Let There Be Night!

May 10, 2007 10:43 AM

I'm making a compilation of songs about the night- either titles directly pertaining to the night (Night Swimming, The Heart of Saturday Night) or just songs that have 'something of the night' about them- whether soothing, moody, ominous or still. What songs lull you in the darkness? Thanks, Hivemind.
posted by Rufus T. Firefly to grab bag (95 comments total)

"Sound of Silence"--Simon and Garfunkel.
posted by Dizzy at 10:50 AM on May 10, 2007

"Sleep's Dark and Silent Gate" by Jackson Browne.
posted by essexjan at 10:52 AM on May 10, 2007

Lullabye by Ben Folds Five and Green and Dumb by Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers are both rather lovely.
posted by ajr at 10:52 AM on May 10, 2007

Infinitely Late at Night by the Magentic Fields
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:53 AM on May 10, 2007

"Blue Moon"--Elvis Presley.
"Goodnight"--Beatles.
posted by Dizzy at 10:54 AM on May 10, 2007

"Moonrise"--Hank Ballard.
"Stardust"--Glenn Miller.
posted by Dizzy at 10:56 AM on May 10, 2007

Spirit in the Night
Darknesss on the Edge of Town
Atlantic City
all by Bruce Springsteen
posted by bobot at 10:58 AM on May 10, 2007

"Our Town Suite"--Aaron Copeland.
"Follow Your Bliss"--B-52's.
posted by Dizzy at 10:58 AM on May 10, 2007

Elvis Costello - Night Rally
Elton John - Can You Feel the Love Tonight
Billy Joel - River of Dreams
posted by jne1813 at 10:59 AM on May 10, 2007

The Night by Morphine (name of album, name of song)
posted by logicpunk at 10:59 AM on May 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

Midnight in Chelsea- Jon Bon-Jovi
Kathleen- Josh Ritter
It's The Night Time Baby- Josh Rouse
Moondance- Van Morrison
Night Moves-Bob Seeger
posted by Joe Rocket at 10:59 AM on May 10, 2007

"Miracle Goodnight"--Bowie.
"The Nightfly"--Donal Fagen.
posted by Dizzy at 11:01 AM on May 10, 2007

"I Love the Night" - Blue Oyster Cult
posted by Godbert at 11:02 AM on May 10, 2007

It's Gonna Be a Long Night by Ween
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:03 AM on May 10, 2007

Most anything by Erik Satie.
"Nessun Dorma" aria from Puccini's "Turandot".
posted by Dizzy at 11:03 AM on May 10, 2007

"Night on Earth" - Brave Combo (album of the same name)
posted by MrFongGoesToLunch at 11:05 AM on May 10, 2007

"Sharkey's Night"-- Laurie Anderson.
"Three Preludes" by George Gershwin.
posted by Dizzy at 11:05 AM on May 10, 2007

Barenaked Ladies "When You Dream"
posted by artifarce at 11:05 AM on May 10, 2007

"So Tonight that I Might See"--Mazzy Star.
"Late Night, Maudlin Street"--Morrissey.
posted by Dizzy at 11:07 AM on May 10, 2007

"We Only Come Out at Night" -Smashing Pumpkins
posted by oneirodynia at 11:07 AM on May 10, 2007

2nd the Morphine recommendation.

Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons - The Night
Lush - Last Night
The Cure - 10.15 On A Saturday Night
Depeche Mode - Waiting For The Night
Iggy Pop - Sister Midnight
Jonathan Fire*Eater - A Night In The Nursery
Tindersticks - Another Night In (actually, all of Curtains)
posted by ktrey at 11:09 AM on May 10, 2007

Dylan "On A Night Like This"
Seger "Hollywood Nights"


it actually might be better to do a search on iTunes for "night" "dreams" etc.
posted by mrmarley at 11:09 AM on May 10, 2007

"Pink Moon"--Nick Drake.
"Evening Song" from "Satyagraha"-- Philip Glass.
(completely surprising and unfrenetic...)
posted by Dizzy at 11:11 AM on May 10, 2007

"Night Time Is The Right Time"--Ray Charles.
"Nocturne"--The Roches.
posted by Dizzy at 11:13 AM on May 10, 2007

"In The Midnight Hour"--Roxy Music.
"Harlem Nocturne"--Stan Kenton.
posted by Dizzy at 11:14 AM on May 10, 2007

