Lee grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA. He has been quoted as saying that he is fortunate to have seen different sides of life in America. Lee enrolled at the University of South Carolina in 1995. He began to play guitar and write songs seriously while he studied English. After graduating with an English degree, Lee moved back to Philadelphia to teach elementary school. He later made the tough decision to stop teaching in order to pursue a career in music. Shortly thereafter, he released a self-produced EP that featured five of his original songs, which did extremely well in Philadelphia and created a buzz. Norah Jones was the person who finally gave Lee his big breakthrough when she asked him to open for her 2004 tour. Lee then went on to produce his self-titled debut album. In March and April of 2005 Lee opened for the tour that Merle Haggard and Bob Dylan were both embarking on, all 3 performers were extremely well received by critics as the tour went by, with Dylan receiving some of his strongest reviews in years. On October 3, 2006, Lee released his second album, "Supply & Demand" to critical and commercial acclaim.
At the age of only 27, Amos Lee has enjoyed notable success with his debut album and looks to have a promising future in the music business. His favorite artists and sources of inspiration include Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, John Prine, Bill Withers, and James Taylor.
Better Days
Amos Lee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The world was born into a blanket of sin,
When all the faith's been gone,
Still we found a reason to carry on,
[Chorus]
Through the worry, worry, worry,
Caught in an endless maze
All I can think about,
Is how, we've seen better days
Oh lover lately I've been thinkin' I might leave you,
As you're surrounded by these fools who do deceive you,
Yes our past is wretched true,
But I'm still in love with you,
Thats why I am still refusin' to give in to
[Chorus]
Where do we go from here,
While we're all so consumed by fear,
Why I'm trying not to be suspicious of those I'm suspicious of,
I'm tryin' to crack-open this angry heart and find a little love,
[Chorus]
Oh when the lights go out,
All I can dream about,
Is how, we've seen better days
The lyrics of "Better Days" by Amos Lee carry a message of hope and resilience in the face of darkness, sin, and fear. The opening lines acknowledge the pervasive nature of darkness that has always been part of the world, which suggests the existence of evil and suffering in the human experience. However, the lyrics also highlight the fact that despite the absence of faith and the challenges of life, people still find a reason to carry on. This is a universal truth that pertains to all people, regardless of their backgrounds, beliefs, or circumstances. The chorus reaffirms this message by acknowledging the worry and anxiety we face every day, but also reminding us that we have seen better days and that we can still hope for brighter times.
The second verse adds a personal dimension to the song, as the singer confesses his struggle with the decision to leave his lover. The lyrics express the tension between the past and the present, as well as the weight of betrayal and mistrust. However, the singer affirms his love for his partner and his refusal to give up on their relationship, despite the challenges they face. This part of the song captures the complexity and unpredictability of human emotions, as well as the importance of perseverance and forgiveness when it comes to relationships.
Overall, "Better Days" is a poignant song that speaks to the shared human experience of hope, darkness, and love. The lyrics are insightful and thought-provoking, and the melody is both soulful and catchy. It is a song that inspires listeners to look beyond their worries and fears, and instead focus on the light that still exists in their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
The darkness has always been,
The world has always had a sense of darkness or evil.
The world was born into a blanket of sin,
From the beginning, the world was marked by wrongdoing and immorality.
When all the faith's been gone,
Even when people lose their faith or belief in something, they still continue on.
Still we found a reason to carry on,
Despite the circumstances, people find motivation to keep going.
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats throughout the song and is a statement about remembering past better days during difficult times.
Through the worry, worry, worry,
Despite overwhelming worry or anxiety.
Caught in an endless maze
Feeling trapped or lost in a situation that seems to have no escape.
Oh when the lights go out,
During moments of darkness or difficulty.
All I can think about,
The focus of the mind during these moments.
Is how, we've seen better days
The recognition of a time in the past when things were better and the hope for things to improve again.
Oh lover lately I've been thinkin' I might leave you,
The singer is considering ending a romantic relationship.
As you're surrounded by these fools who do deceive you,
The singer's lover is being tricked or misled by others.
Yes our past is wretched true,
Acknowledging that their shared history has been terrible.
But I'm still in love with you,
Despite everything, the singer still has strong feelings for their partner.
Thats why I am still refusin' to give in to
The reason why the singer will not give up or give in.
Where do we go from here,
Questioning what direction to take in the future.
While we're all so consumed by fear,
Acknowledgement that fear is dominating their thoughts and actions.
Why I'm trying not to be suspicious of those I'm suspicious of,
The struggle to maintain trust in people who are mistrusted.
I'm tryin' to crack-open this angry heart and find a little love,
Trying to change from a negative and angry attitude to a more positive, loving mentality.
[Chorus]
Repeating the same statement from the prior chorus about reminiscing better days to get through the difficult times.
Oh when the lights go out,
A continuation of the earlier reference to difficult moments.
All I can dream about,
The focus of the mind during these moments changes from thinking to dreaming.
Is how, we've seen better days
The hope and memory of past, more positive experiences.
Lyrics © DistroKid, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: DAE RYONG KIM, JAE YEON CHOI, JI BO KYUNG, JI MIN LEE, JUNG YOO KIM, KYU WAN KIM, SUNG UN CHA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shannon Dooley
His voice gives me the chills, amazing
Jarvis Reed
The depth intertwined in the simplicity of Amos Lee's music and lyrics is mind blowing. Absolutely amazing every time.
Wheel Of Misfortune
One of my absolute favorite songs ❤️
Jelena Momic
His voice gives me chills, I swear.
Ibtissam Fawzi
I really don't understand this music industry!!! Why in the world someone as talented as AMOS is not having the success he deserves!! He deserves waaay more attention from the media
luhle maboza
Ibtissam Fawzi he probably didn't sign "the" contract
Hope Less
What an amazing voice <3
Frank Davidson
One of the best songs ever!!
George Suarez
half way through the first Amos Lee song I ever heard (Keep it Loose Keep it tight), I knew I would have to buy everything he ever did....
Jaime Logrono
Silky smooth vocals that pierce the soul...