In June 1943 that sky was easier to see than usual. Since the spring of 1942 the cities of the East Coast had been under a wartime “dimout,” because the glow of the shore lights silhouetted ships for the U-boats waiting offshore: no lights above the fifteenth floor, illuminated signs switched off, only a faint light under the theater marquees. Times Square got dark enough to see the stars over Broadway. So “swinging through the middle of the neon light” was a wish rather than a description. The lights on Broadway came back on at the beginning of November 1943.
Moonlight's dancing on the boulevard so wide (on the boulevard so wide),
Left the lonely winter shivering outside (shivering outside).
Walking down the street with rhythm in our shoes (rhythm in our shoes),
We've got nothing left to lose but the blues (but the blues).
Hear the shuffle of the drummer on the snare (on the snare),
There's a little bit of magic in the air (magic in the air).
Everybody's humming as they're passing by
Underneath the velvet canopy of sky (canopy of sky).
[Chorus]
So lift your head and let the music take a flight,
We're swinging through the middle of the neon light.
No more shadows in the corner of your eye—
We're gonna watch the stars go dancing through the sky.
Yeah, yeah, dancing through the sky.
Now we're moving to the center of the floor,
Never felt this kind of feeling here before.
Hear the saxophones are telling of a tale
Strong enough to make a mountain move or sail;
Trombone sliding like a ribbon in the breeze,
Puttin' every heavy heart of ours at ease.
We could swing until the morning turns to gold
With a story that is never growing old.
[Chorus]
So lift your head and let the music take a flight,
We're swinging through the middle of the neon light.
No more shadows in the corner of your eye—
We're gonna watch the stars go dancing through the sky.
Yeah, yeah, dancing through the sky.
Oh, what a night!