I was a little too tall
Could’ve used a few pounds
Tight pants points hardly renown
She was a black-haired beauty with big dark eyes
And points all her own sitting way up high
Way up firm and high
Out past the cornfields where the woods got heavy
Out in the back seat of my ’60 Chevy
Workin’ on mysteries without any clues
Workin’ on our night moves
Tryin’ to make some front page drive-in news
Workin’ on our night moves
In the summertime
In the sweet summertime
We weren’t in love, oh no, far from it
We weren’t searchin’ for some pie in the sky summit
We were just young and restless and bored
Livin’ by the sword
And we’d steal away every chance we could
To the backroom, to the alley or the trusty woods
I used her, she used me
But neither one cared
We were gettin’ our share
Workin’ on our night moves
Tryin’ to lose the awkward teenage blues
Workin’ on our night moves
And it was summertime
Sweet summertime summertime
And oh the wonder
We felt the lightning
And we waited on the thunder
Waited on the thunder
I awoke last night to the sound of thunder
How far off I sat and wondered
Started humming a song from 1962
Ain’t it funny how the night moves
When you just don’t seem to have as much to lose
Strange how the night moves
With autumn closing in
Reminiscing About Youthful Nights
“Night Moves” by Bob Seger is a nostalgic journey into the bittersweet memories of adolescence. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of teenage exploration, capturing the thrill and uncertainty of first loves and nighttime adventures. Seger’s storytelling transports listeners to rural landscapes, back seats of Chevys, and the restless energy of youth, all set against the ephemeral backdrop of summertime. The song skillfully weaves together themes of innocence, desire, and the passage of time, using relatable imagery and an evocative narrative style.
Reflection and The Passage of Time
As the song shifts from past to present, Seger reflects on how those formative experiences linger in memory, colored by nostalgia and a sense of loss as adulthood approaches. The contrast between the excitement of youthful nights and the introspection brought by “autumn closing in” gives the song a poignant depth, making it resonate with listeners of all ages.
Song Credits
“Night Moves” was written by Bob Seger and released in 1976 under the Capitol Records label.