Twilight Zone

Album: Extensions (1979)
Charted: 25 30
Play Video
  • When I hear this melody
    This strange illusion takes over me
    Through a tunnel of the mind
    Perhaps a present or future time oh, oh
    Out of nowhere comes this sound
    This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
    Pyramidal locomotion
    From a mystic unknown zone

    Hearin' the twilight
    Hearin' the twilight tone

    Unpretentious girl from Memphis
    Saw the future through her third eye
    People came with skepticism
    Picking, testing her precision, no, wo, oh, oh
    Suddenly they heard this sound
    This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
    A signpost up ahead is calling
    Through the mystic unknown zone

    Hearin' the twilight
    Twilight swept away, feelin' the rhythm
    Hearin' the twilight
    Twilight swept away, ba da, loo da, ba da loo da
    Hearin' the twilight
    Twilight tone

    Submitted for your approval. One Mr. Miller, who's about
    To take a trip into oddness and obsolescene, through a
    Zone whose boundaries are that of imagination.
    Accompanying him on this journey is the mesmerizing
    Sound of the Twilight Tone.

    On a cold & rainy night
    One Mister Miller had a rare flight
    Glen was up there boppin' a rhythm
    Then the engine stopped to listen with him
    Play that beat, oh, oh
    Suddenly he heard this sound
    This melody that keeps spinning 'round & 'round
    Now he resides and plays trombone
    In the mystic unknown zone

    Hearin' the twilight
    (Ooooooh, twilight)
    Hearin' the twilight
    (Hearin' the twilight)

    Writer/s: Alan Paul, Jay Graydon
    Publisher: GARDEN RAKE MUSIC, Peermusic Publishing
    Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 5

  • Anonymous@Patrick from Portland, Or The latter, "Hearin' the Twilight....Twilight Tone"
  • Mark Wilson from Eldersburg, MdWho is the “unpretentious girl from Memphis” who saw the future through her “third eye” supposed to be?
    I’m guessing it’s either a jazz singer (like Glenn Miller, mentioned later, was a musician), or a famous psychic.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 1st 1980, the Manhattan Transfer performed "Twilight Zone/Twilight Tone" on the ABC-TV program 'American Bandstand'...
    One month later on April 13th it entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #84; and on June 8th it peaked at #30 (for 2 weeks) and spent 12 weeks on the Top 100...
    It reached #25 on the United Kingdom's Singles chart...
    Between 1975 and 1984 the quartet had seven records make the Top 100; with a covered version of the Ad Libs' #8 hit from 1965, "The Boy from New York City", being their biggest hit, it peaked at #7 (for 3 weeks) on August 1st, 1981.
  • Patrick from Portland, OrIs the lyric "Here in the Twilight" or "Hearin' the Twilight"?
  • John from Dublin, IrelandThe indelible guitar lick - "De-de-de-de / de-de-de-de" - that opened the popular Rod Serling TV series, was played by jazz guitar virtuoso Howard Roberts. This very same melody introduces The Manhattan Transfer vocal rendition.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Dr. John

Dr. JohnSongwriter Interviews

The good doctor shares some candid insights on recording with Phil Spector and The Black Keys.

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"

Matthew Wilder - "Break My Stride"They're Playing My Song

Wilder's hit "Break My Stride" had an unlikely inspiration: a famous record mogul who rejected it.

Chris Squire of Yes

Chris Squire of YesSongwriter Interviews

One of the most dynamic bass player/songwriters of his time, Chris is the only member of Yes who has been with the band since they formed in 1968.

Gary Louris of The Jayhawks

Gary Louris of The JayhawksSongwriter Interviews

The Jayhawks' song "Big Star" has special meaning to Gary, who explains how longevity and inspiration have trumped adulation.

David Paich of Toto

David Paich of TotoSongwriter Interviews

Toto's keyboard player explains the true meaning of "Africa" and talks about working on the Thriller album.

Jeff Trott

Jeff TrottSongwriter Interviews

Sheryl Crow's longtime songwriting partner/guitarist Jeff Trott reveals the stories behind many of the singer's hits, and what its like to be a producer for Leighton Meester and Max Gomez.