About the song
Background:
- Released in 1991 on their debut album “Brand New Man,” “Neon Moon” was one of Brooks & Dunn’s earliest hits and a major contributor to their rise to stardom.
- The song was written by Johnny Lee Kincaid and Vince Gill.
- Despite its melancholic themes, the melody has a catchy, almost upbeat feel, creating an interesting contrast.
Lyrics:
The lyrics paint a picture of a heartbroken man who drowns his sorrows in a bar every night, beneath the harsh glow of neon signs (the “neon moon”). He reflects on his lost love and struggles to accept that she’s gone. Here’s a key excerpt:
When the sun goes down on my side of town That lonesome feelin’ comes to my door And the whole world turns blue I spend most every night Beneath the light of a neon moon
Themes:
- Loss and heartbreak: The central theme is the pain of a broken relationship. The narrator is stuck in a cycle of grief and loneliness.
- Solitude and coping mechanisms: The bar becomes a refuge for the heartbroken man, a place where he can numb his pain with alcohol.
- Deception and denial: The lyrics hint at the narrator’s self-deception. He tells himself lies about his ex returning someday.
- Urban loneliness: The neon lights symbolize the impersonal and isolating nature of city life, which amplifies the man’s feelings of loneliness.
Interesting fact: There’s a difference in perspective between the two songwriters. Kix Brooks sees the song as a realistic portrayal of dealing with heartbreak, while Ronnie Dunn believes there’s a glimmer of hope with the camaraderie found in the bar.
Video
Lyrics
When the sun goes down on my side of townThat lonesome feeling comes to my doorAnd the whole world turns blueThere’s a rundown bar ‘cross the railroad tracksI got a table for two way in the backWhere I sit alone and think of losing you
I spend most every nightBeneath the lightOf a neon moon
Now if you lose your one and onlyThere’s always room here for the lonelyTo watch your broken dreamsDance in and out of the beamsOf a neon moon
I think of two young lovers running wild and freeI close my eyes and sometimes seeYou in the shadows of this smoke-filled roomNo telling how many tears I’ve sat here and criedOr how many lies that I’ve liedTelling my poor heart she’ll come back someday
Oh, but I’ll be alrightAs long as there’s lightFrom a neon moon
Oh, if you lose your one and onlyThere’s always room here for the lonelyTo watch your broken dreamsDance in and out of the beamsOf a neon moon
Jukebox plays on, drink by drinkAnd the words of every sad song seem to say what I thinkAnd its hurt inside of me, ain’t never gonna end
Oh, but I’ll be alrightAs long as there’s lightFrom a neon moon
Oh, if you lose your one and onlyThere’s always room here for the lonelyTo watch your broken dreamsDance in and out of the beamsOf a neon moon
Come watch your broken dreamsDance in and out of the beamsOf a neon moonOh, watch your broken dreamsDance in and out of the beamsOf a neon moon