Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone
The Manhattan Transfer Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

With a key, you unlock a door to imagination
Beyond it is another dimension
A dimension of sight
A dimension of sound
A dimension of mind

You're moving through a land of both shadow and substance
Of things and ideas
Guiding you through this wondrous journey
Is the hypnotic sound of the twilight tone

When I hear this melody
This strange illusion takes over me
Through a tunnel of the mind
Perhaps a present or future time oh, oh
Out of nowhere comes this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round and 'round
Pyramidal locomotion
From this mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight
Hearin' the twilight, twilight tone

Unpretentious girl from Memphis
Saw the future through her third eye
People came with skepticism
Picking, testing her precision, no, wo, oh, oh
Suddenly they heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round and 'round
A signpost up ahead is calling
From the mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight tone

Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight tone

On a cold & rainy night
One Mister Miller had a rare flight
Glen was up there boppin' a rhythm
Then the engine stopped to listen with him
Play that beat, oh, oh
Suddenly he heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round and 'round
Now he resides and plays trombone
In the mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight, hmm hearing the)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight, hmm hearing the)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight, hearing the)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight, hearing the)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight, hearing the)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight, hearing the)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight, hearing the)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight, hearing the)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight, hearing the)




Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight, hearing the)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight)

Overall Meaning

The Manhattan Transfer's "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone" is a song about entering a world of imagination or another dimension through unlocking the door with a key. This world is described as one of both shadow and substance, of things and ideas. The lyrics suggest that this dimension has a dimension of sight, sound, and mind. The listener is guided through this journey with the hypnotic sound of the twilight tone. The song goes on to mention a girl from Memphis who could see the future through her third eye but was met with skepticism. Suddenly, there is a strange melody and a signpost appears offering guidance through this mystic unknown zone. The song ends with Mister Miller, who is transported to the mystic unknown zone while playing the trombone.


Line by Line Meaning

With a key, you unlock a door to imagination
With something simple, like a key, you can open up the vast expanse of your imagination.


Beyond it is another dimension
Once your imagination is unlocked, you have the ability to enter another world entirely.


A dimension of sight
This imagined world is one that you can see.


A dimension of sound
It's one you can hear, with all manner of sounds and noises that are unique to your imagination.


A dimension of mind
It's also one that you can experience with your thoughts, emotions, and ideas.


You're moving through a land of both shadow and substance
This other world is full of fantastical elements that can take on a more tangible form, while others will be more ephemeral.


Of things and ideas
You will encounter physical objects, as well as more abstract concepts and imaginings.


Guiding you through this wondrous journey
As you journey through this world, you will be led by something special and hypnotic.


Is the hypnotic sound of the twilight tone
This guide is specifically the mesmerizing audio effect that encompasses Mr. Miller's journey, the 'twilight tone.'


When I hear this melody
When the artist hears the 'twilight tone,'


This strange illusion takes over me
They're overcome with an unusual, but pleasant feeling.


Through a tunnel of the mind
It feels like their mind is passing through a twisted pathway.


Perhaps a present or future time, oh oh
Whether they feel that they're in a distant, futuristic world, or a contemporary one, isn't clear.


Out of nowhere comes this sound
The 'twilight tone' arrives suddenly, and without warning.


This melody that keeps spinning 'round and 'round
It's a sort of repeating, circular tune that seems to echo forever.


Pyramidal locomotion
The artist doesn't know what this means, but it's likely something strange, beyond their understanding.


From a mystic unknown zone
They're hearing the 'twilight tone' from a foreign realm that they can't quite comprehend.


Unpretentious girl from Memphis
The song moves to a new scenario, this time one with a background character: a young woman from Memphis.


Saw the future through her third eye
This woman is said to possess a psychic or supernatural ability to see what's to come in life.


People came with skepticism
Most people who learned of her ability likely doubted it.


Picking, testing her precision, no, wo, oh, oh
Those who doubted her would often ask her to prove herself by predicting something specific, which put pressure on the psychic woman.


Suddenly they heard this sound
The 'twilight tone' came out of nowhere yet again, surprising them all.


This melody that keeps spinning 'round and 'round
The sound has the same disorienting and infinite quality it did before.


A signpost up ahead is calling
The sound seems to lead them onward and deeper into the foreign dimension, marked by a signpost that beckons them to continue.


Through the mystic unknown zone
Once again, the journey leads the listeners through the a strange and mysterious realm that they've never encountered before, which is beyond anyone's understanding.


On a cold and rainy night
The song jumps to another, different scenario, one unfolding on a stormy night.


