Midnight
Yamashita Lyrics

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It begins to tell
'Round midnight, midnight
I do pretty well, till after sundown
Suppertime I'm feelin' sad
But it really gets bad
'Round midnight

Memories always start 'round midnight

Haven't got the heart to stand those memories
When my heart is still with you
And ol' midnight knows it, too
When a quarrel we had needs mending
Does it mean that our love is ending
Darlin' I need you, lately I find
You're out of my heart
And I'm out of my mind

Let our hearts take wings'
'Round midnight, midnight
Let the angels sing
For your returning
Till our love is safe and sound
And old midnight comes around
Feelin' sad

Really gets bad
Round, Round, Round Midnight

Overall Meaning

Yamashita's “Midnight” is a poignant ballad where the lyrics delve into the theme of heartbreak and longing. The song begins by saying that midnight has a story that it wants to tell, and it can be a haunting time when memories come flooding back. The singer is doing okay until after sundown and finds himself feeling sad during suppertime, but it is around midnight when things become unbearable. This encapsulates the feeling of heartbreak where the pain is felt the most during the night when a person is alone with their thoughts.

The song talks about memories that start around midnight, but the singer doesn't have the heart to face them, and they just remind him of his lost love. The singer's heart is still with his lover, and midnight knows it too. The lyrics talk about how the singer and his lover may have quarreled, and the singer wonders if this means that their love is ending. The singer then pleads to his lover, saying that he needs her in his life, and lately, he has been unable to get her out of his mind.

Finally, the lyrics talk about letting their hearts take wings and the angels singing for their returning. The singer is hoping that their love will become safe and sound when old midnight comes around again. However, the song ends on a melancholic note, with the singer still feeling sad, and things seem to get worse at midnight.

Overall, the lyrics of Yamashita's “Midnight” convey a sense of longing and heartbreak that is amplified during the night. The lyrics talk about how memories can be haunting and how the pain of heartbreak intensifies during the night when a person is alone with their thoughts.

Line by Line Meaning

It begins to tell
The song starts and the singer is introducing the theme.

'Round midnight, midnight
The singer is emphasizing the time of night when certain things happen.

I do pretty well, till after sundown
The singer is okay during the day, but starts feeling sad after the sun sets.

Suppertime I'm feelin' sad
The singer gets sad during dinner time.

But it really gets bad
The singer's sadness intensifies.

'Round midnight
The singer repeats the importance of this time of the night.

Memories always start 'round midnight
The singer's memories, particularly those associated with the intended audience or lover, return at this time.

Haven't got the heart to stand those memories
The singer's memories are too painful or nostalgic to bear.

When my heart is still with you
The singer is still in love with the intended audience or lover.

And ol' midnight knows it, too
The time of night seems to know about the singer's love for the intended audience or lover.

When a quarrel we had needs mending
When there is a dispute or argument with the intended audience or lover that needs to be resolved.

Does it mean that our love is ending
The singer is concerned that the arguments or disputes might signify an end to the relationship with the intended audience or lover.

Darlin' I need you, lately I find
The singer comes clean about needing the intended audience or lover lately.

You're out of my heart
The singer thinks the intended audience or lover is no longer in his/her heart and thus not in love anymore.

And I'm out of my mind
The singer is losing his/her mind thinking about the intended audience or lover.

Let our hearts take wings'
The singer wishes the heart to be free and happy.

'Round midnight, midnight
The singer repeats the importance of this time of the night once again.

Let the angels sing
The singer is asking for divine intervention and harmony.

For your returning
The singer wants the intended audience or lover to come back to him/her.

Till our love is safe and sound
The singer wants the love between the two to be in a good, secure and stable state.

And old midnight comes around
The singer repeats the importance of the time of the night yet again.

Feelin' sad
The singer is still feeling melancholic.

Really gets bad
The singer's sadness reaches an unbearable level.

Round, Round, Round Midnight
The singer repeats the phrase to emphasize the time of night and the depth of his/her sadness.