Eclipse
Denver. John Lyrics
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Sometimes it takes forever for the day to end
Sometimes it takes a lifetime
Sometimes I think I'll never see the sun again
In the east a shaded moon is hangin' lazily
I do believe I saw the old man smile
I do believe I did
I think it's kind of interesting the way things get to be
The way that people work with their machines
Serenity's a long time comin' to me
The fact I don't believe I know what it means
There's a heavy smog between me and my mountains
It's enough to make a grown man sit and cry
It's enough to make you wonder
It's enough to make the world roll up and die
I think it's kind of interesting the way things get to be
The way that people work with their machines
Serenity's a long time comin' to me
The fact I don't believe I know what it means any more
When the sun is slowly fadin' in the Western sky
Sometimes it takes forever the day to end
Sometimes it takes a lifetime
Sometimes I think I'll never see the sun again
Sun again
In "Eclipse," John Denver paints a picture of an evening sky that seems never-ending, with the sun slowly fading in the Western sky. He laments the passing of time, wondering if he'll ever see the sun again. The sight of a shaded moon in the east prompts him to ponder the mysteries of life and the universe.
The central theme of the song is the concept of serenity, which Denver struggles to understand. He acknowledges that it's a long road to reach it, but he longs to find it nonetheless. He suggests that the way people interact with machines can interfere with the process of achieving serenity. This is perhaps a commentary on the increasingly tech-driven state of the world in the 70s - when the song was written - and Denver's fear that society was losing touch with nature and the natural order of things.
Overall, "Eclipse" is a song that explores timeless themes of life, death, time, and humanity's connection (or lack thereof) with the natural world. Its melancholic tone and subtle imagery make it one of Denver's most understated, yet powerful, works.
Line by Line Meaning
The sun is slowly fadin' in the Western sky
The day is coming to an end as the sun is setting slowly in the West.
Sometimes it takes forever for the day to end
The day seems endlessly long and difficult to get through.
Sometimes it takes a lifetime
Some days seem so long and never-ending that they feel like a lifetime.
Sometimes I think I'll never see the sun again
The artist is being dramatic and feels like the darkness will never lift.
In the east a shaded moon is hangin' lazily
The moon appears shady and relaxed in the East.
I do believe I saw the old man smile
The singer thinks they saw an old man smile, but they are not sure.
I do believe he's been hangin' all the while
The old man has perhaps been observing things from his vantage point for a while.
I think it's kind of interesting the way things get to be
The artist finds it intriguing how things come to pass.
The way that people work with their machines
The artist is fascinated by how people interact with technology.
Serenity's a long time comin' to me
The artist has been waiting for some time to attain calmness and peace of mind.
The fact I don't believe I know what it means
Despite waiting for serenity, the singer is not quite sure what it truly entails.
There's a heavy smog between me and my mountains
There is pollution clouding the artist's view of the mountains.
It's enough to make a grown man sit and cry
The pollution is so bad that it brings the singer to tears.
It's enough to make you wonder
The singer is left to ponder the impact of pollution on the environment and health.
It's enough to make the world roll up and die
The pollution is devastating enough to make the singer feel like civilization is coming to an end.
When the sun is slowly fadin' in the Western sky
The artist is repeating the first line, suggesting that time is passing and the day is ending once again.
Sometimes it takes forever the day to end
The artist is repeating the second line to emphasize how long some days can feel.
Sometimes it takes a lifetime
Again, the singer emphasizes how some days feel as if they never end.
Sometimes I think I'll never see the sun again
The singer repeats this line to convey the feeling of hopelessness and despair when darkness persists.
Sun again
The artist repeats the last line to emphasize the cyclical nature of time and the day-to-day repetition of life.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DANIEL GASTON ASH, KEVIN HASKINS, DAVID JAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind