His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
Days Are Short
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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The sun is on the hill
Looking in my suitcase for a friend
The door was opened wide
You know I lost a little pride
And inside it was just another man
[CHORUS:]
Every moment there's a shifting in the sand
Every whisper in the wind
Brings a good man back again
Settle me down in my dreams tonight
Tomorrow's another day to blow my blues away
Lots of folks will tell you that
A man can go through' life
Taking what he wants along the way
But until all men are freed
Each one gets but what he needs
The experience of living every day
[CHORUS:]
I woke up this morning
I awoke upon my knees
Crying oo-wee, I don't know where I am
I feel just like a clown
Every time I move around
Because, after all, I'm just another man
The song "Days Are Short" by Arlo Guthrie is a poignant reflection on the transience of life and the importance of human connection. The opening lines, "Days are short, and I ain't down / The sun is on the hill / Looking in my suitcase for a friend / The door was opened wide," encapsulate the feeling of loneliness and yearning for companionship that permeates the song. The singer is searching for a friend, but finds himself alone with his thoughts and regrets.
As the song progresses, Guthrie shifts his focus to broader social issues, singing, "Lots of folks will tell you that / A man can go through life / Taking what he wants along the way / But until all men are freed / Each one gets but what he needs / The experience of living every day." Here, he seems to be commenting on the selfishness and greed that drives so much of human behavior, and posits that true freedom can only be achieved when individuals work together for the common good.
The chorus is a recurring theme throughout the song, emphasizing the constant flux of life and the need for resilience in the face of adversity. Guthrie sings, "Every day another man reaches out his hand / Every moment there's a shifting in the sand / Every whisper in the wind / Brings a good man back again / Settle me down in my dreams tonight / Tomorrow's another day to blow my blues away." The idea of "another man" reaching out his hand is a powerful image of human compassion and empathy, reminding us that despite our individual struggles, we are all connected in our shared humanity.
Line by Line Meaning
Days are short, and I ain't down
Time flies and life may not be perfect, but I'm still hanging in there
The sun is on the hill
The day is in motion and I'm along for the ride
Looking in my suitcase for a friend
Searching for comfort in life's belongings
The door was opened wide
An opportunity arose
You know I lost a little pride
I gave up some of my ego to embrace change
And inside it was just another man
It turned out what I was looking for wasn't what I expected
Every day another man reaches out his hand
Every day presents a chance for human connection, despite differences
Every moment there's a shifting in the sand
Life is constantly changing, and we must adapt to it
Every whisper in the wind
The world around us is alive and speaks to us in its own way
Brings a good man back again
The memory of a good person can be comforting
Settle me down in my dreams tonight
I hope to find peace and rest in my subconscious mind
Tomorrow's another day to blow my blues away
Tomorrow is a new opportunity to find happiness and let go of negativity
Lots of folks will tell you that
There are many opinions in the world
A man can go through' life
A person can live their life
Taking what he wants along the way
Some people believe in taking what they want and seizing opportunities
But until all men are freed
However, true freedom won't exist until everyone's needs are met
Each one gets but what he needs
Everyone should have their basic needs met, and not only the privileged few
The experience of living every day
The daily experience of life is a valuable one
I woke up this morning
I'm alive and well
I awoke upon my knees
I remain humble and grateful
Crying oo-wee, I don't know where I am
I'm feeling lost or uncertain
I feel just like a clown
I'm not taking myself too seriously
Every time I move around
Whenever I interact with the world
Because, after all, I'm just another man
I'm acknowledging my own mortality and humanity
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ARLO GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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