Tomorrow
Cold Chisel Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Into the nightside, the city rolls
Rivers of light, a million souls
I'm three days out of Parramatta jail
City of hearts is out of control
Newspaper men are using my name
They hold the power, I hold the blame

An' I know no love runs deep enough to hide you
When military minds are closing in
I don't wanna know about tomorrow
I don't wanna know about tomorrow
I don't wanna know about tomorrow
Oh no

All last week, I was clutching at straws
Facing the future, forcing the doors
I got death in the hour, life on the run
Or twenty more years under the gun

There's an eighty dollar hooker
She's asleep on the bed
TV weather's on
But the sound is dead
Out in the shadows
They've got us in their sights




But I don't wanna know about tomorrow
She set me free tonight

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Cold Chisel's song Tomorrow explore the theme of hopelessness and fear of the future, with the singer being a recently released prisoner who finds himself in an unfamiliar and dangerous city. The song begins with a vivid description of the city's vibrant nightlife and bustling energy, but the singer's thoughts are consumed by his own precarious situation. He is being hunted by the authorities and the media, whose power he blames for his situation. Despite this, he is resigned to his fate and accepts the inevitability of his capture. The chorus is a defiant declaration that he doesn't want to know about tomorrow, a clear indication that he is living in the moment and trying to find temporary ways to escape his troubles.


The second verse continues with his struggles to come to terms with his situation, as he is forced to face the consequences of his past actions. The reference to the "eighty dollar hooker" and the dead TV weather highlight the singer's overwhelming sense of loneliness and separation, as if he is living in a different world from everyone else. The shadows represent his fear and paranoia, as he feels constantly watched and pursued. However, the final line provides a moment of hope, offering a glimmer of escape as he finds solace in the company of another person.


Overall, the lyrics to Tomorrow are a poignant and powerful representation of the struggles and isolation faced by those who feel trapped by their circumstances. The song's message that true freedom can only be found in the present moment remains as relevant today as when it was written.


Line by Line Meaning

Into the nightside, the city rolls
The city comes alive at night, with bright lights and bustling activity.


Rivers of light, a million souls
The city is full of bright lights and countless people.


I'm three days out of Parramatta jail
The singer has recently been released from a local jail.


City of hearts is out of control
The city is full of people without direction or purpose.


Newspaper men are using my name
The media is using the artist's name for their own gain.


They hold the power, I hold the blame
The singer is being blamed for something he didn't necessarily do while the media retains power and influence.


An' I know no love runs deep enough to hide you
The singer believes that even love cannot protect someone when the military is involved.


When military minds are closing in
The military is closing in on the artist and those around him.


I don't wanna know about tomorrow
The artist is anxious and fearful about the future.


I don't wanna know about tomorrow
The artist reiterates his anxiety and fear of the future.


I don't wanna know about tomorrow
The singer reiterates his anxiety and fear of the future.


Oh no
The artist is resigned to his fears and anxieties about the future.


All last week, I was clutching at straws
The singer was desperately searching for solutions to his problems all last week.


Facing the future, forcing the doors
The singer is trying to confront the uncertainty of the future and find a way out of his problems.


I got death in the hour, life on the run
The singer is constantly walking a thin line between life and death as he tries to escape his problems and evade the military.


Or twenty more years under the gun
The artist is considering the possibility of a long, difficult life under constant threat.


There's an eighty dollar hooker
The artist is in a seedy part of town surrounded by sex workers.


She's asleep on the bed
One of the nearby sex workers is sleeping on a bed.


TV weather's on
The television is on and displaying the current weather conditions.


But the sound is dead
The artist can't hear the television because there's no sound.


Out in the shadows
The artist is aware of someone or something lurking just outside the light.


They've got us in their sights
The military or some other dangerous group is tracking the artist and those around him.


But I don't wanna know about tomorrow
The singer is afraid of what will happen in the future and doesn't want to think about it.


She set me free tonight
The artist has found temporary solace with one of the nearby sex workers in a difficult situation.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: CAMERON JOHN H DEYELL, KATIE ANNE NOONAN, DONALD HUGH WALKER

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