Brunelli

3y↑2

PAJ "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow" is an all time oldie fave of mine, too.

J.D. Snyder

2y↑3

One of the very first 45s I bought!!! Still sounds great!!!! I'm a Motowner but I'll take the Shirelles over the Supremes any day.

Gwyn Nielsen

2y↑3

The Shirelles did so many great numbers. I'm so glad that YouTube can preserve most of them.

Gean Carlos

2y↑1

A anos procurando por essa música e não lembrava o nome do Grupo. Consegui achar 🙌
Que canção linda, gostosa de ouvir 💖

JOE MONIZ

4y↑9

Great song.....One of my favorite songs of all times.

Dom Brunelli

5y↑35

Overshadowed by the Supremes, but the Shirelles were wonderful..I never tire of their songs.

Thomas Utecht

3y↑3

I love the Shirelles.

Dom Brunelli

@fntime Wow, what a strange collection of songs. You must be an interesting person, for sure.

Dom Brunelli

@fntime gonna take my time on this list. Pretty intriguing

4 More Replies...

Blue_Sea

47w↑1

.....The Shirelles.....las mejores de todas.... aún siguen siéndolo......

Jeff Dansky

6y↑23

One of the great groups of our early years.

Mario Saldana

3y↑11

Love the Shirelles

Mike Kaup

1y↑1

Unbeatable, been listening for fifty years!

FERRARIDOUG355

5y↑20

GREAT SONG BY A GREAT GROUP

CLEMENTINE PRICE

4y↑7

I WAS 15 ALMOST 16 WHEN THIS SONG CAME OUT..THIS WAS ONE OF THE FUN AND GOOD TIME SONGS THAT I TAUGHT MY BOYFRIEND TO DANCE ON SO THAT HE COULD BECOME MY DANCING PARTNER..HE LEARNED VERY WELL AND IT WAS MAGICAL DANCING WITH HIM FOR YEARS....

Ray Oelcher

5y↑16

The best what a decade of music!!!

Johnny Gainor

4y↑9

To be honest, I always thought this was a bigger Chart Hit! I think no. 39 is respectable, but I thought for certain that it was a top 10 Hit for them - I guess in those days, a song played on AM Radio often, sometimes giving the illusion that maybe it was a bigger hit on the pop charts than it actually was - and I DO think it deserved to chart higher -

JOHN Fulton

I think it should have charted higher than no 39 the reason could be that the owner of Scepter Records had not learned to play the payola game yet she definetly learned later that was just a part of the industry

Eugene Sedita

Sure, remember Payola .

Drummer C

43w

So true. It did reach 14 on the r & b charts.

1JUSTGOTLUCKY1

47w

This is one great song by a great group!!

James Prevard

This was a slamming sound as all of there others. Proud to be there neighbors. They ruled 4 close 2 a decade.

JOE MONIZ

5y↑7

One of my favorites....Great Song!!

Timothy Thorne

5y↑2

It's one of this group's best songs. It's kind of a lead up to their stellar King/Goffin classic, Will You Love Me Tomorrow.

Laurent Kelly

5y↑6

simply sublime!

Jerry

2y↑1

When I hear this, I feel the life of 1960 returning to me. What an era to live in. Gone now and replaced by rap.

Keith Epley

My favorite Shirelles song--of so many great song!

francis19

42w

This is music, need I say more.😊

NancyBaron1

2y↑1

They were absolutely the best, ever!

todd windyhill

3y↑1

Thanks to Joan and Norm for the 1960 memories....never to be forgotten....and helped-along by AM-Top 40 music like this....blasting from Boston up and down the East Coast.

Samuel Griffin

Shirley Alston Reeves and The Shirelles made fantastic music

Samuel Griffin

3y↑3

What a magical era

Deborah Price

Great song!

Shad0wGh0stBr0

This song is amazing you have to listen to the version by the teenagers in 1960👍👍🎵🎵

David Maslow

Oh my! I Loved their stuff when it came out in 61! I was eleven.

Clyde B

They CAPTURED the feel of the great Motown sound of the mid 1960s!

JOHN Fulton

Mary Wilson of the Supremes spoke mentioned in one of her books that she played Will you still love tomorrow when it first came so many times one night that her mother asked her to stop this was before the Supremes hit it big and were called the no hits Supremes by the more successful Motown acts

Richard Fernandez

4y↑8

Never really realize it to after hearing this song and other songs by The Shirelles how good they really were definitely rivaled The Supremes if not better

C. Jack

Better

Jim Mitchell

@C. Jack much better

Agustín García Fernández

4y↑5

The Shirelles ❤️

Tanya Peterson

4y↑4

oh yes real soul music!

Shaggy Dogg

1y↑1

To all you youngsters, this was I great time to be alive. Used to listen to this song on a green portable Motorola tube type radio.

Cynthia's Channel

6y↑14

This was The Shirelles's 1st big hit from 1960...

catman916

6y↑3

Indeed, it was the Shirelles' first big hit in 1960, but do you remember "I Met Him on a Sunday" from 1958, Cynthia?

