Prior to forming The Midnight, Tyler Lyle and Tim McEwan were both established musicians. Lyle was an indie-folk singer-songwriter based in the state of Georgia and gained initial notability with several self-released titles, becoming regionally and nationally known. McEwan was a drummer and producer based in Denmark, later becoming a member of the Danish production group Deekay who has written and produced songs for many popular artists.
The pair met for the first time in 2012 at a songwriter’s workshop in North Hollywood organized by Katie Donovan, Lyle’s A&R representative at the time. Prior to meeting, McEwan had listened to some of Lyle’s previous work and liked Lyle’s folk sound. Despite differing musical backgrounds, they bonded over a mutual love of 80s rock and began to write songs together. After initially struggling to define their sound, McEwan suggested that they compose songs in the synthwave style. McEwan had prior exposure to the burgeoning genre and was inspired by the movie Drive. The first song they wrote together as a duo was WeMoveForward, which was included on their debut EP Days of Thunder.
STYLE AND WORKFLOW
For most of their career, The Midnight has created a strong and distinct synthwave sound in their music - Tim McEwan once described the band's early albums “as if Miami Vice had a baby with a John Hughes movie”. However, McEwan has continuously expressed a desire to evolve the synthwave genre and not be confined by it. Tyler Lyle has stated several times that the band's philosophy when composing is “combine, not confine”. Influences of genres such as lo-fi, soft rock, trance, and vaporwave can be heard on Monsters, and Lyle's musical background has brought influences of indie folk and Americana to the band's sound as well. Regarding the merging of their individual talents and styles, Lyle has said:
It’s rock and roll with synthesizers. Tim has a keen ear for production, and I can write songs that fit comfortably within the tradition of 20th century classic pop songwriting. Somewhere in the middle things get interesting.
McEwan employs various digital synths in his production, including Serum, Diva, TAL-U-NO-LX, Spire, and Roland Cloud's Jupiter 8 and Juno 106. In mid-2020, he mentioned that his favorite synth to use at the time was U-He's emulation of Prophet-5, known as Repro 5. McEwan has stated that he commonly begins with presets and then tweaks them to his liking. KONTAKT is used for sampling.
Both McEwan and Lyle use Logic Pro on macOS as their primary Digital Audio Workstation (DAW).Universal Audio interfaces are used to capture their sounds, which are then processed using UAD plugins. Using the same utilities makes it easier for them to share session files as a significant amount of their work is done remotely, due to living in different areas of the US. However, they will usually get together in the same room a few times during a release's production and will often write and record together while on tour. A release's sound and overall direction are generally created by the two bouncing ideas off each other - McEwan will send Lyle a rough track or beat, which Lyle will then think of lyrics and a title that would go good with the beat, after which McEwan will further build and produce the track. McEwan has stated that the production of a typical The Midnight album takes around three to six months, “from the early gestating part to finish”.
Production and drums are handled by McEwan, with Lyle providing guitar, lyrics, and vocals. Lyle has stated that he writes on a daily basis, and many lyrics come from a large number of fragments he keeps stored in Evernote. Most of the remaining instrumentation is digital, but on occasion songs (including most with saxophone and guitar solos) will at first have digital instruments that are then outsourced to other musicians to play live on the track. Thomas Edinger has been the primary saxophone player for The Midnight's releases, and McEwan's brother Oliver has frequently played bass for the band as well.
For live performances, various setups have been used by the band. Lyle stated that the Spring 2019 tour utilized an Ableton rig, with McEwan using an SPD SX sampling pad and MIDI controller. Lyle ran his guitars through a Kemper profiling amp, and he also used an OP1 for certain synth moments and pads.
