The Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin

The Moody Blues - Nights in White Satin

Nights in White Satin is a song by English rock band The Moody Blues. It was first featured as the segment "The Night" on the album Days of Future Passed, released in 1967. The first time it was released as a single in 1967, it reached number 19 on the UK Singles Chart and number 103 in the United States in 1968.

Songwriter:  Justin Hayward
Producer:  Tony Clarke
Label:  Deram

 

SOME INTERESTING FACTS

The song was re-released in the US in 1972, after the success of big dramatic tunes such as ‘Layla’ and ‘Hey Jude’. It was a big hit, reaching #2 on the US charts. It also went on to appear two further times in the UK charts, reaching #9 in 1972 and #14 in 1979.

"Late Lament"
The spoken-word poem that is heard around the six-minute mark of the album version, is called "Late Lament". It was written by the band’s drummer Graeme Edge, and recited by keyboard player Mike Pinder.

Justin Hayward wrote the pop/symphonic prog masterpiece, drawing on his own personal life experiences at the time. Hayward has said that, at the time, he had found himself emotionally strained between feelings of both ecstasy and despair at the same time – having just experienced the end of one love affair, whilst just starting to enjoy a new love.

Whilst sitting in his room and trying to identify something that would serve as a metaphor for his messed up emotional state, Hayward noticed a recent present from a previous girlfriend, which was a set of white satin sheets. Hayward described them as “very romantic-looking, but totally impractical.”

 

SONG LYRICS

[Verse 1]
Nights in white satin, never reaching the end
Letters I've written, never meaning to send
Beauty I'd always missed, with these eyes before
Just what the truth is, I can't say anymore
 
[Chorus]
'Cause I love you
Yes, I love you
Oh, I love you
 
[Verse 2]
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
 
[Chorus]
And I love you
Yes, I love you
Ah, how I love you
Ah, how I love you
 

[Flute Solo]

[Verse 1]
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 anymore
 
[Chorus]
'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
 
[Late Lament - Graeme Edge]
Breathe 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 grey and yellow white
But we decide which is right
And which is an illusion?

 

CHECK THIS OUT

Check out some of our latest unique designs and, just for reading to the end of this page, get an extra 10% off (on top of any current discounts) on all of our gear when you use the code: VIDPAGE10

Back to blog