Cynthia's Channel

Well Hello John... Nice for the reply back, Yes I do remember them all, Growing up with The Shirelles music from the beginning until the last I was listening to their songs... Thanks for the reply back.... Nice to hear from you... Cynthia

catman916

It's good to know that we are both still around. Life is good!

Timothy Thorne

This...is FABULOUS music. Just look at the group pictures of the Shirelles while listening to the music...these ladies are as beautiful as they are talented!

Kham Vongphayboun

5y↑1

your face is a great big hit Cynthia lol. in 2019 xD

coolsweetjoy

7y↑7

Great song

Mike Metague

3y↑3

"Gonna be a great romance," how perfect!

Terry Stroud

3y↑2

💘 love these beautiful girls.before Diana or Martha..they were already paving the way for so many others.!!

Nanci Poulos

5y↑2

Great song.

Tanya Peterson

5y↑19

SIMPLY BREATH TAKING BEAUTILFULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL! THE 60'S DYNAMITE!

George Pugh

Saw them live in Pensacola they were a wonder

JOHN Fulton

2y↑2

Mary Wilson had no idea that when she wore out her 45 of will you love me tomorrow that her struggling group at that time referred to as the no hit Supremes by other successful Motown artists would be bigger than the Shirelles the Shirelles knocked down some big doors and paved the way for the Supremes and other girl groups

Young Kyng

2y↑2

2022 Such A Beautiful Classic

Deborah McCoy

2y↑1

When I Was A Preteen, The Shirelles Was Up There With The Best Groups Of That Time And Then They Just Vanished; They Were A Great Group But They Just Faded Away. I Really Missed Them At That Time.

JOHN Fulton

You can probably guess the ethnicity of the record company owner the same group of people that cheated other artists

JOHN Fulton

Let me be a little more clear you can probably guess the ethnicity and RELIGION of the record company owner

1 More Replies...

MrCeora

3y↑1

The best!

Jorge Mario Rodas

7y↑5

I Heard this one once or twice long ago and never again Heard it but now I hear it again I remember. I never even knew what the title of the song was. But it is good and I like it.

catman916

7y↑2

One of the great things about You Tube, Jorge, is discovering long lost favorites. Enjoy!

MarcieLuvzMusic

7y↑4

Solid Gold💕 Thank you🌷

JOE MONIZ

4y↑2

Great Song

AnnetteB Mcintee

4y↑4

RIP to my cousin Theresa, Introduced me to the shirerell’s I was 11yrs old 56 still listening 2020🥰

Imani M

4y↑3

I'm sorry for your loss. I'm glad you have the memories and this beautiful music to remember her by

AnnetteB Mcintee

4y↑1

Imani M TY🤗

AnnetteB Mcintee

Imani M TY🤗

Imani M

4y↑1

@AnnetteB Mcintee You're welcome 😊

richard moshman

One of the greatest

belisario guerra

5y↑2

Original: The Shirelles ( U.S. ) - Tonight's the night ( 1960 ). Cover: Las Yolis ( Mexico ) - Estoy aprendiendo el twist ( 196? ).

Paolo Turchi

mister bear

Very Amazing

Jason 101

1y↑3

Yet another excellent recommendation from David Lynch

Thomas Norman

7y↑3

these Shirelles are my Sisters forever

William Tatum

Yet another excellent recommendation Mr. Lynch!

Richard Berube

4y↑2

just great

Jordanzillia _YT

5y↑3

Not the Supremes the greatest group of all times

Susan Wilson

1y↑2

🌹💞 lovely 💞🌹... ... ... 😌💖🧝

Jo Ann Kelly

2y↑1

Back ‘n the Day.

Vivian Wade

2y↑2

I put this on here, I thought it might be enjoyed. Bunny from Pittsburgh PA. Enjoy 😊😊😊

Cieria Perkins

3y↑1

I'm in love whit this song goooo,,,,,,shirellse.

Mario Guicciardi

🌹❤🇮🇹

Patrick Townsend

2y↑1

The Shirelles were from New Jersey - not Motown.

Robert Juliano

3y↑1

One. Of. The. Grestest. Gril. Groups. Of. All. Times. But. I. Must. Say. The. Ronettes. Are. My. Hart. My. Love. To. U. Ronnie. Spector. Yes. I. Love. U. My. Harlem. Queen. Much. Love

ronald moyer

4y↑2

where did the good songs go

JAY SEE

1y↑1

On Wednesday November 30th 2022, David Lynch was thinking about this song in his daily weather update

james king

4y↑2

A BLASS FROM THE PAST WILL NEVER RUN OUT OF GAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

lynette komidar

46w

I was about 16 First job while still at Tech.. ah the hormones !!

Georgie Thumbs

5y↑2

Where John Lennon got "Not a second time"

Timothy Thorne

This is two minutes of pop perfection. It opens with a wicked, discordant four note outburst from the strings, which leads perfectly into a sort of teenage drama. Nothing can compare to this song, co-written by lead singer Shirley Owens; not even the magnificent sequel "Will You Love Me Tomorrow".