07 Just Another Parade
Cassandra Wilson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Yesterday's news is tomorrow's blues
But today I am alive
(I am alive)
Today I did much more than survive

I learned to live by the love I give
It's the only thing I own
Shadowed valleys that I've known
Helped me build my home

So tell me why?
Why should I be afraid?
(Why should you be afraid?)
We've seen better
We've seen darker days

So tell me why?
Why should I be afraid?
(Why should you be so afraid?)
Sittin' here watching just another parade

Just another parade

Summer will end, then the death begins
Grandma's hands are moving slow
She takes the time to let me know
Winter's winds will blow
Will blow

She said look at your sun, he's a golden one
Makes you turn your pages slow
Is life more precious than we know?
Every day unfolds
(Every day)

So tell me why?
Why should I be afraid?
(Why should you be so afraid?)
I've seen brighter, seen darker days

So tell me why?
Why should I be afraid?
(Why should I be so afraid?)
Sittin' here watching
It's just another parade

Just another parade
Just another parade
Just another parade

So tell me why
Why are you so afraid?
Why should I be afraid?
When you know we've seen brighter
We've seen darker days
So tell me why, why should I be afraid?
Why should you be afraid?

Sittin' here watchin' it's just another parade
Tell me why should I be afraid?
I've seen better I've seen darker days




Tell me why, why should I be afraid?
Sittin' here watchin' it's just another parade

Overall Meaning

The song "Just Another Parade" by Cassandra Wilson is a soulful composition that speaks about bravery, overcoming fear, and finding the strength to face life's challenges. The song opens with the line "Yesterday's news is tomorrow's blues, but today I am alive," a reminder that life is transient, and every day is a chance to appreciate the present. The chorus, "So tell me why? Why should I be afraid?" reinforces the theme of courage in the face of fear. Wilson challenges the listener to question their fear, reminding them that they have seen better and darker days, and have come out stronger in the end.


The second verse of the song shifts to a more personal and introspective tone. The image of the grandmother's moving hands and her reassurance that the winter winds will come is a metaphor for the inevitability of change and aging. The lines, "Is life more precious than we know? Every day unfolds," suggest the value of living in the moment and not taking anything for granted. The final chorus ends with the repetition of the phrase "just another parade," perhaps symbolizing the repetitive nature of life's challenges and how we become desensitized to them over time.


Overall, the song is an uplifting reminder to appreciate life's moments, have faith in our resilience, and face our fears head-on.


Line by Line Meaning

Yesterday's news is tomorrow's blues
The things that seem important today will lose their significance over time and can be regrettable later.


But today I am alive
Today is important because I am alive in this moment.


Today I did much more than survive
I did not just exist, but rather lived my life to its fullest potential today.


I learned to live by the love I give
My life is defined by the love that I give to others, which enriches my existence.


It's the only thing I own
Love is the only thing that I have complete ownership of.


Shadowed valleys that I've known
Difficult times that I have experienced in the past.


Helped me build my home
Difficult experiences have helped me grow and create a sense of home within myself.


So tell me why?
Questioning why someone would feel fear or doubt.


Why should I be afraid?
Questioning why I should be afraid when there are brighter and darker days that have been experienced.


(Why should you be afraid?)
Questioning why someone else should feel afraid.


We've seen better
There have been better times in the past.


We've seen darker days
There have been worse times in the past.


Summer will end, then the death begins
Summer is a temporary season that will eventually end, leading into a more difficult time of year.


Grandma's hands are moving slow
Grandma is getting older and moving more slowly.


She takes the time to let me know
Grandma takes the time to teach me important life lessons.


Winter's winds will blow
Winter can be a harsh and unforgiving time of year.


Will blow
Reinforcing the idea that winter's winds will come and they will be difficult to face.


She said look at your sun, he's a golden one
Grandma is reminding me to appreciate the good things in life.


Makes you turn your pages slow
Appreciating the little things in life slows down the fast-paced nature of life.


Is life more precious than we know?
Asking a rhetorical question about the value of life.


Every day unfolds (Every day)
Each day is a new opportunity to experience and learn new things.


So tell me why are you so afraid?
Questioning why someone is feeling afraid.


When you know we've seen brighter, we've seen darker days
Bringing attention to the fact that there have been better and worse times in the past.


It's just another parade
Life is like a parade, with many different events and experiences making up the entirety of it.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: CASSANDRA WILSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions