Tomorrow Never Knows
Bruce Springsteen s Lyrics
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Tomorrow never knows
Where your sweet smile goes
Tomorrow never knows
You and me we've been standing in my den
Waiting for that time to come
Tomorrow never knows
In the field your long hair flows
Down by the tail end of the tracks
Beneath the water tower
I carried you on my back
Over the rusted spikes of that highway of steel
When no more thunder sounds
Where the (?) goes
Tomorrow never knows
Where he who waits for the day's riches will be lost
In the whispery town
Where the river flows
Tomorrow never knows
The lyrics of Bruce Springsteen's Tomorrow Never Knows are layered with meaning and a sense of foreboding. The repetition of "Tomorrow never knows" speaks to the uncertainty and impermanence of life. The cold wind blowing and the green grass growing are images of change - whether positive or negative is unclear. The lyrics are melancholy, with a sense of longing for a time that has passed, or perhaps a future that may never come to fruition. The singer of the song is looking back on memories with someone they care about, but they are also looking to the future with trepidation. The line "Where he who waits for the day's riches will be lost" suggests the dangers of waiting for something that may never come, and the final line "Where the river flows/Tomorrow never knows" emphasizes the inevitability of change and the unknown future.
Line by Line Meaning
Where the cold wind blows
No one knows what the future holds, just like no one knows where the cold wind will blow.
Tomorrow never knows
The future is uncertain and unpredictable.
Where your sweet smile goes
Just as we don't know where the cold wind blows, we also don't know where your sweet smile will lead you.
You and me we've been standing in my den
We've been stuck in the same place, waiting for something to happen.
Waiting for that time to come
We're hoping for a change or something new to happen in the future.
Where the green grass grows
We all want to find a better place where life is easier and happier. But it's uncertain whether we'll be able to reach that place.
In the field your long hair flows
Refers to a moment in the past when things were simpler and more carefree.
Down by the tail end of the tracks
Ending up in a dead-end or uncertain future.
Beneath the water tower
Represents a time and place where something important or significant happened.
I carried you on my back over the rusted spikes of that highway of steel
In the past, I helped you overcome obstacles and challenges, but the future is uncertain for both of us.
When no more thunder sounds
When things are peaceful and quiet, but it's uncertain how long that will last.
Where the (?) goes
The destination is unknown and uncertain.
Where he who waits for the day's riches will be lost
People who wait for something better to happen without taking action may end up lost and uncertain.
In the whispery town
A small, quiet town where nothing much happens.
Where the river flows
A metaphor for time and change that keeps flowing and moving forward, taking everyone with it.
Tomorrow never knows
The future is unpredictable and unknown, and we can never be certain what it holds.
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