When The Daylight Comes was released as both an album track and single. Here is a twist on the typical man and woman together theme. Hunter expresses an overwhelming desire and romantic feeling for the woman but when the daylight comes I'll be on my way. Even if they share a bed he simply wants the intimacy of warmth and care. Usually a song like this is love 'em and leave 'em but this is completely unique and tender. Hunter says this sounds like a single which is the kiss of death. After his experience with Mott The Hoople Ian thinks his wellspring of hits dried up. The songs that are successful singles are not contrived and seem to spring up organically.
Mick Ronson sang the first two verses of this song and amusingly, Ian was having a chat with Bruce Springsteen in The Power Station. Mick urged Bruce to sing the song by daring him to sing it or Ronson would. Sure enough, Mick did the first two verses and Springsteen didn't get to sing it after all. Ian thought Bruce was a nice humble guy and was surprised when Springsteen asked Hunter about his vocal phrasing since his records sold so much more than Ian's. Hunter wondered why Bruce would even bother asking.
There is an early version, the Single A-side on Tilting the Mirror, and five live releases from 1979.
Also recorded at the Park West, Chicago IL 22nd June 1979 on Collateral Damage.
When The Daylight Comes
https://youtu.be/HMzZB40ezBM
(Ian Hunter)
Oo-Oo-Oo, Oo-Oo-Oo, Ooooo
Oo-Oo-Oo, Oo-Oo-Oo, Ooooo
Sweet woman what's your name?
You smell as fresh as the rain
Instead of leaving you came
let me feel your hair
A light shines in your eyes
The hungry years are so nice
Shadows shake in the lamplight
No writer could explain
But when the daylight comes
But when the daylight comes
But when the daylight comes
I'll be on my way
Oo-Oo-Oo, Oo-Oo-Oo, Ooooo
Oo-Oo-Oo, Oo-Oo-Oo, Ooooo
Oo-Oo-Oo, Oo-Oo-Oo, Ooooo, yeah!
Please share my bed and I swear
That I won't touch you nowhere
Just need your warmth and your care
Don't wanna mess around
And when the daylight comes
Yeah when the daylight comes
Oh when the daylight comes
I'll be on my way
Yeah when the daylight comes
Yeah when the daylight comes
Yeah when the daylight comes
I'll be on my way
But there's a song in the air
and it knows that you're there
'cause it's making me share
you with my life
I know I know I know that
I want to weave you in words
want to paint you in verse
want to leave you in someone else's dreams
it seems the only way, Hey!
I can thank you, thank you baby
Some people say that we're sinners
Some people say that we're winners
We make good gossip at dinners
They try to pin us down
But when the daylight comes
Yeah when the daylight comes
Oh when the daylight comes
I'll be on my way
Yeah when the daylight comes
Yeah when the daylight comes
Oh when the daylight comes
We'll be on my way
(Repeat and fade)
When The Daylight Comes | 4:28 | An album track and single, originally released on You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic, and on the compilations From The Knees Of My Heart, Old Records Never Die and Shades of Ian Hunter. |
When The Daylight Comes (single version) | 3:47 | The single version (about a minute shorter than the album version) can be found on Once Bitten Twice Shy, The Singles Collection 1975-83 and Tilting The Mirror - Rarities (box set only). |
When The Daylight Comes (early version) | 4:38 | An early version is on the 2009 (30th Anniversary) and 2016 (box set) issues of You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic, and on the compilation From The Knees Of My Heart. |
When The Daylight Comes (live 18th June 1979) | 6:06 | This live version (recorded at the Agora, Cleveland OH) is on the 30th Anniversary issue of You're Never Alone With a Schizophrenic. Not on the box set. |
When The Daylight Comes (live 22nd June 1979) | 6:18 | This live version (recorded at Park West, Chicago IL) was released on Collateral Damage. Not on the box set. |
When The Daylight Comes (live 5-11th November 1979) | 9:00 | This live version (recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles CA) was released on the 1994 issue of Welcome to the Club. |
When The Daylight Comes (live 5-11th November 1979) (edit) | 6:19 | This edited live version (recorded at The Roxy, Los Angeles CA) was released on the 2016 (box set) issue Welcome to the Club. It ends as Ian says "I would like to thank you from the knees of my heart... goodnight". It omits the entire closing section and the Slaughter On 10th Avenue coda. |
When The Daylight Comes (live 22nd November 1979) | 16:47 | This live version (recorded Hammermith Odeon, London England) was originally issued on If You Wait Long Enough For Anything, You Can Get It On Sale (box set only). |