First Comes the Night

Album: First Comes the Night (2015)
Play Video

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….
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Ed Roland of Collective Soul

Ed Roland of Collective SoulSongwriter Interviews

The stories behind "Shine," "December," "The World I Know" and other Collective Soul hits.

John Parr

John ParrSongwriter Interviews

John tells the "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" story and explains why he disappeared for so long.

Who Wrote That Song?

Who Wrote That Song?Music Quiz

Do you know who wrote Patti Smith's biggest hit? How about the Grease theme song? See if you can match the song to the writer.

Petula Clark

Petula ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Petula talks about her hits "Downtown" and "Don't Sleep In The Subway," and explains her Michael Jackson connection.

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"

Ian Anderson: "The delight in making music is that you don't have a formula"Songwriter Interviews

Ian talks about his 3 or 4 blatant attempts to write a pop song, and also the ones he most connected with, including "Locomotive Breath."