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

Lately
David Gray Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

That the sky would lift
That I'd find my place
That I'd see your face in the door
And the sun would glint
An a time well spent
An a time that ain't no more

Taste the broken hearts
In the vacant lots
See the fruit that rots on the trees
Try to turn my head
Leave it all for dead
But it's in my mind always

Honey lately I've been way down
A load on my mind
Honey lately I've been way down
Load on my mind

Someone tell me where did it go
Darling I'm damned if I know
I seen that look in your eye
No-one ever gave it a chance
I could have said in advance
You saw it all at a glance
And goodbye

Drag a salted kiss
From this cup of bliss
Watch a new lie twist on the breeze

You can paint it red
Leave it all for dead
But it's in my head always

Honey lately I've been way down
A load on my mind
Honey lately I've been way down
Load on my mind

Someone tell me where did it go
Darling I'm damned if I know
I seen that look in your eye
No-one ever gave it a chance
I could have said in advance
You saw it all at a glance
And goodbye

Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye
Goodbye

Honey lately I've been way down
Honey lately I've been way down
Honey lately I've been way down
Honey lately I've been way down
Lately
Lately

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Lately" by David Gray explore the feeling of loss and the desire to hold onto the past. The first verse expresses a longing for things to be different, for the sky to lift and for the singer to find their place. They also mention a hope to see a familiar face in the door. However, this nostalgia is tempered by the reality of the present, as the singer reflects on a time that's gone, represented by the fruit that rots on the trees. The second verse continues this theme of disappointment, with the singer resigned to the fact that they can't escape their memories. They describe trying to "leave it all for dead," but these past experiences are always present in their mind.


The chorus repeats a lamentation for feeling "way down" and carrying a "load on my mind." The repeated line "Someone tell me where did it go / Darling I'm damned if I know" emphasizes the sense of confusion and loss. The final lines of the song use the word "goodbye" repeatedly, as if to underscore the finality of something that's been lost forever. There's a sense of acceptance, but also a hint of regret that things could have been different.


Overall, "Lately" is a song that captures the bittersweet feeling of memories of a place or person that's no longer there. The verses create vivid imagery that evokes a sense of longing, while the chorus drives home the emotional weight of the experience.


Line by Line Meaning

That the sky would lift
I hoped for a change of the circumstances to bring me hope and relief.


That I'd find my place
I wished to find my purpose and my true belonging.


That I'd see your face in the door
I longed to reconnect with someone dear to me whom I haven't seen for a while.


And the sun would glint
I anticipated a moment of happiness and luck to come my way.


An a time well spent
I remember a moment in the past when everything seemed brighter and easier.


An a time that ain't no more
But that time is gone now, and things don't feel the same anymore.


Taste the broken hearts
I witness the fragility and pain of others' hearts.


In the vacant lots
I see the emptiness and lack of purpose in mundane things and places.


See the fruit that rots on the trees
I observe the decay and wasted potential of what used to be promising and fruitful.


Try to turn my head
I attempt to distract myself from my own worries and doubts.


Leave it all for dead
I try to let go of what doesn't serve me anymore, even if it's painful.


But it's in my mind always
But my memories and regrets never truly leave me, haunting me always.


Honey lately I've been way down
I've been feeling overwhelmed and depressed lately.


A load on my mind
I carry a heavy burden of thoughts and emotions that I can't shake off.


Someone tell me where did it go
I'm searching for answers and explanations about what happened to me, my life and my dreams.


Darling I'm damned if I know
But I feel lost, confused and helpless, without any clear direction or purpose.


I seen that look in your eye
I saw the sadness, disappointment or rejection in someone's else gaze or attitude.


No-one ever gave it a chance
I feel like no one understood or supported me enough to give me a fair chance or a real opportunity.


I could have said in advance
However, I realize that maybe I didn't communicate clearly or confidently enough about my desires or expectations.


You saw it all at a glance
You understood immediately what I couldn't or wouldn't express, and it made things hard for both of us.


And goodbye
And so we parted ways, maybe not on good terms, without knowing if we'll ever meet again.


Drag a salted kiss
I indulge in a bitter or painful memory, like a twisted or poisoned form of affection.


From this cup of bliss
I realize that what used to make me happy or content doesn't satisfy me anymore.


Watch a new lie twist on the breeze
I see how people deceive each other or themselves, using lies and illusions to escape the harsh reality.


You can paint it red
You can try to disguise or embellish the truth or your feelings, but it won't change the fact that things are not as they seem.


Lately
Overall, I've been feeling lost, disillusioned and bereft lately, struggling to find my way and make sense of my life.




Lyrics Š BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Craig McClune, David Gray, David Joseph Nolte, Robert Martin Malone, Tim Bradshaw

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

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@jenniferbarr94

That the sky would lift 
That I'd find my place 
That I'd see your face in the door 
And the sun would glint 
An a time well spent 
An a time that ain't no more 

Taste the broken hearts 
In the vacant lots 
See the fruit that rots on the trees 
Try to turn my head 
Leave it all for dead 
But it's in my mind always 

Honey lately I've been way down 
A load on my mind 
Honey lately I've been way down 
Load on my mind 

Someone tell me where did it go 
Darling I'm damned if i know 
I seen that look in your eye 
No-one ever gave it a chance 
I could have said in advance 
You saw it all at a glance 
And goodbye 

Drag a salted kiss 
From this cup of bliss 
Watch a new lie twist on the breeze 

You can paint it red 
Leave it all for dead 
But it's in my head always 

Honey lately I've been way down 
A load on my mind 
Honey lately I've been way down 
Load on my mind 

Someone tell me where did it go 
Darling I'm damned if i know 
Iseen that look in your eye 
No-one ever gave it a chance 
I could have said in advance 
You saw it all at a glance 
And goodbye 

Goodbye 
Goodbye 
Goodbye 
Goodbye 

Honey lately i've been way down 
Honey lately i've been way down 
Honey lately i've been way down 
Honey lately i've been way down 
Lately 
Lately



All comments from YouTube:

@KundaliniandtheSacredCircle

incredible humane genius. massively under rated. massively non-hollywood. hero.

@MichaelLGibbons

One of the best songs David Gray has ever recorded.

@garyjones3625

Agree

@lizmcenroy4367

One of the best songs in my opinion (2023)

@flycfm3205

This album opened and closed a chapter in my life. Thanks David

@lizakellum2548

After the passing of my love I listened to this constantly. The smoothness of his voice.

@fischernilsen6864

Me too.. I know that feelin, know it all too well......

@cathisue

Yes, me too. Right there with you.

@angiewilliams9392

So beautiful is this song

@zoek206

I lived in this album once thanks David your awesome he saved my sanity 😙

More Comments

More Versions