Midnight Sky

"Midnight Sky" is a powerful anthem of independence, self-love, and reclaiming one's own narrative. Lyrically, the song is largely interpreted as a reflection on Miley Cyrus's divorce from Liam Hemsworth and her subsequent, highly publicized relationships. She takes control of the story that she felt was being told for her by the media, particularly after photos of her kissing Kaitlynn Carter surfaced immediately following her separation announcement. The song challenges the societal stigma placed on women, especially, when a long-term relationship or marriage ends, rejecting the idea that it represents failure. Cyrus explained that the lyric "forever and ever, no more" is about her evolving relationship with the concept of 'forever,' which she feels sets people up for disappointment. It's a declaration of her freedom from being defined by a relationship, encapsulated in the recurring line, "I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone, oh no / I don't need to be loved by you." The song is a celebration of moving on, embracing change, and finding happiness on one's own terms.

The song opens with a moment of self-realization after a long period of darkness. The narrator looks in the mirror and, instead of feeling lost, feels a sense of empowerment and joy in her solitude, something she hasn't experienced in a long time. She reflects on the many years she spent feeling constrained and tied down in a relationship, comparing it to being bound by ropes. Now, she declares that this state of "forever" is over, signaling a definitive end to that chapter of her life.

The chorus serves as a powerful declaration of her newfound freedom. She sees the "midnight sky" not as darkness, but as an open road she is choosing to take, with her head held high and lost in her own dreams and aspirations. This is where she proclaims her core message: "I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone." She forcefully rejects the idea that she needs external validation or love to be complete. With "fire in my lungs," a metaphor for her passion and voice, she refuses to be silenced or controlled by negativity. The lyrics also directly address the public nature of her new life, referencing a new romance with a woman ("See my lips on her mouth, everybody's talking now, baby") and defiantly owning the narrative that others are trying to create about her. She reiterates her independence, making it clear this is not a temporary feeling but a fundamental part of her being.

In the second verse, the imagery becomes more intimate and kinetic. A woman, possibly the narrator herself or her new partner, is dancing so intensely that her hair is pulled back to keep the sweat from her face. This scene is coupled with the idea of embracing imperfection and making mistakes without shame. The narrator asserts her transient nature, stating she "never stay[s] put in one place," reinforcing her rejection of being tied down. The notion of "forever and ever" is once again dismissed as she embraces a life of freedom and self-determination. The song structure, returning to the emphatic chorus, solidifies this as a resolute anthem of personal liberation and the exhilarating journey of self-discovery.

"Midnight Sky" was released on August 14, 2020, as the lead single from Miley Cyrus's seventh studio album, Plastic Hearts. The song was written by Cyrus alongside Andrew Watt, Louis Bell, Ali Tamposi, Ilsey Juber, and Jon Bellion, with Watt and Bell also handling production. The creation process was notable; Cyrus revealed she was initially planning and conceptualizing a music video for a different song when her producer and creative partner, Andrew Watt, played her the track for "Midnight Sky". She immediately scrapped the other project, feeling that this new track was the perfect foundation to tell her story.

The song's inspiration stems from several significant events in Cyrus's life over the previous two years, including her public divorce from Liam Hemsworth, the loss of her Malibu home in a fire, and her brief relationships with Kaitlynn Carter and Cody Simpson. Cyrus stated she wrote the song to regain control of her own narrative after feeling it had been dictated by the press. Musically, the song was heavily inspired by female rock icons like Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, and Debbie Harry. The influence of Nicks' 1982 classic "Edge of Seventeen" is particularly prominent. Cyrus personally reached out to Nicks to get her blessing for the song's melodic interpolation, which Nicks happily gave. This connection later culminated in a remix titled "Edge of Midnight," which directly mashes up the two songs and features vocals from Nicks herself.

The song's rhyme and rhythm are key to its energetic and defiant feel. The rhyme scheme in the verses is relatively simple, often following an AABB or ABCB pattern (e.g., "home"/"own," "ropes"/"more" in the first verse), which makes the lyrics direct and memorable. The pre-chorus and chorus shift to a more driving and emphatic structure, building anticipation and release.

Rhythmically, "Midnight Sky" is defined by its consistent, upbeat tempo of 110 beats per minute. The song is built upon a classic disco four-on-the-floor drum beat and a prominent, pulsing bassline that propels the track forward, creating an irresistible urge to dance. This rhythmic foundation is characteristic of the '80s synth-pop and disco genres it emulates. The interplay between the steady musical rhythm and the more syncopated, powerful vocal melody creates a dynamic tension that mirrors the song's theme of breaking free. Cyrus's vocal phrasing often pushes and pulls against the beat, adding to the raw, emotional delivery. The combination of a danceable rhythm with lyrics of personal liberation creates an atmosphere of joyous defiance.

"Midnight Sky" marks a significant stylistic evolution for Cyrus, blending musical and literary techniques to create a powerful statement.