"Sleep" -Fad Gadget
"Starlight" -Muse
"Same Ghost Every Night" -Wolf Parade
"The Darkest Star"- Depeche Mode
posted by oneirodynia at 11:16 AM on May 10, 2007

"Sailing by Night" by Department of Eagles
"Light of the Moon" by Polvo
"'Round Midnight" by Thelonius Monk
"Dirty Fingernails" by Modest Mouse has always felt like night to me, whatever that's worth.
posted by saladin at 11:16 AM on May 10, 2007

"The Lion Sleeps Tonight"--The Tokens.
(NOT the hideous REM remake!)
"Innocent When You Dream"--Tom Waits.
posted by Dizzy at 11:16 AM on May 10, 2007

Good call on the BOC tune.

B.B. King's "Into The Night" from the movie soundtrack of the same name.

Rev. Horton Heat's "In Your Wildest Dreams"
posted by Midnight Creeper at 11:17 AM on May 10, 2007

"The Passenger" by Iggy Pop.
"Blue You" by the Magnetic Fields.
"Twilight Time" by the Platters.
posted by crinklebat at 11:18 AM on May 10, 2007

Because the Night - Patti Smith
posted by banshee at 11:19 AM on May 10, 2007

"Desperadoes Under The Eaves"--Mr. Warren Zevon.
"I Saw Her Again Last Night"--The Mamas and the Papas
posted by Dizzy at 11:20 AM on May 10, 2007

"Love in the Shadows" by The Magnetic Fields
posted by contraption at 11:22 AM on May 10, 2007

"City drops into the night" by The Jim Carroll band. Mentions night and also has a real nighttime feel.
posted by fire&wings at 11:23 AM on May 10, 2007

"A Night In Tunisia"--Clifford Brown
"Aquarium" from "Peter and the Wolf" by Saint-Saens.
posted by Dizzy at 11:24 AM on May 10, 2007

See also this previous thread.
posted by misteraitch at 11:24 AM on May 10, 2007

Something in the Night – Bruce Springsteen
Ain't Even Done With the Night – John Cougar Mellencamp
District Sleeps Alone Tonight – Postal Service
I See A Darkness – Bonnie "Prince" Billy
posted by wemayfreeze at 11:24 AM on May 10, 2007

"When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No I won't be afraid, no I won't be afraid
Just as long as dizzy stands, stands by me."
posted by vronsky at 11:27 AM on May 10, 2007 [1 favorite]

It's gonna be a beautiful night--Prince
posted by OmieWise at 11:28 AM on May 10, 2007

I wish I was the moon (tonight)
by Neko Case
posted by conch soup at 11:31 AM on May 10, 2007

Gimme The Night - George Benson
Tonight, Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins
posted by cashman at 11:33 AM on May 10, 2007

Give Me The Night - George Benson
posted by boosh at 11:34 AM on May 10, 2007

Night Train to Mundo Fine - John Carradine
posted by jeff-o-matic at 11:35 AM on May 10, 2007

they live by night - the make-up
still of the night - (a lot of covered this one but...) Sly & the family Stone
Last Night on Earth - the mekons
Full on Night - rachel's
Midnight Lullabye or I'm Your Late Night Evening Prostitute or night hawks - tom waites
Night & Day - (again, a standard but if not sinatra then...)Django Reinhardt
posted by jeffe at 11:39 AM on May 10, 2007

Friday Night is Killing Me - Tommy Stinson

Tonights the Night - Neil Young

Into the Night - Julee cruise
posted by vronsky at 11:39 AM on May 10, 2007

Everything Merges With the Night - Brian Eno
posted by vronsky at 11:41 AM on May 10, 2007

Jinx bosh.

Also, rufus, you should add a 'night' tag.
posted by cashman at 11:42 AM on May 10, 2007

oops...boosh.

That's really freaky.
posted by cashman at 11:42 AM on May 10, 2007

O Holy Night - Christmas Carol

The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia - Vicki Lawrence
posted by vronsky at 11:45 AM on May 10, 2007

The album Inzombia by Slant 6.
posted by OmieWise at 11:50 AM on May 10, 2007

Goodnight Tonight - Wings

Midnight at the Oasis - Maria Muldar

The Night They Drove Ol' Dixie Down - The Band

And When The Night Comes - Jon and Vangelis

Wasted Days and Wasted Nights - Freddy Fender

Night Shift - The Commodores
posted by vronsky at 11:51 AM on May 10, 2007

Night Fever by the Bee Gees! I grew up during the late 1970s where all those cheesy disco songs promised that the night (especially on weekends) would be full of energy and adventure.
posted by rolypolyman at 12:00 PM on May 10, 2007

Each Coming Night by Iron & Wine.

