Dancing In The Moonlight (It's Caught Me In Its Spotlight)

Album: Bad Reputation (1977)
Charted: 14
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This uptempo, slightly jazzy number was clearly influenced by Van Morrison, of whom Lizzy frontman Phil Lynott was a big fan. One of Morrison's famous songs is "Moondance."
  • The subtitle was added by the band's American record company, Mercury, to distinguish it from the King Harvest song with the same title released four years earlier. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander - London, England, for above 2

Comments: 5

  • Steve from Torrance, CaWhile "The Boys are Back in Town" was ubiquitous on rock radio in the late 1970s, this was the song that made me a Thin Lizzy fan. It should have been a huge hit, but was probably considered too "jazzy" by the rockers, and too "heavy" by the popsters. I also consider Bad Reputation to be their best album.
  • Marcus from Stockholm, SwedenThis is probably the best song ever written! Can't get enough of it.
  • Micael from Varberg, SwedenIf you listen closely around 1:45-1:46, when the line "... and I'm walking home" is sung, you can hear a whistling sound in the background.
  • Jim from Proctorville, Oh I've had the Live and Dangerous album since it was released and this is my all time favorite song by my all time favorite band. It's been 30 years and I still haven't tired of the whole album or this song.
  • Roddie from Waterford, Irelandalexander in London....Sorry but ur incorrect.
    King Harvests song "Dancing In The Moonlight" was indeed released in 1973. However Thin Lizzys song of the same name(apart from the subtitle) was released in 1977 and is an entirely different song..............for the FACTS on Philip and Thin Lizzy please refer to www.roisindubh.info where you will find all the facts. There are also many excellent links to other sources of the real facts
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater RevivalFact or Fiction

Is "Have You Ever Seen the Rain" about Vietnam? Was John Fogerty really born on a Bayou? It's the CCR edition of Fact or Fiction.

Christmas Songs

Christmas SongsFact or Fiction

Rudolf, Bob Dylan and the Singing Dogs all show up in this Fact or Fiction for seasonal favorites.

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"

Susanna Hoffs - "Eternal Flame"They're Playing My Song

The Prince-penned "Manic Monday" was the first song The Bangles heard coming from a car radio, but "Eternal Flame" is closest to Susanna's heart, perhaps because she sang it in "various states of undress."

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Strange Magnetics

Strange MagneticsSong Writing

How Bing Crosby, Les Paul, a US Army Signal Corps Officer, and the Nazis helped shape rock and Roll.

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."