Better Days
Dianne Reeves Lyrics

Silver gray hair neatly combed in place.
Grandma has silver gray hair that she keeps tidy.

There were four generations of love on her face.
Grandma's face shows the love of four generations of her family.

She was so wise, no surprise passed her eyes,
Grandma was very wise and experienced, and nothing could surprise her.

She'd seen it all.
Grandma had a lot of life experience and had seen everything.

I was a child, oh, about three or four.
The artist was a young child of around three or four years old.

All day I'd ask questions.
The young speaker would ask questions all day long.

At night I'd ask more.
Even at night, the singer would continue to ask questions.

But whenever; she never, would ever, turn me away.
Grandma would never turn the artist away, no matter how many questions they asked.

I'd say how can I be sure what is right or wrong ?
The artist would ask Grandma how they could distinguish between right and wrong.

And why does what I want always take so long ?
The artist would also ask why their desires always seemed to take a long time to come to fruition.

Please tell me where does God live And why won't He talk to me ?
The singer would also ask where God lived and why they couldn't hear Him speaking to them.

I'd say, Grandma what is love ?
The artist would ask Grandma what love was.

Will I ever find out ?
The singer would question whether they would ever truly understand what love is.

Why are we so poor, what is life about ?
The singer would ask why their family was poor and what the point of life was.

I want to know the answers before I fall off to sleep.
The singer wanted to know the answers to their questions before going to sleep.

She sort of smiled as she tucked me in.
Grandma smiled as she tucked the artist into bed.

Then she pulled up that old rockin' chair once again.
Grandma sat down in her old rocking chair.

But tonight she was slightly, remarkably Different somehow
On this particular night, Grandma seemed a little different than usual.

Slowly she rocked, lookin' half asleep.
Grandma slowly rocked in her chair, looking half asleep.

Grandma yawned as she stretched.
Grandma yawned and stretched.

Then she started to speak.
Grandma began to talk.

What she told me, would mold me, and hold me Together inside.
Grandma's words would shape and stay with the artist for a long time.

She said all the things you ask You will know someday.
Grandma told the singer that they would eventually know the answers to all their questions.

But you have got to live in a patient way.
Grandma advised the artist to be patient and not rush to know the answers right away.

God put us here by fate And by fate that means better days.
Grandma believed that fate brought us into the world and that fate would lead to better days ahead.

She said, child we are all moons in the dark of night.
Grandma likened all of us to moons in a dark night.

Ain't no morning gonna come 'til the time is right.
Grandma insisted that no morning would come until the time was right.

Can't get to better days lest you make it through the night.
Grandma believed that you couldn't reach better days without surviving the struggles of the night.

You gotta make it through the night, yes you do.
Grandma emphasized that it was essential to make it through the tough times.

You can't get to no better days Unless you make it through the night.
The singer sings about how you must make it through the dark times to get to better days.

Oh, you will see those better days But you gotta be patient.
The singer acknowledges that better days will come but stresses the importance of patience.

(Be patient) oh baby, be patient.
The artist implores the listener to continue being patient.

Later that year, at the turn of spring, Heaven sent angels down and gave Grandma her wings.
Later that year, in the spring, Grandma passed away and went to heaven.

Now, she's flying, and sliding, and gliding In better days
The artist believes that Grandma is now in a better place, free from earthly struggles.

And although I'm all grown up I still get confused.
Despite being an adult, the singer still struggles with confusion and uncertainty.

I stumble through the dark Getting bumped and bruised.
The artist feels like they are stumbling through life and getting hurt in the process.

When night gets in my way I could still hear my Grandma say I can hear her say, I can hear her say.
In difficult times, the singer can still hear Grandma's words of wisdom echoing in their mind.

(Be patient) You can't get to no better days Unless you make it through the night baby.
The singer once again sings about how one must push through tough times to reach better days.

(Be patient) Oh, you will see those better days But you gotta be patient. Child, do you hear me, yeah.
The singer reinforces the message of patience and asks the listener if they are hearing the message loud and clear.

(Be patient) Oh Grandma, oh Grandma Do you see me now, lady Oh oh oh oh oh
The artist addresses Grandma and wonders if she can see them now and if she is proud of who they have become.

(Be patient) She used to sit me on her knee She used to comb my hair She used to tell me stories My Grandma took me everywhere
The artist reflects on their memories of Grandma and how she used to care for them, tell them stories, and take them on adventures.