Really, all of their music is really lullabye-ish.
posted by MsMolly at 12:06 PM on May 10, 2007

Sunglasses at Night by Corey Hart
posted by Pollomacho at 12:10 PM on May 10, 2007

Into the Night by Benny Mardones

You Belong to the City by Glen Frey

Tonight's The Night by Betty Wright
posted by dr_dank at 12:11 PM on May 10, 2007

When the Sun Goes Down - Kenny Chesney
posted by candyland at 12:27 PM on May 10, 2007

Night Prowlers - Living Legends ft Slug
posted by cashman at 12:28 PM on May 10, 2007

Seconding misteraitch and mrmarley, have you tried searching for "night" at allmusic.com?
posted by rhizome at 12:38 PM on May 10, 2007

"Another Saturday Night" (Cat Stevens), "Rhythm of the Night" (Gloria Estefan), "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" (Elton John) and "Music of the Night" (Phantom).
posted by WCityMike at 12:40 PM on May 10, 2007

"Here Comes the Night" by Them.
posted by languagehat at 12:53 PM on May 10, 2007

The Cure - A Night Like This

Brooke Benton - Rainy Night in Georgia

Kenny Rogers - The Gambler On a warm summer's eve....
posted by Martin E. at 12:58 PM on May 10, 2007

Oh, and also a good call on the Julee Cruise song.

Did we get "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins?
posted by Midnight Creeper at 1:07 PM on May 10, 2007

Previously on askme.
posted by hydrophonic at 1:09 PM on May 10, 2007

"Late Night City" Comateens
"She's Like the Wind" Patrick Swayze (She's like the wind, through my trees, she rides the night next to me)

Come on, you gotta feel the Swayze love.
posted by kimdog at 1:15 PM on May 10, 2007

Waiting For The Night by Depeche Mode
posted by pleuroma at 1:16 PM on May 10, 2007

Goodnight Irene.
posted by yeti at 1:18 PM on May 10, 2007

Subculture by New Order
Wait for the Blackout by The Damned
posted by smoakes at 1:23 PM on May 10, 2007

oh, and
After Hours by The Velvet Underground
posted by smoakes at 1:24 PM on May 10, 2007

Green Arrow by Yo La Tengo
posted by SampleSize at 1:37 PM on May 10, 2007

blackbird by the beatles has a very soothing lullaby feel to it. First line is "Blackbird singing in the dead of night".
posted by kookywon at 1:48 PM on May 10, 2007

Strangers in the Night - Frank Sinatra
Count your Blessings - Irving Berlin
Clair de Lune - Debussy
Requiem - Faure for soothing, Mozart for moody.
posted by rossmik at 1:50 PM on May 10, 2007

From a Late Night Train - The Blue Nile
(from "hats" an all-around stunning album)

You Are the Everything - R.E.M
(begins with the sound of crickets, a most evocative summer night sound)

Dancing in the Dark - Deitz & Schwartz
(any recording will do, I prefer Fred Astaire's)
posted by minervous at 2:30 PM on May 10, 2007

Neko Case - I Wish I Was The Moon, Star Witness
The Cardigans - 03:45 No Sleep, Little Black Cloud
Melissa Etheridge - Goodnight
Bruce Springsteen - Open All Night
Beth Orton - Stars All Seem To Weep
posted by Iosephus at 3:22 PM on May 10, 2007

A song that always conjures up images of nighttime in my head:

Gold by John Stewart

When the lights go down
In the California town
People are in for the evening
posted by evilcolonel at 3:23 PM on May 10, 2007

R.E.M., "Nightswimming"
posted by kirkaracha at 4:00 PM on May 10, 2007

D'oh.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:01 PM on May 10, 2007

Bring on the Night - The Police
Right Time of the Night - Jennifer Warnes
I love a rainy night - Eddie Rabbit
A night like this - The Cure
Night Moves - Bob Seger
Nights in White Satin - Moody Blues
Asleep - The Smiths
Night Shift - The Commodores
Night Nurse - Gregory Isaacs
Tonight, Tonight - Smashing Pumpkins
If only tonight we could sleep - The Cure
Tonight I celebrate my love for you - Peabo Bryson
One More Night - Phil Collins
All through the night - Cyndi Lauper
posted by snatchos at 4:01 PM on May 10, 2007

