Introduction
Justin Hayward’s solo performance of “I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” strips away the lush ’80s production in favor of an intimate acoustic setting, bringing the song’s themes of longing and memory into sharp emotional focus. Originally released in May 1988 on The Moody Blues’ album Sur la Mer, the single became the band’s final US Top 40 hit. Hayward revisits this classic in his “Tuesday Afternoon Video Series,” offering viewers a front-row seat to his heartfelt vocals and nuanced guitar work, and reminding us why this song still resonates after more than three decades.
“I Know You’re Out There Somewhere” was released on 23 May 1988 as the lead single from The Moody Blues’ album Sur la Mer. Written by guitarist-vocalist Justin Hayward and produced by Tony Visconti, the track exists in two versions: the full LP cut runs 6:37, while the single/video edit is a tighter 4:18. The album itself reached number 21 on the UK Albums Chart and number 38 on the US Billboard 200. As a single, it climbed to number 30 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 52 on the UK Singles Chart. Hayward’s poignant lyrics—reflecting on the search for a first love—earned him the 1988 Ivor Novello Award for Composer of the Year. Often viewed as a spiritual sequel to their 1986 hit “Your Wildest Dreams,” this song closes the loop on the Moody Blues’ 1980s resurgence.
Rather than recreate the polished synth-pop of the original, Hayward’s live video—part of his 2019 Tuesday Afternoon Video Series—embraces simplicity and directness. Set in a cozy studio space, the performance lays bare every inflection of his warm vocal delivery and each fingerpicked guitar phrase. Without a full band or heavyweight production, the song’s core emotion—longing for someone who remains just out of reach—resonates even more powerfully.
There’s something timeless about hearing Hayward alone with his instrument, as if he’s confiding in you directly. You can almost feel the ache behind every word, the question that lingers: are they really “out there somewhere”? Whether you first heard the Moody Blues in the ’80s or discovered this version just this morning, you’re reminded that great songs grow richer with age, and that sometimes less truly is more.