First Comes the Night

Album: First Comes the Night (2015)
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Songfacts®:

  • The title track of Chris Isaak's 12th album, he penned the song with the help of his band members Scott Plunkett and Rowland Salley.
  • Isaak told the story of the song: "I had this piece of rolling melody in my head, and the line, 'That's your stuff. I kept it just the way it was. It's the only thing I got that's left from us.' To me, it summed up how many people end up feeling when someone is gone, and they almost make a shrine."

    "Even though I'm the writer, I often feel like an archaeologist with a brush on the ground trying to knock off the dust and figure out what this song is really about. Is it about a girl who's dead or just gone? I realized this is about a relationship and the girl he's still searching for."

    "I brought what I had to two of the guys in my band - Roly Salley and Scotty Plunkett - to see what they'd bring to it. They helped bring 'First Comes The Night; up to a bigger place. Thanks to them, this song has a dark, sad undertone, but happy possibilities too."

Comments: 1

  • Ray Beaufait from ArizonaThis song first come the night breaks my heart every time I hear it. During the Coronavirus, my wife and dogs listened constantly. My oldest dog Gunner, died during the pandemic and even today 4/2023 I tear up when ever I hear it. I miss old Gunner….
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