Dancing in the Moonlight (It's Caught Me in Its Spotlight)
Thin Lizzy
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When I passed you in the doorway Well you took me with a glance I should have took that last bus home But I asked you for a dance Now we go steady to the pictures I always get chocolate stains on my pants And my father he's going crazy He say's I'm living in a trance [Chorus] But I'm dancing in the moonlight It's caught me in its spotlight It's alright, alright Dancing in the moonlight On this long hot summer night It's three o'clock in the morning And I'm on the streets again I disobeyed another warning I should have been in by ten Now I won't get out until Sunday I'll have to say I stayed with friends Oh but it's a habit worth forming If it means to justify the end [Chorus] And I'm walking home The last bus is long gone And I'm dancing in the moonlight [Chorus] Dancing in the moonlight I'm dancing in the moonlight It's caught me in its spotlight Dancing in the moonlight It's got me hot Dancing in the moonlight I'm dancing in the moonlight It's caught me in its spotlight It's caught me alright, alright, alright It's so god damn hot I'm dancing I'm still dancing I'm dancing in the moonlight
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Written by: Philip Parris Lynott
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
9 facts about this song
Song Details"Dancing in the Moonlight (It's Caught Me in Its Spotlight)" is a song by the Irish rock band Thin Lizzy.
- It was released as a single in July 1977 and later included in the album "Bad Reputation".
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PerformersThe song features Phil Lynott on lead vocals and bass guitar, Brian Downey on drums, and Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson as guitarists.
- Gary Moore, though not a member of Thin Lizzy at the time of the song's recording, is credited for playing rhythm and lead guitar on this track.
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Composition InfluencesThe song is known for its distinctive funk-inspired rhythm and saxophone parts, which are quite unusual for a Thin Lizzy song.
- Lead vocalist, Phil Lynott, has expressed that both the song lyrics and the saxophone were heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen's music, particularly his use of saxophonist Clarence Clemons.
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Song LyricsThe lyrics revolve around the joy of coming out in the moonlight and dancing, undeterred by normal societal pressures.
- The phrases "dancing in the moonlight" and "it's caught me in its spotlight" reflect the feelings of both liberation and exposure experienced in everyday life.
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Chart PerformanceDespite its fresh departure from their typical hard-rock sound, "Dancing in the Moonlight" prominently crushed the charts.
- The single reached No. 14 on the UK Singles Chart, proving to be Thin Lizzy's last major hit for the next five years.
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Pop-Culture ReferencesThis catchy tune has found its way into various TV shows, films, and commercials over the years.
- It can be heard in episodes of the popular British series, "Top Gear" and a 2020 commercial for the video game, "Fortnite".
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Noteworthy InstrumentA special mention goes to the saxophone solo by jazz musician, "Super" John Earle. It's a key element in making the song so memorable and distinctly 'jiving'. He was also a member of the band during the Bad Reputation tour.
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Song CoverIndie rock band Alt-J included a cover of "Dancing in the Moonlight" as a B-side to their 2012 single "Matilda". This became another popular version of the original track.
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Live PerformancesThin Lizzy performed the song live many times, turning it into a favourite feature of their concert setlists.
- One memorable performance was at Sydney's opulent State Theatre in 1978. This concert was filmed and released as "Live and Dangerous".
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