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Thursday, June 23, 2011

'Round Midnight

By Thelonious Monk, Cootie Williams & Bernie Hanighen
1944

The most recorded jazz standard composed by a jazz musician, this smoky number was first conceptualized by Monk in the 1930s under a different name. It developed gradually over the years in true jazz style, with later embellishments added by the likes of Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis. The lyrics by Henighen were added later. It's believed to have been recorded hundreds of times.

Lyrics:

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.

Recorded By:

Sarah Vaughan
Ella Fitzgerald
Amy Winehouse
Bobby McFerrin
Linda Rondstadt

3 comments:

emma wallace said...

I really, really love this song. I still like Monk's version the best.

Bob said...

Great song ... the kind that makes you think about having a drink and a cigarette while listening. Did you ever hear the Linda Rondstat version? I don't think she could interpret these songs, but she could sing them (two different things!).

B-Sol said...

Never heard the Rondstat version--I have to say I'm not much of a fan of her interpretations. Still, at least she's not Rod Stewart...

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