The Chicago native began clubbing and buying records while studying at the University of Illinois. He later graduated with a degree in chemical engineering (and even attended several years of grad school at UC-Berkeley), but then returned to his hometown in 1991 with a drive to begin recording and DJing around the area. His first track "Coffee Pot (It's Time for the Percolator)" was released in 1992 as Cajmere on Clubhouse Records. That same year, Cajmere worked on production for "Get With U" by Lidell Townsell, then hooked up with another Chicago vocalist, Dajae. After the pair recorded a breakout single named "Brighter Days," Cajmere decided to form his own Cajual Records to release it. "Brighter Days" ascended to the number two position on the dance charts and became an international smash; it was the perfect remedy to Chicago's quickly deteriorating fortunes, a track which looked back to the '80s boom years but updated the sound with heavier beats, low-end synth and up-to-date programming.
Subsequent Dajae/Cajual collaborations like "U Got Me Up" and "Day by Day" followed, and Cajmere eventually set up his Relief label in 1994. After deciding that the house scene needed a bit more showmanship, he created the alias Green Velvet for live gigs and DJ events. A kind of digital-age Bootsy Collins with impeccable fashion sense, Green Velvet hit the club charts with a trio of anthems from 1995 to 1997: "Flash," "The Stalker" and "Answering Machine." While no full-length appeared from either Cajmere or Green Velvet during those years, Cajual/Relief compilations like The Many Shades of Cajual, A Taste of Cajual and Relief: The Future Sound of Chicago collected all of his best productions.
Brighter Days
Cajmere Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How Dare You
Lazy Days
Hazy Days
With Lazy Ways
You get less done but more
Out of your days
Getting out of your lazy ways
You'll never get up if you don't get up
You'll always stay down if you sit around
You'll never get up if you don't get up
You'll always stay down if you sit around
Hazy Days
Lazy Ways
We got less done but more
Out of our days
How can we ever recapture the feeling
Of lazy ways
You'll never get up if you don't get up
You'll always stay down if you sit around
Where nobody cares and nobody tries
'Cos a daydreams resting on the back of your eyes
On the back of your eyes
Taking five
Bring love to me
With your body
Let me hold you
Endless, endlessly
You'll never get up if you don't get up
You'll always stay down if you sit around
Where nobody cares and nobody tries
'Cos a daydreams resting on the back of your eyes
On the back of your eyes
Hazy days
Lazy ways
You get less done but more
Out of your days
Crazy days
Lazy ways
The lyrics in Cajmere's "Brighter Days" suggest a theme of the importance of balance between indulging in leisurely activities and being productive in life. The repetition and emphasis on "hazy days" and "lazy ways" is a nod at the idea of taking time for oneself to recharge and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. However, the chorus of "You'll never get up if you don't get up" suggests that too much laziness can have negative consequences and hinder personal growth. The lyrics also touch on the idea that sometimes we need to recapture the feeling of indulging in lazy days to bring balance to our lives.
The last section of the song introduces a new angle, as Cajmere sings "Bring love to me with your body, let me hold you, endless, endlessly." This indicates that love is another form of rest and rejuvenation, and that physical intimacy can be a source of comfort and relaxation in times of stress. Overall, "Brighter Days" promotes a balanced lifestyle where we take time for ourselves to relax and indulge, but also push ourselves to be productive and strive for personal growth.
Line by Line Meaning
Hazy days
Days that are unclear and unfocused
Lazy ways
A tendency to procrastinate and avoid hard work
We got less done but more
Out of our days
When we take it easy and relax, we may accomplish less but feel more fulfilled
How can we ever recapture the feeling
Of lazy ways
In times of stress and busyness, it can be hard to remember the simple joys of relaxation
You'll never get up if you don't get up
You'll always stay down if you sit around
If we don't take action to improve our lives, we will remain stagnant and unhappy
Where nobody cares and nobody tries
'Cos a daydreams resting on the back of your eyes
On the back of your eyes
When we are unmotivated or uninspired, we can get lost in our own thoughts and fantasies
Bring love to me
With your body
Let me hold you
Endless, endlessly
Intimacy can be a source of comfort and happiness, helping us escape from the stresses of the world
Crazy days
Lazy ways
A reminder that sometimes we need to loosen up and embrace the chaos of our lives
Writer(s): CURTIS JONES, DANA STOVALL
Contributed by Camden P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@RajNotTelling
Over 30 years later... It still sounds good!
I feel sooo fucking old.🥺
@MyGreenPets
Just heard this two nights in a row at the John Summit events in Denver. Dombresky played it on Saturday night at 1st Bank Center (May 13, 2023) and Green Velvet dropped it at Red Rocks the next night. Gets everybody up and boogyin' their butts off.
@johnbarron4833
Mochakkkk brought me here
@lucianalucero8838
Pieza mastra para la eternidad de la música electrónica❤
@gabrisique
O A I U O A I U
@brunoescaratti4130
I o a u
@BassBunnyMusic
Love a remix that puts a funky flavor on a classic in a tasteful way!
@user-pb1ic7pi9c
This is a bad ass remix!! Another banga!!
@IvannoGianni
If i hear this track on a party im gonna lose my mind omg
@liamjoabgiraldomartinez292
un grandisimo track