Night and Day is a popular song that was written by Cole Porter for The Gay Divorce, a 1932 musical released shortly after the Great Depression in the United States. The song is now 90 years old. Fred Astaire sang the original which was the top selling single in 1933. Since then, many many versions of the song including instrumentals had been produced by various artists. While the chorus is very recognizable, the song had been performed by many singers and bands in their own style resulting in quite different impressions.
Lyrics
Like the beat, beat, beat of the tom-tom
When the jungle shadows fall
Like the tick, tick-tock of the stately clock
As it stands against the wall
Like the beat, beat, beat of the tom-tom
When the jungle shadows fall
Like the tick, tick-tock of the stately clock
As it stands against the wall
Like the drip, drip, drip of the raindrops
When the summer shower is through
So a voice within me keeps repeating you, you, you
Night and day, you are the one
Only you beneath the moon and under the sun
Whether near to me or far
It’s no matter darling where you are
I think of you
Night and say, day and night, why is it so
That this longing for you follows wherever I go?
In the roaring traffic’s boom
In the silence of my lonely room
I think of you
Night and day, night and day
Under the hide of me
There’s an oh, such a hungry yearning, burning inside of me
And its torment won’t be through
‘Til you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night, night and day
This torment would never be through
‘Til you let me spend my life making love to you
Day and night, night and day
Day and night, night and day …
Night And Day
We chose to share the links to six renditions of the song all performed in a very different style, plus the original, presented in reverse chronological order. They are all available on YouTube.
The most recent version of this song was a duet by Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga in the 2021 album “Love For Sale”. The album is a tribute to Cole Porter’s jazz standards, and also one of Bennett’s last recordings after his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease in 2016.
The Irish rock band U2 covered the song which was included on the 1990 “Red Hot + Blue” benefit compilation album to fight AIDS, and it reached number two on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. Contrary to Cole Porter original’s style, this rendition is dark and intense with an industrial and electronic sound. The sound became the band’s production signature in the 90’s, introduced in the 1991 album “Achtung Baby”, that is in contrast to the folk-influenced “Rattle and Hum” album of the 80’s. We have also included a dance remix of the song “Night + Day” which appeared in the Deluxe version of “Achtung Baby”.
Everything but the Girl, a British pop duo, made a shortened and intimate, acoustic guitar version of the song and released it as their first single in 1983. They are still producing great music and released a new album “Fuse” in 2023.
Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66 recorded the song as a breezy, bossa nova-influenced single and included it in their 1967 album “Equinox”. It went to number eight on the Billboard US adult contemporary chart.
Billie Holliday recorded the song in 1939 which is included in a 1996 compilation album titled “Long Songs”.
The original song was written for use in the US musical “The Gay Divorce” released in 1932 starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.
Night And Day on Spotify
Spotify is another way to enjoy the music and allows you to save the playlist. Although a subscription is required to listen to the full length of each tune, you can play a sample without a subscription.
Click ▶ to play
For a deeper dive into the history of this song, check its Wikipedia page.