The Day Before the Day
Dido Lyrics


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All the pictures on the wall
The sand lying on the floor
The bed upstairs, still unmade
The dust float in the light
The people just left
All laughter and mess
Forgetting this and that
And rushing back

The front door open
The music still playing in one room
Down the hall
And towels on the floor
And then it's quiet
Just the bees and birds
The summer haze
Of the trees, and the air
Feeds it all, feeds it all

We can all feel it
Like a light hand on your back
Welcoming you
We can all feel it
Like a light hand on your back
Welcoming you
The day before we went to war
The day before we went to war
We can all feel it

All the parasols and kids at play
The sea so still and calm
Blue as the cloudless sky
Just the gentle hum
Of the summer's goings on
Broken by the sudden rush
Of two planes
Flying low and fast
Into the sun, into the sun

We can all feel it
Like a light hand on your back
Welcoming you
We can all feel it
Like a light hand on your back
Welcoming you
The day before we went to war
The day before we went to war
We can all feel it

We can all feel it
Like a light hand on your back
Welcoming you
We can all feel it
Like a light hand on your back
Welcoming you
The day before we went to war




The day before we went to war
The day before we went to war

Overall Meaning

Dido's "The Day Before the Day" is a hauntingly beautiful song that delves into themes of loss, nostalgia, and impending doom. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a house left in disarray after a gathering or party, with scattered sand on the floor, unmade beds, and towels on the floor. The people have all left, leaving behind laughter, mess, and memories. The front door remains open, and music still echoes down the halls, but there is a sense of quiet and stillness that pervades the house. The summer air outside feeds it all, hinting at the temporary nature of this moment and the inevitable impermanence of life itself.


As the song progresses, the lyrics take an even more heartrending turn, as Dido describes the idyllic scene outside the house: parasols and children at play, a calm sea, and a cloudless sky. Yet this peaceful scene is shattered by the sudden sound of two planes flying low and fast, into the sun. These lyrics are a clear reference to the events of September 11th, 2001, and the impending war that followed. The day before the world changed forever, there was still a sense of innocence and beauty, a fleeting moment before everything was lost.


Overall, "The Day Before the Day" is a powerful reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing the moments we have. It is a mournful yet beautiful tribute to the victims of 9/11 and a reminder of the impact of that tragic day on the world.


Line by Line Meaning

All the pictures on the wall
The remnants of a recently-ended gathering


The sand lying on the floor
The mess left by beachgoers who brought the beach inside


The bed upstairs, still unmade
The sign of a lazy or recently-departed occupant


The dust float in the light
The imperfections of the space on display


The people just left
The evidence of human activity that's just faded away


All laughter and mess
The aftermath of a good time had by all


Forgetting this and that
Everyone moving on and putting the past behind them


And rushing back
Not wanting to forget anything of importance


The front door open
The openness and welcoming atmosphere of the just-departed scene


The music still playing in one room
The final echoes of the festivities


Down the hall
The distance that's been covered


And towels on the floor
The signs of recently-used facilities


And then it's quiet
The residual stillness left behind


Just the bees and birds
Nature's orchestra providing the background noise


The summer haze
The warmth and serenity of the season


Of the trees, and the air
The environment at peace with each other


Feeds it all, feeds it all
The sustenance provided by nature for everything living


We can all feel it
The common sense of calm


Like a light hand on your back
An encouraging, supportive presence


Welcoming you
Inviting you to take part


All the parasols and kids at play
The typical sounds of summer leisure activities


The sea so still and calm
The tranquility of the day


Blue as the cloudless sky
The wonder and vastness of nature


Just the gentle hum
The subdued vibe of the day


Of the summer's goings on
The steady rhythms of the season


Broken by the sudden rush
The abrupt entrance of danger


Of two planes
The agents of destruction


Flying low and fast
Their malevolent intent and speed


Into the sun, into the sun
The act of horrific violence


The day before we went to war
The fateful moment before disaster struck


We can all feel it
The shared sense of tragedy


The day before we went to war
The last moment of stasis before everything changed


The day before we went to war
The end of an era




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BRIAN ENO, DIDO ARMSTRONG, ROLLO ARMSTRONG

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

Segine Ekakitie

Two things to learn from this song
1. Dont let anything keep you from meeting your loved ones before and at that critical time,not even work😢
2. Dont keep those words till the last day, you may never express them( bidirectional).

