Album: Tonight's The Night (1975)

License This Song 

• Tonight's the night, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, tonight's the night
  
  Bruce Berry was a working man
  He used to load that Econoline van
  A sparkle was in his eye
  But his life was in his hands
  
  Well, late at night when the people were gone
  He used to pick up my guitar
  And sing a song in a shaky voice
  That was real as the day was long
  
  Tonight's the night, yes it is, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, yes it is, tonight's the night
  
  Early in the mornin' at the break of day
  He used to sleep until the afternoon
  If you never heard him sing
  I guess you won't too soon
  
  'Cause people let me tell you
  It sent a chill up and down my spine
  When I picked up the telephone
  And heard that he'd died out on the mainline
  
  Tonight's the night, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, tonight's the night
  
  Bruce Berry was a working man
  He used to load that Econoline van
  Well, early in the morning at just about the break of day
  He used to sleep until the afternoon
  
  Tonight's the night, yes it is, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, ooh, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, tonight's the night
  Tonight's the night, tonight's the night, whoa Writer/s: Neil Young
  Publisher: Hipgnosis Songs Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 3

• Airtroop from AlabamaJon, late to the party in this discussion but the truth is there was never a feud between NY and Skynyrd. The three song "battle" (ie, the songs, in other order, Alabama by NY, Sweet Home Alabama by Skynyrd, and NY's supposed" retort, Southern Man) was all done in a tongue in cheek manner between great and very close friends. Skynyrd and Neil Young were all very close buddies and more than once NY would be invited onstage to jam all three of those tunes WITH Skynyrd live and on concert. Just had to set the record (s) straight... It was ANYTHING but a "feud", just light hearted fun amongst close pot smoking buddies.
• Greg from Harrington Park, NjA great song from Neil Young's greatest album in my opinion. He has a ton of great songs and plenty of great albums.... but there is just something about this album that speaks to you. When it ends it begs you to listen again - when you do, you're glad you did. There's a certain sadness on the album that somehow only peeks its head out at you as to say I'm in here if you really want to find me -- but it never fully discloses itself. As melancholy and dark as the lyrics are on the whole album there is a certain brightness to it in songs like Roll another Number, Lookout Joe, Speakin' Out World on a string... but direct opposite effects on songs like Albuquerque, Borrowed Tune and Tired Eyes, which in my opinion may be the most depressing song ever written. Tonight's the Night remains as one of the most important albums Neil Young ever made and the quintessential album that defines his approach to music-- I'm doing it my own way and if you don't like it - tough s--t.
• Jon from Tucson, AzRonnie Van Zant, the lead singer of Lynyrd Skynyrd who had a "feud" with Neil Young, would wear a t-shirt with the image of the Tonight's the Night album cover in concerts. It's also what he's wearing on the cover of Street Survivors, Lynyrd Skynyrd's final album before the plane crash

More Songfacts:

All of the LightsKanye West

Alicia Keys, Elton John, Fergie, and Rihanna all sang on "All of the Lights" by Kanye West.

Cheeseburger in ParadiseJimmy Buffett

Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger In Paradise" has muenster (cheese), not mustard, as commonly misheard in the line "medium rare with muenster'd be nice."

BrickBen Folds Five

The Ben Folds Five song "Brick" is about a difficult time when Folds' girlfriend got an abortion.

GhostbustersRay Parker, Jr.

Ray Parker Jr. had to get the word "Ghostbusters" in the title when he wrote the theme song for the 1984 film, which was no easy task. When it came time to sing the title in the chorus, he brought in friends to make it a gang vocal.

GypsyFleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy" is about Stevie Nicks' best friend, who died of leukemia.

ForeverChris Brown

"Forever" by Chris Brown was written for a Wrigley's Doublemint Gum commercial. The full song contains the gum's tagline: "Double your pleasure, double your fun."

Editor's Picks

The 10 Bands Most Like Spinal TapSong Writing

Based on criteria like girlfriend tension, stage mishaps and drummer turnover, these are the 10 bands most like Spinal Tap.

George ClintonSongwriter Interviews

When you free your mind, your ass may follow, but you have to make sure someone else doesn't program it while it's wide open.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

AC/DCFact or Fiction

Does Angus really drink himself silly? Did their name come from a sewing machine? See if you can spot the real stories about AC/DC.

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.