Meaning of "Moon Is Up" by The Rolling Stones

The lyrics of "Moon Is Up" convey a sense of longing and separation between two individuals who are depicted in the contrast between the sun and the moon. The sun represents warmth, light, and visibility, while the moon represents darkness, reflection, and hidden emotions. The line "Moon is up, the sun is down, you can't have it both ways 'round" emphasizes the impossibility of reconciling their conflicting emotions.

The narrator repeatedly asks where their partner is and expresses their desperation for their presence in the lines "Ooh, where are you now? Crying out loud, where did you go, when I needed you?" This highlights the sense of abandonment and longing they feel. The sun sinking behind the clouds and hiding his tears without a sound reflects the narrator's own hidden emotions and the pain they bear silently.

The moon, observing reflectively, symbolizes the narrator's contemplation of their situation and the plea for their partner to consider their feelings. They ask for their partner to spare a thought for the narrator and the distance that separates them. The repetition of the line "The sun goes down, the moon comes up" symbolizes the cyclical nature of their relationship and the continuous fluctuation between hope and despair.

The closing lines of the song, "The moon is up, the sun goes down, and you can't have it both ways round, so come on baby and listen to me 'cause we are worlds apart, you see," highlight the disconnect between the narrator and their partner. Despite their longing, they recognize that they are fundamentally different and may never be able to bridge the gap between them.

Overall, "Moon Is Up" explores themes of longing, separation, and the challenges of trying to reconcile conflicting emotions within a relationship. It suggests that sometimes, despite the yearning for connection, two individuals may be destined to remain worlds apart.