By title, off the top of my head--
December '63 (Oh What a Night) - Four Seasons / Frankie Vallie / many others
Last Nite - The Strokes
Another Saturday Night - Cat Stevens, sure, but originally Sam Cooke
Midnite Cruiser - Steely Dan
Night by Night - Steely Dan
Tonight, Tonight, Tonight - Genesis
Goodnight, Goodnight - Hot Hot Heat
Tell Her Tonight - Franz Ferdinand
Such a Night - Dr. John
Rosalita (Come Out Tonight) - Bruce Springsteen
I Want to Spend the Night - Bill Withers

and a few by theme:
Screenwriter's Blues - Soul Coughing
Late in the Evening - Paul Simon
Peace Like a River - Paul Simon
posted by theoddball at 4:13 PM on May 10, 2007

oh, and quick addendum, for classic rock's sake:

After Midnight - Eric Clapton
Living After Midnight - Judas Priest


...and of course, that late-night driving song, for when it's half past four and you're shifting gear....
Radar Love - Golden Earring
posted by theoddball at 4:16 PM on May 10, 2007

"I Just Died In Your Arms Tonight" by Cutting Crew
"But Not Tonight" by Depeche Mode
"Hold Back The Night" by The Trammps
"I Drove All Night" by Cyndi Lauper (please not the awful cover)
"Nightmare" by Artie Shaw
"One Night in Bangkok" by Murray Head
"Save Tonight" by Eagle-Eye Cherry
"Sister Midnight" by Iggy Pop/David Bowie
posted by softlord at 5:22 PM on May 10, 2007

Phil Collins gives me gas.
Just saying.
posted by Dizzy at 5:57 PM on May 10, 2007

"Midnight Radio" from the Hedwig soundtrack?
posted by myeviltwin at 8:15 PM on May 10, 2007

"That Lonesome Road"--James Taylor
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 8:29 PM on May 10, 2007

I was speed-reading through this to get to the bottom so I could put "You Are the Everything" by REM, but minervous beat me to it. I recently tried putting together a playlist of songs with crickets in them, and the only others I have are:
"Death is a Star" the Clash
"Green Arrow" Yo La Tengo
"Twilight" Elliott Smith
"Summer's Cauldron" XTC (which feels very daylight-ish)
posted by chowflap at 9:15 PM on May 10, 2007

Voltaire's Goodnight Dragonslayer
posted by anaelith at 9:27 PM on May 10, 2007

There is a New Order song with lots o crickets. And Buddy Holly. Don't forget Buddy Holly.
posted by vronsky at 9:37 PM on May 10, 2007

"Heart of the Night" - Juice Newton (no, really! The final chord by the backing vocalists is sublime).

"Under the Milky Way" - The Church

"Moon over the Freeway" The Ditty Bops

"Staring at the Face of the Moon" - Nicky Holland

"The Night We Never Met" - Nicky Holland
posted by OneOliveShort at 10:50 PM on May 10, 2007

Patty Smythe's "Because The Night" has already been mentioned, but I'm also particularly fond of Natalie Merchant's version of it (in her 10,000 Maniacs days).
posted by SlyBevel at 11:46 PM on May 10, 2007

Something About the way you Look Tonight by Elton John

Harbor Lights by Bruce Hornsby
posted by Jahaza at 6:36 AM on May 11, 2007

This time of night - New Order
Night on fire - VHS or Beta
Nightporter - Japan
posted by jdfan at 8:54 AM on May 11, 2007

Nightless Night - Husky Rescue
posted by daravida at 10:13 AM on May 11, 2007

Out of the night
When the full moon is bright
Comes the horseman known as Zorro.
posted by KRS at 12:08 PM on May 11, 2007

Coil. Lots of Coil. Particularly their "Moon music" period ("Musick to play in the dark" 1 & 2). Pretentious. But absolutely worth a listen.

Specific songs:
"Are You Shivering?"
"The Last Amethyst Deceiver"
"Broccoli"
*** "The Dreamer is Still Asleep" ***
"Ether"
"Batwings"
"Who'll Fall?"
posted by trouserbat at 10:21 PM on May 11, 2007

Midnight Train to Georgia
posted by gemmy at 7:43 AM on May 12, 2007

"Don't You Know What The Night Can Do" - Steve Winwood
posted by SisterHavana at 10:27 PM on May 12, 2007