Seventeen
The Midnight Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seventeen, seventeen
Seventeen, seventeen
Seventeen, seventeen
I was a runaway and you were a queen
Our tongues tied in the mezzanine
We were free
I was a cannonball and you were the sea
When I crashed into your blue dream
We were free
Time takes no prisoners, you'll see
When you're seventeen
The thought of a spark could start a fire
Tube top and faded jeans
How we forget how we desire
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had set a dream, set a dream
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had set a dream, set a dream
I was a runaway and you were a jewel, it was
Paradise in the land of fools
We were free
No strings on you, no strings on me
Free
Time takes no prisoners, you'll see
When you're seventeen
The thought of a spark could start a fire
Tube top and faded jeans
How we forget how we desire
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had set a dream, set a dream
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had set a dream, set a dream
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had set a dream, set a dream
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had set a dream, set a dream
Seventeen, seventeen
Set a dream, set a dream
Seventeen, seventeen
Set a dream, set a dream
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had set a dream, set a dream
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had set a dream, set a dream
Seventeen, seventeen
Set a dream, set a dream
Seventeen, seventeen
Set a dream, set a dream
The lyrics to The Midnight's song "Seventeen" evoke a sense of nostalgia and youthfulness, capturing the memories and emotions of a past relationship. The repetition of the line "Seventeen, seventeen" throughout the song forms a rhythmic chant, emphasizing the significance of this particular age in the story being told.
The song begins with the lines "I was a runaway and you were a queen, our tongues tied in the mezzanine." Here, the lyrics paint a picture of two young individuals who found each other in a moment of freedom and escape. The reference to being a runaway suggests a desire for freedom from the constraints of everyday life, while the line "tongues tied in the mezzanine" portrays a connection that goes beyond words. They were free from any obligations or attachments, allowing them to fully embrace their feelings for each other.
The chorus of the song describes the intensity of young love and longing. The line "When you're seventeen, the thought of a spark could start a fire" captures the electric excitement and potential in their relationship. The mention of a "tube top and faded jeans" adds to the imagery of youth and carefree days, showcasing the simplicity and innocence of their desires at that age.
Throughout the song, there is a recurring theme of freedom and the absence of constraints. The line "No strings on you, no strings on me" highlights the liberation they felt in each other's presence. However, the lyrics also hint at the inevitable passage of time and the fleeting nature of youthful love. The line "Time takes no prisoners, you'll see" suggests that despite their freedom in the moment, time will eventually catch up and change their circumstances.
Overall, "Seventeen" captures the essence of young love and the memories associated with that formative period in life. It explores the temporary nature of youth and the dreams that were set during that time, reminding us of the bittersweet beauty of those fleeting moments.
Line by Line Meaning
Seventeen, seventeen
The repetition emphasizes the significance of being seventeen, a pivotal age of youth and freedom.
I was a runaway and you were a queen
I was someone who escaped the constraints and you were someone with a regal presence, together creating a captivating combination.
Our tongues tied in the mezzanine
Our conversations became intertwined in the elevated platform of our minds, creating a unique and intimate connection.
We were free
We experienced a sense of liberation, unburdened by the restrictions of society or responsibilities.
No strings on you, no strings on me
Neither of us were bound or controlled by anyone or anything, allowing us to live freely and authentically.
I was a cannonball and you were the sea
I was impulsive and intense, while you were vast and calming, together creating a harmonious and powerful combination.
When I crashed into your blue dream
When I collided with your imaginative and idealistic world, it felt both mesmerizing and exhilarating.
Time takes no prisoners, you'll see
Time does not spare or wait for anyone, and eventually we will understand its unstoppable nature.
When you're seventeen
At the age of seventeen, even a small idea or feeling can have a profound impact and ignite a passionate response.
The thought of a spark could start a fire
A simple notion or flicker of inspiration has the potential to ignite a powerful and transformative force.
Tube top and faded jeans
Evoking the carefree and casual fashion of youth, representing a time when appearances were less important than authenticity.
How we forget how we desire
As time passes, we often lose touch with the intensity of our desires and the fervor with which we pursued them.
We had set a dream, set a dream
Together, we had envisioned and established a shared dream, a shared vision for our future.
We had set a dream, set a dream
Reiterating the importance and significance of the dream we had collectively established.
We were seventeen, seventeen
Reaffirming that both of us were experiencing the transformative and formative age of seventeen.
I was a runaway and you were a jewel, it was
I was someone who escaped and you were someone of great value, together creating a rare and precious combination.
Paradise in the land of fools
We found a heavenly and idyllic escape amidst a world filled with ignorance and foolishness.
Free
Just like before, emphasizing the freedom we experienced in our relationship.
Set a dream, set a dream
Continuing to emphasize the importance of establishing and pursuing our shared dream.
We were seventeen, seventeen
Reiterating our youthful age and the profound impact it had on our experiences and aspirations.
