He started to play piano after his parents set up a lesson with a piano teacher who he said to be "a laid-back New Jersey wedding singer". From there, Miller started to develop singing and writing songs. During his high school, he started a pop-punk band. When he was 18 years old, Tor Miller went to New York University, specifically Clive Davis School of Recorded Music. He also spent his weekends playing piano at places such as Rockwood Music Hall, The Bitter End, and the burlesque bar, Slipper Room in the East Village.
Miller was signed to the independent label, Glassnote Records in early 2014 and subsequently dropped out from NYU due to scheduling problems (especially since he played music in a number of NYC venues). His first debut EP, Headlights EP, containing four songs that includes the positively reviewed "Midnight" was released in February 2015.
midnight
Tor Miller Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In a back of an old dive bar
So I step outside and light a cigarette
Taking the fumes of the passing cars
Loud angry drunks and a few crest punks
Fill every crevasse of Saint Mark's
Some things have changed since back then
But the streets are still so hard
In the lonely hours of midnight
When New York City's lying wide awake
Under the glow of street light
I feel the rumble that the concrete makes
On my head, lookout down
Ride through the Harlem to the interstate
Let my soul reignite
In the lonely hours of midnight
Two lovers falling in each other's arms
Stumbling on down the high line
Upon the bridge there's a broken heart
Screaming to his valentine
Two sunken eyes at the corner shop
Tryina get a lucy for a dime
The needle drops and the line it turns
And then it burns one right
In the lonely hours of midnight
When New York City's lying wide awake
Under the glow of street light
I feel the rumble that the concrete makes
On my head, lookout down
Ride through the Harlem to the interstate
Let my soul reignite
In the lonely hours of midnight
Calling out for something
Calling out for something true
Calling out for something
Calling out for something true
Calling out for something
Calling out for something true
In the lonely hours of midnight
When New York City's lying wide awake
Under the glow of street light
I feel the rumble that the concrete makes
In the lonely hours of midnight
When New York City's lying wide awake
Under the glow of street light
I feel the rumble that the concrete makes
On my head, lookout down
Ride through the Harlem to the interstate
Let my soul reignite
In the lonely hours of midnight
Let my soul reignite
In the lonely hours of midnight
Tor Miller's song "Midnight" is a vivid depiction of the bustling city life of New York, particularly during the late hours of the night. The song starts with a description of a dive bar where Jeff Buckley's music is playing loud. Tor steps outside to take a puff of his cigarette and inhale the fumes of the passing cars, while the streets are filled with angry drunks and punk-rockers. The lyrics paint a picture of how the atmosphere has changed since earlier times, but the streets remain hard as ever. Tor Miller reflects on the loneliness he feels as he describes the city's sleeplessness and darkness, and how the lonely hours of midnight make him realize the hardships of life.
The lyrics in this song have poetic and metaphorical value as Tor Miller talks about the different scenes he sees while wandering through New York City at midnight. One can sense a contrast between different aspects of city life such as the lovers being intimate on the High Line, the broken-hearted man screaming to his valentine on the bridge, and the drug addict trying to score a hit from the corner store. The song also represents how the city has become a place to cry out for something true, to find some genuine connection in a fast-paced and disconnected world.
Line by Line Meaning
Jeff Buckley's grace was playing loud as hell
The song being played was loud and intense, evocative of Jeff Buckley's music.
In a back of an old dive bar
The setting was in a dark and dingy place, possibly symbolic of loneliness and despair.
So I step outside and light a cigarette
The character is taking a moment to pause and reflect outside the tumultuous environment around them.
Taking the fumes of the passing cars
The character is passively inhaling the fumes of the city, which could represent their resignation to their surroundings.
Loud angry drunks and a few crest punks
The people in the character's environment are rowdy and aggressive, signifying a chaotic and uncontrolled environment.
Fill every crevasse of Saint Mark's
The location is crowded and cramped, emphasizing the discomfort of the environment.
Some things have changed since back then
The character has a sense of nostalgia or longing for a time that has passed, emphasizing a feeling of temporal displacement.
But the streets are still so hard
The environment is difficult and unforgiving, symbolic of the harsh realities of life.
In the lonely hours of midnight
The character is solitary, emphasizing loneliness and solitude.
When New York City's lying wide awake
The city is alive and awake, which could signify the character's struggle to stand out from the crowd.
Under the glow of street light
The character is outside, surrounded by artificial light, which could symbolize their displacement from nature.
I feel the rumble that the concrete makes
The character is in touch with the physical environment around them, which could signify a sense of groundedness and connectedness.
On my head, lookout down
The character is introspective, possibly contemplating their place in the world and their connection to the environment.
Ride through the Harlem to the interstate
The character is moving through the city, emphasizing a sense of dynamism and restlessness.
Let my soul reignite
The character is seeking inspiration or renewal, possibly suggesting a sense of unfulfillment or stagnation.
Two lovers falling in each other's arms
The character is observing a romantic moment, emphasizing a sense of longing or romantic idealism.
