On 21 May 2009, the song won the Ivor Novello award for Best Song. In October 2011, NME placed it at number 41 on its list of "150 Best Tracks of the Past 15 Years". After the 2012 Summer Olympics Closing Ceremony, the single peaked at #4 in the UK - a new high for the song and for the band.
The chorus line lyric "one day like this a year would see me right" had been in singer Guy Garvey's diary for several years before the song was written. Speaking in 2014 about the song Garvey said, "We put the chords behind it and realised it was going to be the hook of all hooks. I was like, 'what do we think?'... It was, 'it's kind of similar to "Hey Jude", isn't it?' I was like, 'yeah, and it's also similar to "Loaded" by Primal Scream, and we like both those songs, don't we?' So isn't it just generous to do that, isn't it a satisfying thing for the listener?... And my God, how it changed our fortunes."
Chart performance
"One Day Like This" debuted at number 39 in the UK Singles Chart on 8 June 2008, marking Elbow's seventh UK Top 40 single. After 14 weeks, the single finally peaked at number 35 on 14 September 2008. Due to the band's increasing popularity in the UK after winning their 2009 BRIT Award for Best British band "One Day Like This" spent more weeks in the UK Top 75 than any of Elbow's other singles with 31 weeks in five runs by the end of 2014, peaking at number 4 in August 2012 following their appearance at the closing ceremony of the London Olympics. In December 2013, it was certified Platinum in the UK by the BPI.
One Day Like This
Elbow Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Blinking in the morning sun
Shaking off the heavy one
Yeah, heavy like a loaded gun
What made me behave that way?
Using words I never say
I can only think it must be loveOh, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day
Someone tell me how I feel
It's silly wrong but vivid right
Oh, kiss me like a final meal
Yeah, kiss me like we die tonight
'Cause holy cow, I love your eyes
And only now I see the light
Yeah, lying with you half awake
Oh, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day
When my face is chamois-creased
If you think I wink, I did
Laugh politely at repeats
Yeah, kiss me when my lips are thin
'Cause holy cow, I love your eyes
And only now I see the light
Yeah, lying with me half awake
Stumbling over what to say
Well, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day
So throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
Throw those curtains wideOne day like this a year would see me right
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right, for life
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right, for life
Holy cow, I love your eyes
And only now I see you like
Holy cow, I love your eyes
And only now I see you like
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
So throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
Throw those curtains wide
One day like this a year would see me right
The opening lyrics to Elbow's song One Day Like This set the tone for a song about love and the happiness it can bring. The singer is drinking in the morning sun, blinking and shaking off the heavy feeling that weighed them down. The weight is described as heavy like a loaded gun, a loaded gun being something that can be dangerous and cause harm - this could imply that whatever burden the singer was carrying was a threat to their well-being. The singer wonders what has made them behave in this way and use words they never say, and concludes that it must be love. The way the singer is feeling is so vivid that it feels silly and wrong, but at the same time, it's right. The chorus repeats the sentiment of how beautiful the day is and how much the singer loves the person they are with, emphasizing the joyous feelings love can bring.
The second verse continues to describe the singer's feelings of love for the person they are with. Their face may be "chamois-creased" (a reference to the texture of chamois leather), but they will still laugh politely at repeats and want to be kissed when their lips are thin. Again, the chorus repeats how much the singer loves the person's eyes and how it's a beautiful day. The bridge encourages the listener to throw the curtains wide, to embrace the beauty of the day and the happiness love can bring. The refrain of "one day like this a year would see me right" emphasizes that the beauty brought by love and a beautiful day is so powerful that it can sustain someone for a year.
Line by Line Meaning
Drinking in the morning sun
Enjoying the sunrise and starting the day with a positive attitude
Blinking in the morning sun
Savoring the beauty of the rising sun and the beginning of a new day
Shaking off the heavy one
Ridding oneself of negative emotions and starting fresh
Heavy like a loaded gun
Feeling burdened and weighed down by emotional baggage
What made me behave that way?
Reflecting on past actions and questioning why one acted a certain way
Using words I never say
Expressing feelings with words one usually doesn't use
I can only think it must be love
Realizing that what one is feeling is most likely love
Oh, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day
Despite past negative experiences, the day ahead is looking hopeful and positive
Someone tell me how I feel
Seeking reassurance and clarity about one's emotions
It's silly wrong but vivid right
Recognizing that what one is feeling is unconventional but it feels right
Oh, kiss me like the final meal
Asking for a passionate kiss as though it's the last one they'll ever have
Yeah, kiss me like we die tonight
Savoring the present moment and acting as though they won't have another chance together
Cause holy cow, I love your eyes
Expressing deep affection for the person's eyes
And only now I see the light
Realizing the depth of feelings that they've been blind to until now
Yeah, lying with me half awake
Enjoying each other's company while being half asleep
Stumbling over what to say
Feeling nervous and uncertain about what to say next
Well, anyway, it's looking like a beautiful day
Despite feeling nervous and uncertain, the day is still filled with hope and positivity
When my face is chamois-creased
When I'm older and have wrinkles on my face
If you think I'll wink, I did
If you think I'll flirt, I already did
Laugh politely at repeats
Smiling and laughing along with someone even if you've heard the joke before
Throw those curtains wide!
Open the windows and let the light in
One day like this a year would see me right
Having even just one great day like this makes everything worth it
Throw those curtains wide!
Encouraging the listener to seize the day and enjoy it to the fullest
One day like this a year would see me right
Reiterating that one great day can make all the difference and make everything worth it
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Guy Edward John Garvey, Craig Lee Potter, Mark Potter, Peter James Turner, Richard Barry Jupp
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@drrockkso8882
I missed this song when it came out (I'm American and Elbow is a virtually unknown band over here). But in 2018 my girlfriend and I had been dating for about a year and we were driving home after a weekend trip to the mountains. We had a Pandora station streaming in the car and this song (which neither of us had ever heard before) randomly popped up. About halfway through the ending chorus the two of us just looked at each other and smiled, she reached over and squeezed my hand, and then we kept driving in silence as the song faded out.
I bought a ring the following week :)
We've been married two years now and have a baby on the way.
@catmansma
This is so precious. I hope now, few years later, things are good and well. I've been married 44 years. I've never had the love of my life like I thought but my husband has had a few apparently. Our only daughter died at 13, 27 years ago, but recently my son found out that my husband, his dad, has a daughter with one of his loves. And another son. I listen to this song because I like the lyrics and love the strings. But, I'm always happy to hear love stories. Once the children come, they come first before all other things. Take care. ❤❤
@jamieconnors1084
Absolutely beautiful.
@SwanTheGamer
I know it's been a few years since this comment but I'm glad you found this song and this band, and I'm sure you've heard it but if not listen to 'Grounds for Divorce' great song to blast out!! 🤝👌
@bobhoskins8517
Played at my dads funeral an as the curtain closed an the coffin went in the "throw your curtains wide" bit played... Brings back sad memories... Great song tho!!!
@hassansyed9819
I'm sorry for your loss. ❤️
@katie6515
I'm sorry for your loss ❤ may he rest in peace - he will be watching over you 🙌
@cherilonghurst6991
Sorry for your loss 💗
@oioisavaloy7838
Sorry for your lose ❤️
@natalieellis4619
So sorry for your loss 😥 I played this song as well at my fathers funeral too god bless the both ❤🌹 x