Lady What's Tomorrow
Elton John Lyrics


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Look up little brother
Can you see the clover
No not over there
A little bit left and over there

Now look and see the lilac tree
The lily pond, the skylark's song
The open air but no one cares
If branches live and die out there

Remember when you were nine
And I was ten
We would run into the woods
No we never will again

And Lady, what's tomorrow
What's tomorrow anyway
If it's not the same as now
It's the same as yesterday

Yes Lady, what's tomorrow
Will it be the same as now
Will the farmer push the pen
Will the writer pull the plough

Look up little brother
Can you see the clover




Oh sorry but it's over
Now there's concrete and no clover

Overall Meaning

In Elton John's song Lady What's Tomorrow, the lyrics suggest a strong sense of nostalgia and longing for the past. The singer is asking his younger brother to look around and see the beauty of nature, such as the clover and lilac tree, which has now been replaced by concrete. The memories of their childhood and the times they spent together in the open air, running into the woods, are still vivid in their minds, but they know they can never go back to those times.


The title of the song, Lady What's Tomorrow, is a rhetorical question that begs for an answer about the future. The singer is questioning whether tomorrow will be the same as today or yesterday. He is questioning whether the farmer will continue to push the pen or the writer will pull the plow. This suggests a sense of uncertainty and insecurity about the future, which adds to the nostalgia and longing for the past.


Overall, Elton John's Lady What's Tomorrow is a beautiful and poignant song that perfectly captures the feelings of nostalgia and longing for the past, as well as the uncertainty and insecurity about the future. It highlights the importance of cherishing the moments we have now and appreciating the beauty of nature, which we might lose to concrete and modernization in the future.


Line by Line Meaning

Look up little brother
Take a moment to observe your surroundings


Can you see the clover
Do you notice the small, natural details of the world around you?


No not over there
Not in the obvious place


A little bit left and over there
Try looking beyond what is immediately in front of you


Now look and see the lilac tree
Take a moment to appreciate the beauty of the natural world


The lily pond, the skylark's song
Other natural elements to appreciate


The open air but no one cares
People often forget or take for granted the beauty of nature


If branches live and die out there
Nature's course is not always understood or appreciated by humans


Remember when you were nine
Recall a time when you were younger and life seemed simpler


And I was ten
The artist is reminiscing with someone they knew in childhood


We would run into the woods
Reflect on simpler times of playful exploration


No we never will again
Growing up and moving away from childhood is a natural part of life


And Lady, what's tomorrow
The singer is asking a rhetorical question regarding the future


What's tomorrow anyway
The uncertainty of the future is acknowledged


If it's not the same as now
Change is inevitable


It's the same as yesterday
Some things in life remain constant


Yes Lady, what's tomorrow
Reiteration of the question for emphasis


Will it be the same as now
There is a desire for stability and a fear of change


Will the farmer push the pen
The future is uncertain even for those in traditionally stable occupations


Will the writer pull the plough
The future is unpredictable and may hold unexpected events


Look up little brother
Revisiting the request to observe one's surroundings


Can you see the clover
Once again encouraging attention to the small and natural things in the world


Oh sorry but it's over
The world has changed and natural elements may no longer exist


Now there's concrete and no clover
Commenting on the encroachment of urbanization and loss of natural beauty




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Peter Harthen


on Sacrifice

not like todays crap

Peter Harthen


on Sacrifice

Even at 56 years old, this music still sounds so good to me, how music should sound.....

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