Stumbling on down the high line
The lovers are moving down the High Line, a park built on an old railway, possibly symbolizing a journey or a path to follow.
Upon the bridge there's a broken heart
The character observes someone who is heartbroken, possibly emphasizing a sense of emotional fragility.
Screaming to his valentine
The brokenhearted person is yelling out to their significant other, signifying a sense of emotional turmoil or desperation.
Two sunken eyes at the corner shop
The character observes someone who looks tired or worn out, possibly symbolizing a sense of weariness or exhaustion.
Tryina get a lucy for a dime
The character is trying to buy a cigarette, emphasizing a sense of addiction or dependence.
The needle drops and the line it turns
The character is possibly using drugs, emphasizing a sense of risk and danger.
And then it burns one right
The character is smoking a cigarette, which could represent a sense of temporary relief or escapism.
Calling out for something
The character is seeking something that is missing in their life or environment, emphasizing a sense of yearning or dissatisfaction.
Calling out for something true
The character is seeking authenticity or sincerity, possibly representing a desire for a more meaningful existence.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JONATHAN IAN GREEN, TOR ALBERT MILLER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Chess Tino
Jeff Buckley's grace was playing loud as hell, in the back of an old dive bar
So I step outside and light a cigarette, take in the fumes of the passing cars
Loud angry drunks and a few cress punks fill every crevasse of St. Marks
Some things have changed since back then but the streets are still so hard
In the lonely hour of midnight
When New York City's lying wide awake under the glow of a street light
I feel the rumble that the concrete makes
I might hail a cab down
Right thru the Holland to the interstate, and my soul reignites
In the lonely hour of midnight
Two lovers falling in each others arms, stumbling on down the highline
Up on the bridge there's a broken heart screaming to his valentine
Two sunken eyes at the cornershop trying to get a lucy for a dime
The needle drops and the vinyl turns, I'm gonna burn this one right
In the lonely hour of midnight
When New York City's lying wide awake under the glow of a street light
I feel the rumble that the concrete makes
I might hail a cab down
Right thru the Holland to the interstate, and my soul reignites
In the lonely hour of midnight
Calling out for something, calling out for something true
Calling out for something, calling out for something true
Calling out for something, calling out for something true
In the lonely hour of midnight
When New York City's lying wide awake under the glow of a street light
I feel the rumble that the concrete makes
In the lonely hour of midnight
When New York City's lying wide awake under the glow of a street light
I feel the rumble that the concrete makes
I might hail a cab down
Right thru the Holland to the interstate, and my soul reignites
In the lonely hour of midnight
And my soul reignites
In the lonely hour of midnight
Brenda Diaz
Jeff buckley's grace was playing loud as hell
In a back of an old dive bar
So I step outside and light a cigarette
Taking the fumes of the passing cars
Loud angry drunks and a few crest punks
Fill every crevasse of saint mark's
Some things have changed since back then
But the streets are still so hard
In the lonely hours of midnight
When new york city's lying wide awake
Under the glow of street light
I feel the rumble of the concrete mix
On my head, lookout down
Ride through the harlem to the interstate
And my soul reunite
In the lonely hours of midnight
Two lovers falling in each other's arms
Stumbling now on the high line
Upon the bridge there's a broken heart
Screaming to his valentine
Two sunken eyes at the corner shop
Tryina get a lucky for a dime
The needle drops and the line it turns
And then it burns one right
In the lonely hours of midnight
When new york city's lying wide awake
Under the glow of street light
I feel the rumble of the concrete mix
On my head, lookout down
Ride through the harlem to the interstate
And my soul reunite
In the lonely hours of midnight
Calling out for something
Calling out for something true
In the lonely hours of midnight
When new york city's lying wide awake
Under the glow of street light
I feel the rumble of the concrete mix
In the lonely hours of midnight
When new york city's lying wide awake
Under the glow of street light
I feel the rumble of the concrete mix
On my head, lookout down
Ride through the harlem to the interstate
And my soul reunite
In the lonely hours of midnight
In the lonely hours of midnight
In the lonely hours of midnight
Chris Klemens
So good...dope music video to a great song!
Makayla Long
I like how you can actually understand every word he's saying. Most of the artists these days just mumble while they're singing. Which isn't exactly a horrible thing, but it's nice to listen to a song and understand the meaning without looking the words up.
Phil Evans
it also gives such a retro feel
Joanne Turner
Makayla Long yeah I really like his style,his voice is so pretty, and plus he's cute! Also his songs are very catchy I'm really digging it :)
Makayla Long
Seriously, though. His voice is so beautiful and unique...😍😍😍
Joanne Turner
Totally agree with you!
Luis Noble
I love how this captures the heart of the city at night without having to show us the skyline or its famous buildings. It's a quality piece of filmmaking that captures the sentiment of the song perfectly. The worn-in Americana and the possibility that comes with some midnight soul-searching.
Kyana Alexiss
love him
can't wait till he is big. he deserves it
Lruity Foops
Kyana Alexiss how much bigger do you want him to get? lol he's already in 2k 😂😂😂
Quynh Dang
+Kyana Alexiss He's truly talented.