Jesse Colin Young (born November 22, 1941) is an American singer/songwriter/folksinger and a founding member and lead singer of the 1960s group The Youngbloods.
“Darkness, Darkness” is a song written by Jesse Colin Young, with an intro performed by Charlie Daniels. in 1969 which has been covered by many artists. Young’s band The Youngbloods released in April, 1969 on their Elephant Mountain album. They released a version of the song as a single twice: in 1969, which reached #124 on the Billboard chart, and in 1970, which reached #86 on the chart.
Robert Plant released a version of the song as a single in 2002 that reached #27 on the rock chart. It was featured on his 2002 album Dreamland.
During the Vietnam War it was considered an “anthem” to the soldiers for it described what they felt while in the jungles.
DARKNESS, DARKNESS
Lyrics by Jesse Colin Young
Darkness, Darkness, be my pillow,
Take my head and let me sleep
In the coolness of your shadow,
In the silence of your deep.
Darkness, darkness, hide my yearning,
For the things I cannot see
Keep my mind from constant turning,
To the things I cannot be.
Darkness, darkness, be my blanket,
cover me with the endless night
Take away the pain of knowing,
fill the emptiness with light
Emptiness with light now
Darkness, darkness, long and lonesome,
Is the day that brings me here
I have felt the edge of sadness,
I have known the depths of fear.
Darkness, darkness, be my blanket,
Cover me with the endless night
Take away this pain of knowing,
Fill this emptiness with light now
Emptiness with light now
Darkness, darkness, be my blanket,
cover me with the endless night
Take away this pain of knowing,
fill this emptiness with light now
Oh with light now.
Darkness, Darkness, be my pillow,
Take my head and let me sleep
In the coolness of your shadow,
In the silence of your deep.
In the silence of your deep
In the—oh oh yeah
Emptiness, emptiness
Oh yeah