My Spin on Night Changes by One Direction

The most beautiful and intriguing part about art is the fact that different people interpret it differently. Perceptions are shaped by unique experiences and personalities and no two persons need to view the very same line the same way. So, here is my take on the song that I streamed the most last year, a song that offered comfort and solace.

Night Changes by One Direction was released in 2014 as a part of the album Four. It’s a soft pop song that talks about a girl going out on a date, probably for the first time. The accompanying music video shows five different dates and something goes wrong in each one. The message of the song at first glance is that no matter what happens, the other person will be there for her. It is a song about loving each other through tough times and seems to be pretty straightforward. Right?

No. Well, at least, not to me. Before you tell me that I am reading too much into a song, let me give you some context. I listened to this song on loop last year, i.e., 2020. The pandemic definitely proved to be a trying and testing time for all of us. Uncertainty loomed over even the near future leaving us unprepared. This was more so in the case of students who were graduating or were trying to figure out what they wanted to do. In the confines of four walls, every insecurity and ounce of self-doubt seemed to multiply. Taking that big step, getting out of your comfort zone and trying new things would have been so much easier if we weren’t stranded in the middle of a crisis, if only everything else was normal.

To me, Night Changes represents this exact feeling in metaphors. To me, it is a song about someone taking a big leap, shedding inhibitions and trying to be the best version of themselves. So, let us dive right in and decode every line of the song.

“Goin' out tonight, changes into something red Her mother doesn't like that kind of dress Everything she never had she's showin' off”

Right off the bat, this seems like nothing more than a date. But it is so much more. It is the perfect start. At the risk of sounding like an English teacher, I must ask you to look at the red dress as something more than a piece of clothing. Red is a colour that is symbolic of the bold, of the brave. It is the colour that is associated with fire. It is the first step out of her comfort zone. The second line is one of my personal favourites. Most of the time, you and your parents don’t see eye-to-eye. When you take the road less travelled, your parents might not be comfortable because it is unfamiliar. But you stick to your decision anyway. There is something truly magnetic about defiance that draws you to it. The last line that Zayn croons talks of a quiet confidence. She tried something new, she likes it and she is showing off.

“Drivin' too fast, moon is breakin' through her hair She's headin' for somethin' that she won't forget Havin' no regrets is all that she really wants”

When you cannot wait to do something, you do everything in your power to hasten time. So, she drives fast. As they cruise through the night, she has a soft glow. Adrenaline courses through her and she is jittery with excitement. Liam is sure she will not forget this experience. After all, how can one forget the first time they try something new? The last line of this stanza is an absolute gem. Isn’t having no regrets what we all want? To be able to look back at everything you have done and not thinking about “what ifs” because you have lived life to the fullest is probably mankind’s greatest desire.

“Chasing it tonight, doubts are runnin' 'round her head He's waitin', hides behind a cigarette Heart is beatin' loud and she doesn't want it to stop”

When you are testing out uncharted waters, you are bound to have doubts. ‘Is this the right way ahead?’ ‘Am I going to fail?’ They will accompany you every step of the way. The ‘he’, here, is the goal/destination. The fumes from the cigarette makes the road ahead foggy and uncertain. She cannot ascertain what lies ahead. She is heady with desire. The desire to explore something new. Just as Louis says, her heart is pounding with anticipation but she does not want it to stop.

“Movin' too fast, moon is lightin' up her skin She's fallin', doesn't even know it yet Havin' no regrets is all that she really wants”

This stanza is pretty similar to the second one. Her zest to do something makes her move fast. Once again, her enthusiasm lends her a glow and lights up her skin. She is falling in love with an unfamiliar experience, with new sensations. She is probably giddy and a huge smile is plastered on her face. Niall notices and realises that she has no clue at all. Having no regrets is all that she really wants. To be fair, isn’t that all everyone really wants?

“Goin' out tonight, changes into something red Her mother doesn't like that kind of dress Reminds her of the missin' piece of innocence she lost”

Before the song moves into the chorus one last time, Zayn sings the first few lines again. But this time, the last line differs. The more you learn, the more you know, you don’t exactly gain something. You lose a piece of innocence. The naivety that the world is a happy place. She did something new. She liked it. She feels great. But she misses that piece of innocence – the bliss of ignorance.

“We're only gettin' older, baby And I've been thinkin' about it lately

Does it ever drive you crazy Just how fast the night changes?”

We do grow older every day. As you navigate through this chaotic mess, you pause and realise that everything has been constantly evolving, constantly changing. Even now, nothing is a given. Nothing is in your control. Isn’t that scary? Doesn’t that drive you a little crazy?

“Everything that you've ever dreamed of Disappearing when you wake up”

Have you ever woken up after dreaming about something so real that you feel disoriented? You dreamt of the perfect life only for the rug to be pulled from under your feet. You feel stranded, lonely, scared and unsure. What more is in store?

“But there's nothing to be afraid of Even when the night changes It will never change me and you”

Everyone has one person or thing that will never change for all time. Something that is constant, a source of comfort. As long as this person/thing remains by your side, there is really nothing to be afraid of. No matter what happens. As Harry sings the final lines of the song, you believe it. You let the words wash over you. You let the song comfort you. Even if the world splits into two, it will never change me and you.