Black Moonlight
Anita O'Day · Other Songs - Anita O'Day
Bruised by the city, bewildered, betrayed,
With a heart heavy laden, with faltering stride,
I have come to the bridge, to the line that divides.
What am I doing up here in a daze
As I gaze at the cold river bed?
Why do I ask myself, "Shall I go back?",
When I seem to be going ahead to;
Black moonlight,
Where everything reflects your colour,
Darkness that is endless,
Nights that leave me friendless, blue.
Black moonlight,
You make the lights of Harlem duller,
Just like me you're faded,
Jaded and degraded too!
Why must you send ebony moonbeams,
Depressing, distressing, like shadows of loves that are gone?
Where will it end?
will it spread on
To the starlight, the sunlight, and darken the promise of dawn?
Black moonlight,
I've lost all power to resist you,
Madly I wait you,
Even though I hate you,
Black moonlight!
Oh black moonlight,
I've lost all power to resist you,
Madly I wait you,
Even though I hate you,
Black moonlight!
Black Moonlight
Anita O'Day's 'Black Moonlight' stands as a quintessential example of her mid-1940s vocal style, blending jazz sensibilities with the emerging rock and roll energy of the era. Recorded during a period when O'Day was transitioning from traditional swing to a more rhythmic, blues-inflected approach, the track showcases her signature clear, emotive tone and dynamic phrasing. The song reflects the broader musical shift occurring in the late 1940s, where artists began incorporating electric instruments and faster tempos into their repertoire. As part of her extensive discography, 'Black Moonlight' captures the essence of her ability to adapt to changing musical trends while maintaining her distinct identity as a leading female vocalist. It remains a notable song in her catalog, representing the intersection of jazz and early rock influences that defined her later career.