One Mister Miller had a rare flight
Someone named Mr. Miller was having a once-in-a-lifetime experience on this chilly, wet evening.


Glen was up there boppin' a rhythm
A man named Glen, presumably part of the flight crew, is enjoying himself and dancing a little to a beat.


Then the engine stopped to listen with him play that beat, oh, oh
Suddenly, both men hear the 'twilight tone' through the plane, and aren't sure what to make of it.


Now, he resides and plays trombone
After that encounter, something indescribable happened to Mr. Miller, and now he's living in the curious realm of the 'twilight tone' and playing an instrument in it (trombone).


In the mystic unknown zone
As before, the 'twilight tone' has led someone deep into the foreign dimension of the imagination, where they're now dwelling.


Hearin' the twilight
The song ends on a note of repeated phrasing, reinforcing the idea of getting lost in the limitless sounds that the imagination has to offer.


Hearin' the twilight, twilight tone
The 'twilight tone' is what's really at the heart of the song: the unexplainable, hypnotic sound that seems to lead you through a journey of endless possibilities.




Lyrics © GARDEN RAKE MUSIC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Alan Paul, Jay Graydon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Ángela Vargas

With a key, you unlock a door to imagination
Beyond it is another dimension
A dimension of sight
A dimension of sound
A dimension of mind
You're moving through a land of both shadow and substance
Of things and ideas
Guiding you through this wondrous journey
Is the hypnotic sound of the twilight tone
When I hear this melody
This strange illusion takes over me
Through a tunnel of the mind
Perhaps a present or future time, oh oh
Out of nowhere comes this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round and 'round
Pyramidal locomotion
From a mystic unknown zone
Hearin' the twilight
Hearin' the twilight, twilight tone
Unpretentious girl from Memphis
Saw the future through her third eye
People came with skepticism
Picking, testing her precision, no, wo, oh, oh
Suddenly they heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round and 'round
A signpost up ahead is calling
Through the mystic unknown zone
Hearin' the twilight
(Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm)
Hearin' the twilight
(Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da)
Hearin' the twilight, twilight tone
Hearin' the twilight
(Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm)
Hearin' the twilight
(Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da)
Hearin' the twilight, twilight tone
Submitted for your approval
One Mr. Miller, who's about to take a trip
Into oddness and obsolescence
Through a zone whose boundaries are that of imagination
Accompanying him on this journey is the mesmerizing
Sound of the twilight tone
On a cold and rainy night
One Mister Miller had a rare flight
Glen was up there boppin' a rhythm
Then the engine stopped to listen with him play that beat, oh, oh
Suddenly he heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round and 'round
Now, he resides and plays trombone
In the mystic unknown zone
Hearin' the twilight
(Hearin' the twilight)
Hearin' the twilight
(Hearin' the twilight)
Hearin' the twilight
(Hearin' the twilight)
Hearin' the twilight
(Hearin' the twilight)
Hearin' the twilight
(Hearin' the twilight)
Hearin' the twilight
(Hearin' the twilight)



Alejandro Jr Manlangit

With a key, you unlock a door to imagination
Beyond it is another dimension
A dimension of sight
A dimension of sound
A dimension of mind
You're moving through a land of both shadow and substance
Of things and ideas
Guiding you through this wondrous journey
Is the hypnotic sound of the twilight tone

When I hear this melody......This strange illusion takes over me
Through a tunnel of the mind.......Perhaps a present or future time oh, oh
Out of nowhere comes this sound........This melody that keeps spinning 'round and 'round
Pyramidal locomotion......From this mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight.......Hearin' the twilight, twilight tone

Unpretentious girl from Memphis.....Saw the future through her third eye.......People came with skepticism
Picking, testing her precision, no, wo, oh, oh........Suddenly they heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round and 'round.......A signpost up ahead is calling......From the mystic unknown zone

Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm

Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight tone
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight tone
On a cold & rainy night
One Mister Miller had a rare flight
Glen was up there boppin' a rhythm
Then the engine stopped to listen with him
Play that beat, oh, oh
Suddenly he heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round and 'round
Now he resides and plays trombone
In the mystic unknown zone
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight)
Hearin' the twilight (the twilight, twilight)



風都を愛するキードーパント

With a key,
you unlock a door to imagination
Beyond it is another dimension
A dimension of sight
A dimension of sound
A dimension of mind

鍵さえあれば
あなたは想像の世界のドアを開けられる
その向こうには別な次元があるんだ
目で見えるものの次元
耳で聞こえるものの次元
心でイメージするものの次元…


You're moving through
a land of both shadow and substance
Of things and ideas
Guiding you through this wondrous journey
Is the hypnotic sound of the twilight tone

