Nights in White Satin
The Moody Blues Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴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
'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
Overall Meaning
The Moody Blues’ Nights in White Satin is a timeless ballad that is widely recognized for its poetic and ambiguous lyrics. The song is about the singer's experience of unrequited love, melancholy, and self-discovery. The title of the song, Nights in White Satin, refers to a type of fabric used in high-end clothing, particularly of wedding dresses, that signifies purity, innocence, and transcendence. The song is composed of two distinct sections, the first of which is a slow, melancholic ballad with orchestral strings and a haunting flute, and the second section featuring a robust guitar solo that gives the otherwise delicate song some dynamic range.
The first verse of the song speaks about the singer's inability to express his feelings to the object of his affection. He refers to letters he has written but never meaning to send, which suggests a sense of regret and longing for things that could have been. The second verse speaks about the singer's sense of isolation, as he is in a crowd of people yet feels disconnected from them. The imagery used in this verse is significant, as it portrays the singer as an outsider, watching from afar. The chorus acts as an affirmation of the singer's feelings for his love interest, despite everything.
Line by Line Meaning
Nights in white satin
The singer is describing a romantic setting, where they are surrounded by smooth and luxurious white fabrics.
Never reaching the end
The experience of this romance seems infinite and timeless, never reaching a conclusion.
Letters I've written
The singer has attempted to express their feelings through written words.
Never meaning to send
However, the letters are not intended to be delivered, so they remain private and unsent.
Beauty I'd always missed
In this moment, the artist is able to see something beautiful that they have been unable to appreciate in the past.
With these eyes before
They are seeing this thing with their own eyes, but it is something they have overlooked or disregarded previously.
Just what the truth is
The singer is unsure of the reality of their situation, and what they are experiencing may be a fleeting moment of clarity.
I can't say anymore
The artist is at a loss for words and cannot express their feelings in a clear or certain way.
'Cause I love you
Despite the uncertainty and confusion, the artist knows that they have deep feelings of love for someone.
Gazing at people, some hand in hand
The artist observes others around them who are in relationships, holding hands and being affectionate.
Just what I'm going through they can't understand
However, the singer realizes that these outsiders cannot comprehend the unique feelings and experiences they are having.
Some try to tell me, thoughts they cannot defend
Although others may offer advice or opinions, they are unable to fully articulate why the artist should think or feel a certain way.
Just what you want to be, you will be in the end
The singer believes that if one desires something deeply enough, they will ultimately achieve it in due time.
Oh how I love you
The singer repeats this phrase multiple times, emphasizing the strength of their love for the person they are addressing.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Justin Hayward
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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