About the song
Background of “We’ve Got Tonight” by Kenny Rogers
- Originally written and performed by Bob Seger on his 1978 album “Stranger in Town”
- Released by Kenny Rogers in 1983 as a duet with Sheena Easton on his album “We’ve Got Tonight”
- Became a bigger hit for Rogers than Seger, reaching number one on the Billboard Country Singles chart and number six on the Billboard Hot 100
Themes in “We’ve Got Tonight”
- Fleeting connection: The song explores a chance encounter between two lonely strangers who find solace and connection in each other for a single night.
- Carpe diem: The lyrics urge the couple to seize the moment and enjoy their time together, acknowledging the uncertainty of the future (“We’ve got tonight”).
- Bittersweetness: There’s a bittersweet undercurrent as they both know the connection is temporary.
- Loneliness and longing: The song portrays the characters’ underlying loneliness and their yearning for a deeper connection.
Despite its melancholic tone, the song celebrates the beauty of finding a temporary connection and living in the moment.
Video
Lyrics
I know it’s lateI know you’re wearyAnd I know your plans don’t include meStill, here we are, both of us lonelyLonging for shelter from all that we seeWhy should we worry? No one will care girlLook at the stars now, so far away
We’ve got tonightWho needs tomorrow?We’ve got tonight, babeWhy don’t you stay?
Deep in my soulI’ve been so lonelyAll of my hopes fading awayI’ve longed for loveLike everyone else doesI know I’ll keep searching after today
So there it is girlWe’ve got it all nowAnd here we are, babeWhat do you say?
We’ve got tonightWho needs tomorrow?We’ve got tonight, babeWhy don’t we stay?
I know it’s late and I know you’re wearyI know your plans don’t include me (still here we are)Both of us lonelyBoth of us lonely
We’ve got tonightWho needs tomorrow?Let’s make it lastLet’s find a wayTurn out the lightCome take my hand nowWe’ve got tonight, babeWhy don’t we stay?
We’ve got tonight, babeWhy don’t we stay?