あなたは
影と実体、モノと思念
両方の世界へと進んでいく
あなたをこの驚くべき旅へ案内するのは
トワイライトの調べが持つ
眠りに誘う音楽なの…


When I hear this melody
This strange illusion takes over me
Through a tunnel of the mind
Perhaps a present or future time oh, oh

Out of nowhere comes this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
Pyramidal locomotion
From a mystic unknown zone

このメロディを耳にすると
奇妙な幻想が私を包んでしまう
おそらく現在 または未来の時間なのかしら
心のトンネルを通じて

どこからともなくサウンドが聞こえてくるの
このメロディはぐるぐる回り続ける
ピラミッド型をした機関車が
誰も知らない神秘的な場所からやってくる…

Hearin' the twilight
Hearin' the twilight, twilight tone

トワイライトの音色が聞こえる?
聴いてごらん 不思議なあの音楽を
トワイライトの調べを…

Unpretentious girl from Memphis
Saw the future through her third eye
People came with skepticism
Picking, testing her precision, no, wo, oh, oh

Suddenly they heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
A signpost up ahead is calling
Through the mystic unknown zone

メンフィスから来たというおとなしい少女
第三の目で未来を見たと言う
人々はみな疑いの目で見て
彼女の予言を取り上げて、試したわ ああ

突然 このサウンドが聞こえてきたの
ぐるぐるとまわり続けるこのメロディ
ずっと先の道しるべが呼んでいる
誰も知らない不可解なあの場所から…

Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight tone

トワイライトが聞こえる?
トワイライトは消えたのよ リズムを感じて
かすかな調べが聞こえる?
トワイライトは消えた
この不思議な音楽が聞こえる?
トワイライトの調べが…


Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da
Hearin' the twilight
Twilight tone

トワイライトが聞こえる?
トワイライトは消えたわ リズムを感じて
かすかな調べが聞こえる?
トワイライトは消えた
この不思議な音楽が聞こえる?
トワイライトの調べが…

On a cold & rainy night
One Mister Miller had a rare flight
Glen was up there boppin' a rhythm
Then the engine stopped to listen with him
Play that beat, oh, oh

Suddenly he heard this sound
This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
Now he resides and plays trombone
In the mystic unknown zone

寒くて 雨の降る夜
Mr.ミラーという人が珍しく飛行した
グレンは上にあがってリズムを刻んだ
すると 彼とともに聞くために エンジンは止まる
ビートを奏でるわ ああ

突然 彼はこのサウンドを聞いたの
ぐるぐるとまわり続けるこのメロディ
いま彼はとどまり トロンボーンを吹いたの
誰も知らない不可解なあの場所から…

Hearin' the twilight
(Hearin' the twilight)

トワイライトの調べ
(あの不思議な音楽が聞こえる?)

何かが起きる前触れかしら?
(あの不思議な音楽が聞こえる?)

トワイライトの調べ
(あの不思議な音楽が聞こえる?)



All comments from YouTube:

Dave Smith

Love this song! People tend to forget how amazingly experimental music was in the era of 1979-1984. So much great music of all genres being put out there.

Antòni Gèli

1974-1979 very experimental as well in electro, funk and disco fields. A crazy race to grap new sounds. Each town or country has its own touch (munich sound philadelphia sound miami sound...).

Mr Funky

YASSSssss l so agree they think it was all about Madonna , And Micheal Jackson oh no no no !

Christian Zanasi

Hi yes I’m p

Hannibal Hector

New Wave, Electric Boogie, & R&B Funk. ✌🏾😎🍷

UncleDu

So true...and I came along right on time. That 79-84 timeframe was the beginning of my musical exploration. By 84 (age 7) I was already singing and playing and songs like Twilight Zone, Sweet Dreams, Rock With You, Glamorous Life...I could list for days...were the songs that expanded my young musical palette.

5 More Replies...

Rony Quemé

Nunca pasará de moda. Un tema de absoluta riqueza musical.

Patrick Mertz

Still sounds fantastic after all these years, they don't make music like that any more.

Gary Jackson

Written by Jay Graydon and Alan Paul. Graydon plays the guitar solo. A prolific songwriter and session musician, Graydon also played the guitar solo on Steely Dan's "Peg," which is a hell of a story unto itself.
This is a great song, wild video, and Janis... well what can one say, except perfection!

saki natuki

子供の時に初めて聞いた、とても斬新だった。
40年以上を経て大人になった今聞いても斬新で、子供の時感じた斬新さも蘇り、不思議な感覚である。

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