NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN

 

Originally released by the Moody Blues in 1969, Nights in White Satin was re-released in approximately 1974 as a single.  With “FM” stereo still in it’s infancy, the pop “AM” stations, who would not play songs longer than two minutes, left off the chilling “poem” (early rock-rap?), that was an integral part of the original song.  Being a rock purist and aficionado, even in middle school, I had the original recording on vinyl.  MANY years later, I still remember the words by heart…

NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN, ending poetry

Breathe deep, the gathering gloom;

Watch lights fade in every room.

Bedsitter people look back and lament-

Another day’s useless in years spent.

Impassioned lovers wrestle as one;

A lonely man cries for love and has none;

A new mother picks up and suckles her son;

Senior citizens wish they were young.

Cold hearted orb, that rules the night;

Removes the color from our sight –

Red is grey and yellow white.

But we decide which is right;

And which is an illusion.

©1969 The Moody Blues, from the album version of “Nights in White Satin”.