"One More Night" is the 6th track and third single from London-based singer-songwriter Michael Kiwanuka's second album (2016), which made a bold step away from the Bill Withers-esque ballads that characterized his Mercury Prize-nominated debut (2012). In the tradition of 60s and ’70s soul maestros like Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield, Kiwanuka laces his soulful vocals with profound melancholy, backing understated lyricism with a depth of emotion:
"Throughout the album, Mr. Kiwanuka sings as if he were in some private purgatory, offering incantations only he will hear. He doesn’t raise his voice; graininess thickens his tone at vulnerable moments, then ebbs away, and his phrases are far more likely to taper off than to push toward a peak. The music makes space for him to ache".
Jon Pareles, NYTimes
The lyrics of "One More Night" revolve around the struggle to overcome adversity; Kiwanuka's vocals advance from line to line with a noteworthy worldweariness, evoking the gravity of the psychological hurdles that have to be overcome against a sonic tapestry of '70s R&B, funk, and spaced-out rock:
'I'll be holding onHolding inI'll be holding onAnd holding inI'll be holding onAnd holding inOne more nightOne more night till the morningOne more nightOne more night till the dayI'm on fireI'm on fire for the morningI'm on fireI'm on fire for the dayBut I believe itOne more night till the morningBut I believe itOne more night till the morning'
Lyrics: Genius
The track, with its insistently steady rhythm and momentum seem to imply that the immense challenges that lie ahead can only be overcome with steadfast stoicism and an unwavering optimism. Kiwanuka delivers a sparse, graceful and dark message that rewards multiple listens and inevitably moves you with its emotional honesty:
“The confessional aspect is cathartic for me. A lot of this album was grappling with the insecurities that I’d learned. The first album was grappling with faith. Here, I’m not so worried about that – I’ve accepted that it comes and goes, and now I’m left with myself.”
Michael Kiwanuka, NME
