The story behind Thom Bishop’s new single “Here Comes the Night” reaches far beyond the recording studio. Taken from his upcoming album Roy Orbison, Elvis and Me, the song arrives from an artist whose life has been marked by music, literature, resilience and a continuing search for meaning.
One of Bishop’s defining early songwriting moments came during his college years after attending a dancehall performance in rural Illinois. On the way home, a song arrived almost fully formed, and by morning he had written “Mr. Arthur’s Place.” Bishop has said that experience showed him songwriting was not simply something he wanted to do, but something he needed to do.
That sense of calling carried him through a wide-ranging career. He performed alongside notable artists, wrote extensively, taught at Naropa University and published acclaimed fiction under the name Junior Burke. Yet his life also included serious hardship, including the devastating 2013 flood that destroyed his home and much of his town. A later near-fatal accident led him to reevaluate his purpose and recommit himself to creativity and spirituality.
Now influenced by meditation and Kriya Yoga, Bishop continues to write and perform while preparing Branches and Blades, a forthcoming book of selected lyrics and reflections. “Here Comes the Night” reflects this accumulated experience, offering listeners a song grounded in survival, reflection and the quiet power of an artist who has continued to evolve.