Who Sings that Save Tonight Cover in True Detective? Season 4 Episode 5 Song Explored

Save Tonight True Detective: John Hawkes as Captain Hank Prior in True Detective season 4
Credit: Parliament of Owls | Passenger | Anonymous Content | Neon Black | Peligrosa | HBO Entertainment

Save Tonight True Detective: John Hawkes as Captain Hank Prior in True Detective season 4
Credit: Parliament of Owls | Passenger | Anonymous Content | Neon Black | Peligrosa | HBO Entertainment

Apart from its excellent storytelling, avid fans look forward to True Detective: Night Country's interesting song choice in every episode. In the fifth episode, we can't help but enjoy the song cover of Save Tonight in True Detective season 4. Let's talk about the song and the other tracks played in this episode.

Spoiler Warning: This article includes spoilers for True Detective: Night Country episode 5, so proceed with caution.

What is the Significance of "Save Tonight" on True Detective?

Save Tonight True Detective: Jodie Foster as Chief Liz Danvers in True Detective season 4
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Credit: Parliament of Owls | Passenger | Anonymous Content | Neon Black | Peligrosa | HBO Entertainment

The song, Save Tonight, in True Detective season 4 is actually a cover by Zayde Wolf. The original artist was Eagle Eye Cherry, who released the song in 1997. Fast forward 26 years and the song is still a pretty good track to listen to.

In True Detective: Night Country, the song's tempo has been slowed down and used over the end credits. The way the song was played was to end the episode in a sorrowful tune.

When looking at the meaning of the song's lyrics, highlights the values of a particular night that the singer wants to cherish. The song also explains that you really can't avoid change. All you can really do is accept the change happening in your life.

Eagle-Eye Cherry first released this song in his hometown, Sweden, in 1997. It slowly gained momentum and was soon hitting the US and UK charts.

Since this was Cherry's last song for his debut album, he wanted the song to be special and be able to "stand the test of time." True enough, this is something he has achieved.

Two decades later, the song is still being used in various TV shows, including Felicity, Roswell, and now, True Detective: Night Country.

The song was also featured in Ashton Kutcher and Amanda Peet's A Lot Like Love movie released in 2005.

You can also listen to the track from Teen Wolf's soundtrack:

Who is Zayde Wolf?

Save Tonight True Detective: Zayde Wolf
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Credit: Zayde Wolf | Anna Azarov

Zayde Wolf is a musician/singer/songwriter who was born Dustin Burnett. When he was young, his mother sold their piano to buy a keyboard. This keyboard was then sold so they could buy a guitar for Burnett. His parents would always save their money so they could buy an instrument for him and his siblings.

Before he became Zayde Wolf, Burnett was part of an alternative rock band called The October. He also produced songs for Tyrone Wells, Dave Barnes, and Us the Duo.

When his band broke up, Burnett moved to Nashville, Tennessee. Although he had written several songs, he wasn't able to find singers for them.

This led him to start singing them as Zayde Wolf, a name he and his wife had picked for his third child.

Many of his songs have been used in TV shows, films, advertisements, and video games.

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Every Song in True Detective Season 4 Episode 5 and Who Sings Them

Save Tonight True Detective: John Hawkes as Captain Hank Prior in True Detective season 4
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Credit: Parliament of Owls | Passenger | Anonymous Content | Neon Black | Peligrosa | HBO Entertainment

So what are the songs featured in True Detective season 4 episode 5? Here are the songs that were featured in the episode:

  • Auld Lang Syne by Stefano Civetta and London Voices
  • Warm Shadow by Fink
  • Die 4 You by Perfume Genius
  • Nothing Breakes Lie a Heart (triple j Like a Version) by Clea
  • Save Tonight by Zayde Wolf

Fans also turned to Reddit to look for a song played by Captain Hank Prior (played by John Hawkes) on the guitar.

According to one of the Reddit comments, the song was written by Hawkes and was added to the score after one of the creators heard it. Initially, fans thought the song was a Johnny Cash or Murder by Death track.

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