Days
David Bowie Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Day-in, day-out
Stay-in, fade-out
Day-in ooh-ooh
Day-out ooh-ooh ooh

She was born in a handbag
Love left
On a doorstep
What she lacks is a backup
Nothing seems to make a dent
Gonna find her some money honey
Try to pay her rent
That's the kind of protection that everyone is shouting about

Day-in (day in), day-out (day out)
Stay-in fade-out
Day-in ooh-ooh
Day-out ooh-ooh ooh

First thing she learns is
She's a citizen
Some things they turn out right
When you're under the usa
Someone rings a bell
And it's all over
She's going out of her way
Stealing for that one good rush

Day-in (day in), day-out (day out)
Stay-in fade-out

She could use a little money
She's hangin' on his arms
Like a cheap suit
She's got no money, honey
She's on the other side
Oh come on little baby
Late night, big town
Police, shake down

Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Day-in, day-out
Stay-in, fade-out
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh
Day-in day-out

She's got a ticket to nowhere
She's gonna take a train ride
Nobody knows her, or knows her name

She's in the pocket of a home boy
Ooh she's gonna take her a shotgun, pow
Spin the grail spin the drug
She's gonna make them well aware
She's an angry gal





Day-in (day in), day-out (day out)
Stay-in fade-out

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of David Bowie's "Days" speak about the regrets the singer has about his past actions and the people he has hurt. The opening lines "Hold me tight, Keep me cool, Going mad, Don't know what to do, Do I need a friend? Well, I need you now" portray the singer's vulnerability and his plea for comfort and solace. The lines "All I've done, I've done for me, All you gave, You gave for free, I gave nothing in return, And there's little left of me" express his realization that he has taken more than he has given and that he owes his loved ones for their selfless acts.


The chorus "All the days of my life, all the days I owe you" further accentuates the singer's feeling of indebtedness and remorse. The following lines "In red-eyed pain, I'm knocking on your door again, My crazy brain in tangles, Pleading for your gentle voice, Those storms keep pounding through my head and heart, I pray you'll soothe my sorry soul" show his desperation for forgiveness and the hope that his loved ones will understand and offer him a chance to make amends.


Overall, the lyrics of "Days" convey a sense of regret and a yearning for reconciliation. The song talks about the importance of cherishing the people in one's life and the need to seek forgiveness when we hurt them.


Line by Line Meaning

Hold me tight
I need emotional support and physical closeness from someone


Keep me cool
Help me stay calm and collected in difficult situations


Going mad
Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, and potentially unstable


Don't know what to do
I am confused about the best course of action


Do I need a friend?
I am reassessing my social needs and realizing that I could benefit from friendship


Well, I need one now
I am currently experiencing loneliness and wish to form a connection with someone


All the days of my life
Throughout my entire existence


All the days I owe you
I am indebted to you for your support, kindness, or love


All I've done
I have only been concerned with my own interests and goals


I've done for me
My actions and decisions have largely been self-serving


All you gave
You have shown me generosity and given me things without expecting anything in return


You gave for free
You did not ask for compensation or recognition for your kindness


I gave nothing in return
I did not reciprocate your generosity or show you appreciation


And there's little left of me
I feel depleted, exhausted, and possibly guilty for not being a better partner, friend, or recipient of your love


In red-eyed pain I'm knocking on your door again
I am experiencing emotional distress and seeking comfort from you


My crazy brain in tangles
My thoughts and feelings are chaotic and hard to unravel


Pleading for your gentle voice
I am asking you to speak to me kindly and empathetically to ease my distress


Those storms keep pounding through my head and heart
I am going through intense emotional turmoil that feels overwhelming and persistent


I pray you'll soothe my sorry soul
I am hoping and begging for you to alleviate my emotional pain and help me feel better




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: David Bowie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@redjakOfficial

Hold me tight
Keep me cool
Going mad
Don't know what to do
Do I need a friend ?
Well I need one now
All the days of my life
All the days of my life
All the days I owe you
All I've done
I've done for me
All you gave
You gave for free
I gave nothing in return
And there's little left of me
All the days of my life
All the days of my life
All the days I owe you
In red-eyed pain I'm knocking on your door again
My crazy brain in tangles
Pleading for your gentle voice
Those storms keep pounding through my head and heart
I pray you'll soothe my sorry soul
All the days of my life
All the days of my life
All the days I owe you



All comments from YouTube:

@MJYLep

Probably one the most under rated and unappreciated songs you'll ever hear.  Lyrics are fantastic.

@shafiq1537

Mike Yuill .yes and cant find karaoke for it too

@catherineelainebaxter4609

Yeah it's awesome and definitely one of his better later ones

@Selim6472

try fall dogs bomb the moon

@user-qb6om9gr5b

Lyrics are fantastic and is there also a soprano saxophone somewhere adding enchantment to the poetry

@stephaniekirch4938

I hurt my best friend so hard...this one says all that I can’t put in words...Love this one...

4 More Replies...

@rjnuzzi1648

So sad was it that a genius like David Bowie was always being critiqued within the perimeters of his early career when, in fact, he was writing beautiful compositions all through the 90's & 2000's plus. This one off of Reality comes out of left field; classic Bowie gem, written & sung so masterfully. It was hardly over after Let's Dance!?! Stop & listen.

@jointhe6461

I got the feeling that he couldn't win. In the eyes of the critics, he was either "desperately trying to be new and cutting-edge and left field" or "trying to repeat past glories". As fanboyish as it sounds, it is the real fans who can appreciate the full arc of his work.

@Michael_Dominic

this has been one of my favorites since the very first moment i heard it 15? years ago. It's personal significance has grown immensely.

@Picnicl

There was so much good music in the 1990s that it was inevitable that an artist who started out in the 1960s wouldn't receive the same attention. The Verve had released Urban Hymns, Radiohead OK Computer. It was fair to give these new beautiful minds a lot of the spotlight.

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