A sad and emotional song that has lessens.....

A day before the day...'you passed away'😢

'.....If only i was with you a day before the day you passed away, we would have seen one last time and shared our hidden emotions.....'



Eder Danae Pozos Soto

"The Day Before The Day"

Speeches won't be made today, clocks will carry on 
Flowers won't be left in parks, work will still be done 
People won't be dressed in clack, babies will be born 
No flags will fly, the sun will rise, 
But we know that you are gone 

You who love to love and believed we can never give enough 

It wakes me every single night, thinking through the day 
Did you stop at any time have doubts at any stage 
Were you calm or were you numb or happy just to get it done 
I've lived my life without regret until today 

You who love to love and believed we can never give enough 

I didn't get to say goodbye the day before the day 
Was trying to get to work on time, that's why I turned away 
And missed the most important thing you've ever tried to say 
I've lived my life without regret until today 

You who love to love and believed we can never give enough 
And you who hoped that underneath we all felt the same 
That was until the day before the day



The B

***
I come to this song once in a while but more frequently over the past few months. I feel like it best represents my sadness and my thinking of the day I will be no more. My mental health is in the pits because a person I've loved very deeply for more than a decade has changed towards me.
*****
I'm lost and heart broken and have considered taking control of my existence and ending it. How can someone with whom we loved each other suddenly gravitate away from me and hurt me so much. I cannot understand. I guess people change. But the day my existence will be over, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, after 10 years, I will be at peace. And noone will ever hurt me again. Noone will ever desert me. I will be at utmost peace.

****
So yes, from 1:18 that will be me.
- i will not stop at any time
- i will have doubts because what of my family who will be devastated?
- But once i focus on my peace which I'm pursuing, i will be calm and happy to just get it done

Just a matter of time.



All comments from YouTube:

ömer faruk tek

First time my father listened that song he wondered the meaning of the lyrics and I translated to him and he loved them a lot. Now I am listening that epic song after I lost him a week ago. Rest in peace my lovely dad and my best friend. You will never be forgotten.

EXIDREXBLOCKDASH[Adian]

I loved this song since forever, but last week i lost my father too. I could not say goodbye and lived my life without regret until today... it hurts so much

Theo Zeff

I'm so sorry to hear that you lost your beloved father. To you father, I say, : God's speed, sweet dreams.

DJ Oswald

Yeah I even passed this song 🎵 onto non believers today. Your Dad is in a better place than us...
Life goes on... 🤕. No matter the hurt. ~{‘What is Love ❤️ without Loss.?.
What is Life without Love.?.’}~
AHUM’M’@
A Humbled ‘M’essenger

Miguel Montes

This album was dedicated to his dad who died 😢 She didn’t even went on tour 😢 she said she cannot perform those songs live she was terrible sad 😢 Also the album didn’t do well not like previous albums Life for Rent and No Angel

Alpha

Sorry to heard your father past away his soul rip 😢

Damno7 5

Esta es de las canciones que más me conmueven una vez entiendes su sentido y su sensibilidad. Hay dos formas de entender un "... Para siempre". Y las dos son igual de válidas (supongo). Una es para siempre te has ido y otra es, te he conocido... Para siempre. Y con las dos, todos nosotros, unos antes y otros después, hemos de ir de la mano. Que gran canción, de las mas bellas que se han hecho jamás.

SamWallace Art

I love how she captures true sadness. It's not in-your-face, it's more like a slow-burn. A rare type of song. Me likey.

Gabriela Rivera

Samuel Wallace she's unique!

Cycle of Life

Perfectly articulated. This is rare in music to hear something as purely perfect as this in its beautiful soulful simplicity and mood that it creates.

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