In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Nights in white satin
Never reaching the end
Letters I've written
Never meaning to send
Beauty I've always missed
With these eyes before
Just what the truth is
I can't say any more
'Cause I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Gazing at people some hand in hand
Just what I'm going through they can't understand
Some try to tell me thoughts they cannot defend
Just what you want to be you will be in the end
And I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Oh how I love you
Nights in white satin
Never reaching the end
Letters I've written
Never meaning to send
Beauty I've always missed
With these eyes before
Just what the truth is
I can't say any more
'Cause I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Oh how I love you
'Cause I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Oh how I love you
Breath deep
The gathering gloom
Watch lights fade
From every room
Bedsitter people
Look back and lament
Another day's useless
Energy spent
Impassioned lovers
Wrestle as one
Lonely man cries for love
And has none
New mother picks up
And suckles her son
Senior citizens
Wish they were young
Cold hearted orb
That rules the night
Removes the colours
From our sight
Red is gray and
Yellow white
But we decide
Which is right
And
Which is an Illusion
Never reaching the end
Letters I've written
Never meaning to send
Beauty I've always missed
With these eyes before
Just what the truth is
I can't say any more
'Cause I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Gazing at people some hand in hand
Just what I'm going through they can't understand
Some try to tell me thoughts they cannot defend
Just what you want to be you will be in the end
And I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Oh how I love you
Nights in white satin
Never reaching the end
Letters I've written
Never meaning to send
Beauty I've always missed
With these eyes before
Just what the truth is
I can't say any more
'Cause I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Oh how I love you
'Cause I love you
Yes I love you
Oh how I love you
Oh how I love you
Breath deep
The gathering gloom
Watch lights fade
From every room
Bedsitter people
Look back and lament
Another day's useless
Energy spent
Impassioned lovers
Wrestle as one
Lonely man cries for love
And has none
New mother picks up
And suckles her son
Senior citizens
Wish they were young
Cold hearted orb
That rules the night
Removes the colours
From our sight
Red is gray and
Yellow white
But we decide
Which is right
And
Which is an Illusion
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
My take on these lyrics is firstly don't search for too much deep meanings therein, great music, a lot of drugs, thrown in some sex and you've got it, however I always liked the poem at the end, it actually seemd to capture the circle of life with a dispassionate moon watching over the entire panorama. I'm listening to it now, well actally moved on the "Timothy Leary is Dead". Mike
Greetings. As far as the songs I suppose that the word, "kinghts" or "nights" could both apply to its' meaning. I am in my mid 40's and I vaguely rememeber my Dad listening to MB in the mid 70's. (On the Threshold of a Dream.) <br /> <br /> To me, this song refers to the journey of life that we are all on. While not everyone is a romantic I feel that most of us (human beings) seek love, companionship or at the very least acknowledgement and understanding. <br /> <br /> Being a "knight" in white satin is like being a chivalrous night of Old (King Arthurs) time. Seeking a sense of completion from finding and connecting with that fair maiden (soul mate or love.) or current love interest. Psss. Don't worry ladie's I am not leaving you out. A female can be a Knight in White satin. <br /> <br /> Anyhow, all of us who have been intwined in a romantic liason know the many corridors, avenues and sometimes dead ends that our minds and thoughts can take us down. We also know what it is like to create illusions on how things are, can be, and should be. If we are lucky (and diligent) we might find someone to share the "illusion" with. Yet, "how long can we share the illusion?" It depends upon the two and many other variables. Family, money life and or whatever factors that the two feel/ar affected by. <br /> <br /> In the song he mentions "beauty I have missed with these eyes before." I feel he is refering to what alot of us take for granted or fail to see. It sounds to me that he is at a poignant and pondering type of moment. Maybe he's sitting on a park bench in Central Park. Better yet, Hyde park in London. <br /> <br /> Here he is observing life going on. From a mother's pt. of view, to the elderly, lonely man, to impassioned lovers. <br /> <br /> Finally, the last stanza in reference to the moon, "cold hearted orb, that rules through the night," is the inanimate objectivity of the moon and how it just is. It neither is good or bad, it merely is. <br /> <br /> It apppears cold to him for maybe he is in a state of confusion or sadness. Perhaps it may seem bleak because of the weather where he is. (say England). I think that it is his state of mind though. <br /> <br /> Inevitably, no matter what the outcome of a love affair, or life or anything we experience or go through. It all comes back to you. And how you choose to perceive and look back on an issue or event. "And which is an illusion."<br /> <br />