Nighthawk

Lyrics: Robert Hunter
Music: David Freiberg

In a 1978 interview, Robert Hunter commented:

I wrote one [with David Freiberg] for what turned out to be the Spitfire album. I wrote a tune called Nighthawk. And it was going to be the title piece for the album, and they had the cover drawn and what-not. And I was just waiting for it to come out. And I ran down to my record store. There it was. And the song wasn't on it. Much less was it not the title thing. And I just didn't put the attention with [the Starship] that I did with the Dead. I didn't hang out, or try to be part of the band very much. And the guys were writing a bit - I think it was replaced by something that the drummer wrote. And the people who are working in the band, functioning as the band, should have a mission and the tunes on it. So I never felt in the least bitter about not doing that.

I got the Saturday night, all black it won't last
Touch of your love, making me higher
Out of the door and into the room
Ooooo

That's right, like a nighthawk, shoot like a stone
Fly like a nighthawk, your loving home
Doing it slow, yeah, in the air
A touch of your love makes it all clear

High like a nighthawk
Ride in the sky
High as I will go and no higher

Here I come
High on the high wheel
Just like the nighthawk, getting higher
Higher and higher, block it won't fly
A touch of your love taking me higher
Out of the darkness, to the moon
Ooooo

Doing it slower
(Keep it slow)
I've got to do it slower
(You can't hide)
I've got to do it slower
(Keep it tight)
I've got to do it slower
You don't ever know when you're high
(You can't hide)
Come on, here come the nighthark
Superman, supergirl
Baby, here we go
You got to

I'm doing it slower
(Deep inside)
I'm doing it slower
(You can't hide)
Doing it slower
(Deep inside)
Doing it slower
(You can't hide)
Here comes the nighthawk
Superman, supergirl
Baby, here we go
Coming home

Here comes the nighthawk

I got the Saturday night, rock 'n' roll party
Touch of your love taking me higher
Out of the door and into the room
Ooooo