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Down in the Night (1982)

Down in the Night (1982)

Words and Music ©1982, 2013 by Dallas Denny

Performance ©1982, 2013 by Off the Wall

Source: Down in the night. (1982). Words and music by Dallas Denny. Performance 1982 by Off the Wall (Live in Concert).

Photo from the virtual world Second Life (the set was modeled after Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, 1942).

 

 

This is my  only rock song. I wrote the words and music and sang backup vocals in this performance by the band Off the Wall.

Off the Wall was a garage band formed in East Tennessee in 1981. I was a founding member even though my guitar playing was rudimentary and I had no electric pickup on my classical Yamaha. I was playing unamplified rhythm during this song, but I can’t be heard. This version of  Down in the Night was performed live in concert at one of our few gigs. The arrangement was done by collaborative effort of the band.

 

Listen to Off the Wall Play Down in the Night (128 kbps mp3)

Down in the Night Lyrics

Words and Music ©1982, 2013 by Dallas Denny

 

Down in the Night

By Dallas Denny

 

Well the cops have all got nasty

Swept the whores off of the streets

And they’re raiding all the places

Where the shady people meet

They’re cleaning up this dirty town

They want us all to know

But where will all

The night time people go

 

You can see them in the cafes

You can see them in the bars

Those who love the nighttime

Know just who they are

Drinks in smoky basements

Watch the jazzman blow

Where will all

The night time people go

 

Chorus:

Down in the night

Where do they go

Down in the night

Where do they go

They go down in the night

They go down slow

They go down in the night

That’s where they go

 

All the people of the evening

All the shady night-time folks

March to a different drummer

Beating different strokes

Unlike the daytime people

Robots in a row

Where will all

The night time people go

 

Chorus

 

The pinballs been replaced

By video machines

And all the jukebox princesses

By transvestitic queens

The pawn shops all stand empty

The liquor stores are closed

Where will all

The night time people go

 

Chorus

 

Have you ever had to spread ‘em

On the side of a van

Have you ever had to duck and run

When the business hit the fan

Is your life a comedy

You live it for the show

Where will all

The night time people go

 

Chorus