• Musical Style: The song is a carefully crafted homage to the 1980s, categorized as disco, synth-pop, and pop-rock. It features a thumping disco bassline, glossy synth pads, and a driving rhythm section reminiscent of the era. The production is pristine and polished, contrasting with the raw, raspy quality of Cyrus's vocal delivery, which has been compared to that of her idols, Stevie Nicks and Joan Jett. The track prominently interpolates the melody of Stevie Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen," a deliberate choice for which Cyrus sought Nicks's permission.
• Vocal Delivery: Cyrus employs a powerful, gravelly vocal tone throughout the song. This raw, arena-rock quality adds a layer of grit and defiance to the glamorous disco production, emphasizing the emotional weight and conviction behind the lyrics. Her vocal range in the song spans from a low D3 to a high D5.
• Literary Techniques: The lyrics utilize a strong, first-person narrative voice to reclaim her story. Metaphors are central, such as "hands tied up in your ropes" to describe a constricting relationship and the "midnight sky" as a road to freedom. The recurring phrase "I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone" acts as a powerful, anthemic refrain, reinforcing the song's core theme of independence. The line "See my lips on her mouth, everybody's talking now, baby" is a direct, unapologetic address to the public gossip surrounding her personal life.

"Midnight Sky" was met with widespread critical acclaim upon its release, praised as a bold and successful reinvention for Miley Cyrus. Critics highlighted its seamless blend of '80s disco and synth-pop with her powerful rock vocals, often calling it one of the best songs of 2020. The track marked a significant moment in Cyrus's career, establishing the glam rock-influenced aesthetic of her album Plastic Hearts and solidifying her reputation as a musical chameleon.

Commercially, the song was a global success, reaching the top ten on charts in over 15 territories and peaking at number 14 on the US Billboard Hot 100. It was particularly successful in the UK, where it became the longest-running number-one single on UK radio in 2020, spending six weeks at the top.

The song's most significant cultural conversation revolved around its clear musical and thematic homage to Stevie Nicks. The interpolation of Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen" was widely noted and praised, leading to a celebrated collaboration between the two artists on the remix "Edge of Midnight (Midnight Sky Remix)". This cross-generational collaboration was seen as a powerful endorsement, bridging rock and pop history and further cementing Cyrus's credibility as an artist deeply influenced by rock legends. The self-directed music video also garnered attention for its lavish, retro-futuristic visuals, further defining Cyrus's new artistic era.

"Midnight Sky" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that reinforce its themes of freedom and rebirth.

• The Midnight Sky: The title itself is a central metaphor. Instead of representing darkness or an end, Cyrus frames the midnight sky as "the road I'm taking," a path of infinite possibility and liberation. It symbolizes a new journey she is embarking on alone, with her "head high up in the clouds," suggesting a state of dreaming and self-created fantasy.
• Fire in My Lungs: This imagery represents passion, strength, and an untamable spirit. It suggests a powerful voice and energy that cannot be suppressed, linking to the line "can't bite the devil on my tongue," which signifies her refusal to be silenced or to censor her true feelings.
• Hands Tied Up in Your Ropes: This is a direct metaphor for feeling trapped and constrained within a past relationship. The line "Lotta years went by with my hands tied up in your ropes / Forever and ever, no more" vividly illustrates her breaking free from a long-term commitment that she felt was holding her back.
• Disco Ball: While not explicitly in the lyrics, the self-directed music video is filled with disco balls. This symbolizes celebration, glamour, and a nod to the '70s and '80s eras of unabashed self-expression that inspired the song. It also connects to a real-life experience Cyrus cited as an inspiration: a night out at a club with hundreds of disco balls on the ceiling just before the pandemic lockdown.

"Midnight Sky" is built around several powerful, recurring motifs that anchor its message of independence.

• "I was born to run, I don't belong to anyone, oh no / I don't need to be loved by you": This is the song's central thesis and most memorable hook. Repeated in each chorus, it functions as a defiant declaration of self-sufficiency and an outright rejection of codependency. It encapsulates her narrative of breaking free from being defined by others.
• "Forever and ever, no more": This recurring phrase acts as a direct rebuttal to traditional romantic ideals. It appears in both verses, signifying the definitive end of a past relationship and the ideological concept of possessing another person for eternity. Cyrus explained this line is about challenging the stigma that relationships that don't last "forever" are failures.
• "The midnight sky is the road I'm taking": This motif, appearing in the pre-chorus, establishes the song's primary metaphor for a new, unwritten future. It frames her journey not as an escape from darkness, but as a conscious, empowered choice to forge her own path.
• Musical Motif from "Edge of Seventeen": The song musically interpolates the iconic guitar riff and "ooh" melody from Stevie Nicks' "Edge of Seventeen." This musical motif pays homage to one of Cyrus's key inspirations and sonically aligns her with a lineage of powerful, independent female rock artists. This connection was later made explicit with the "Edge of Midnight" remix featuring Nicks herself.