Set a dream, set a dream
Repeating the significance and determination behind the dream we had set together.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave
Written by: Tim Daniel McEwan, Tyler Lyle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Seventeen, seventeen
Seventeen, seventeen X 2
I was a runaway and you were a queen
Our tongues tied in the mezzanine
We were free
No strings on you, no strings on me
I was a cannonball and you were the sea
When I crashed into your blue dream
We were free
Time takes no prisoners, you'll see
When you're seventeen
The thought of a spark could start a fire
Tube top and faded jeans
How we forget how we desire
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had city dreams, city dreams
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had city dreams, city dreams
I was a runaway and you were a jewel
It was paradise in the land of fools
We were free
No strings on you, no strings on me
Free
Time takes no prisoners, you'll see
When you're seventeen
The thought of a spark could start a fire
Tube top and faded jeans
How we forget how we desire
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had city dreams, city dreams
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had city dreams, city dreams X2
Seventeen, seventeen
City dreams, city dreams
Seventeen, seventeen
City dreams, city dreams
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had city dreams, city dreams
We were seventeen, seventeen
We had city dreams, city dreams
Seventeen, seventeen
City dreams, city dreams
Seventeen, seventeen
City dreams, city dreams
Jason Millhouse
It is 1991.
She dances through the wildflowers on the Hill where the electrical towers move off into the distance, eternal and silent. You sit with your arms on your knees, hiding your smile behind your flannel shirt, a size too big. She sings, not hearing the words, not knowing that they don’t mean anything yet, not knowing that she loves you, not knowing that you love her, not knowing that you want her to love you, and not knowing that you don’t know how to tell her. So you let her dance in the light.
The sun falls now in this secret valley where you come with your friends to do so much of what you’ll never do again: nothing. You know that as that single faraway star falls below the horizon, it’s taking something, and you can feel it go so slowly, and together you reach out for it, but you can’t find it, can’t pin it down. But it’s there. For a time.
She laughs. The days are empty. You waste them, drinking in the wonder of life, faux-anguished, teens in constant outrage, overflowing with angst about some drama or another. And yet, you have no idea what you really have. You have no idea that one day, you’d shave years off your future if you could only go to that valley one more time, and sit among the flowers, and watch her dance to that song.
But you’re there now, in that late sun, and in the golden hum of potential and limitlessness, before violence and darkness and loss changed the world. You breathe through the softness of your shirt, and pass your hand through the grass. She checks to see that you’re watching, though she knows that you are. You’re watching so hard that you memorize her shape. The wind blows harder, and your hair is a mess. She teases you, runs her hand through your hair, and you pretend to hate it, lightly push her away, but your heart thrills silently, and you’ll take whatever you can get. She dances.
You don’t know yet—how could you?—that the years pass away, and that so, too, will this place in the valley. Nor that, in the cold light of the new reality that somehow finds everyone, one memory alone will soften the edge in your voice and the age in your eye: a warm, empty summer afternoon in that field of endless youth; a beautiful, teasing smile; and the silhouette of a perfect girl dancing in the wind of a time gone by.
ANeonMan
Crazy how I think The Midnight has peaked with each passing album, only to realize they're still climbing. Another instant classic! Well done The Midnight!
Piece Bombs
We're at the top.....AND WE'RE ONLY HALF. WAY. THEREEEEE! ....or so goes the quote in a roundabout way :p
Alkanphel
“Time takes no prisoners, you’ll see” - This is a terrifying yet beautiful line. A reminder that everything is temporary, and to cherish all of the time you have.
Stephane Tonguino
You're right, only présent moment IS essential🤔. Because in this state,thé past has gone for ever and thé futur doesn't exist. Thé futur dépend what you will do in présent moment🙂.
Duvedi Studio
Pp
Andrew Shvaygert
Beautifully said it!!
Tim Causey
Just turned 34 and that line "time takes no prisoners, you'll see" choked me up instantly. What a simpler life it was at 17. The dreams we had. Arguably the best song on the album. Nostalgia wrapped up in a coat of sadness and wistful reflection. The feelings this song elicites are indescribable.
alexzandrehd
I met the my first real love at 17, we were both the same age. It was a simpler time, now I'm 21 and wish I could go back just to see her smile again.
Tim Causey
@Jared D. Allison Thanks.
Jared D. Allison
Well said