One of These Days
Emmylou Harris Lyrics


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Well I won't have to chop no wood
I can be bad or I can be good
I can be any way that I feel
One of these days

Might be a woman that's dressed in black
Be a hobo by the railroad track
I'll be gone like the wayward wind one of these days

One of these days it will soon
be all over cut and dry
And I won't have this urge to go all bottled up inside
One of these days I'll look back and I'll say I left in time
'Cause somewhere for me I know there's peace of mind

I might someday walk across this land
Carrying the Lord's book in my hand
Goin' cross the country singin' loud as I can
One of these days

But I won't have trouble on my back
Cuttin' like the devil with a choppin' axe,
Got to shake it off my back, one of these days

One of these days it will soon be all over cut and dry
And I won't have this urge to go all bottled up inside
One of these days I'll look back and I'll say I left in time




'Cause somewhere for me I know there's peace of mind
There's gonna be peace of mind for me, one of these days

Overall Meaning

The song "One of These Days" by Emmylou Harris is a ballad that contemplates the transient nature of life and the singer's readiness to meet whatever fate comes her way. The repeated refrain of "one of these days" alludes to her sense of inevitability and expectation for the unknown, whether it be liberation, relief, or judgment. In the opening verses, Harris declares that she can be reckless or virtuous, unpredictable, and free. She asserts her agency and her confidence that someday, she will transcend her temporal struggles and find peace. She creates vivid images of her potential future selves: a woman dressed in black, a vagabond by the railroad track, a gospel singer carrying the Lord's book, and all of these possible selves are free from attachments and obligations.


However, the following verses convey the fact that the singer's path to freedom is not without challenges. She describes having to carry a heavy burden, represented by the metaphorical "trouble on my back," and the need she feels to shake it off. It seems that she is not yet free from her past and present struggles, but she is hopeful that one day she will be. Her ambition is to find peace and contentment, which she believes is achievable, but only "one of these days." The song is essentially about the human condition, the desire to be free and content, to find meaning and purpose, and to face the inevitability of change and endings.


Line by Line Meaning

Well I won't have to chop no wood
I won't have to struggle any longer.


I can be bad or I can be good
I can behave in any way that suits me.


I can be any way that I feel
I can be myself.


One of these days
At some point in the future.


Might be a woman that's dressed in black
I could be anyone or anything.


Be a hobo by the railroad track
I could be homeless or destitute.


I'll be gone like the wayward wind one of these days
I'll be gone without a trace one day.


One of these days it will soon be all over cut and dry
One day, everything will come to an end.


And I won't have this urge to go all bottled up inside
I won't feel the need to restrain myself anymore.


One of these days I'll look back and I'll say I left in time
Eventually, I'll realize that I made the right decision by leaving.


'Cause somewhere for me I know there's peace of mind
I believe that there's a place or a state of being where I can find happiness and calmness.


I might someday walk across this land
I could travel anywhere in the world.


Carrying the Lord's book in my hand
I might carry religious beliefs with me.


Goin' cross the country singin' loud as I can
I might express myself freely and loudly.


But I won't have trouble on my back
I won't be burdened with problems anymore.


Cuttin' like the devil with a choppin' axe,
I won't have to face difficult challenges that weigh me down.


Got to shake it off my back, one of these days
I need to let go of my worries and move on someday.


There's gonna be peace of mind for me, one of these days
I'm going to find peace and happiness in my life someday.




Lyrics Β© BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EARL MONTGOMERY

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@swamibubba

One of These Days
Emmylou Harris
Well I won't have to chop no wood
I can be bad or I can be good
I can be any way that I feel
One of these days
Might be a woman that's dressed in black
Be a hobo by the railroad track
I'll be gone like the wayward wind one of these days
One of these days it will soon
be all over cut and dry
And I won't have this urge to go all bottled up inside
One of these days I'll look back and I'll say I left in time
'Cause somewhere for me I know there's peace of mind
I might someday walk across this land
Carrying the Lord's book in my hand
Goin' cross the country singin' loud as I can
One of these days
But I won't have trouble on my back
Cuttin' like the devil with a choppin' axe,
Got to shake it off my back, one of these days
One of these days it will soon be all over cut and dry
And I won't have this urge to go all bottled up inside
One of these days I'll look back and I'll say I left in time
'Cause somewhere for me I know there's peace of mind
There's gonna be peace of mind for me, one of these days
Songwriters: Earl Montgomery
One of These Days lyrics Β© Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG Rights Management



All comments from YouTube:

@RoZita870

That's the way country music was meant to sound...pure, simple, straight from the heart.

@roymarriner5646

RoZita Bartok i

@user-oo8hw9oj2q

I told my daughter to play this song for me at my eventual celebration of life. Sums it up perfectly for me.

@marcosbryant27

What do you admire most about Emmylou

@bethkinard8646

This song must be one of her very best. I've always loved Emmylou and these lyrics really speak to me. I'm in recovery from drug addiction, so one of these days it will be all over.

@pamelacantrell-brown9650

Beth it’s 2021 and I hope you made it and you are safe and happy.

@davidornelas5563

Ya know, Beth, I used to drink my self drunk to this song way back when. After multiple tries over a lifetime, I am now 9 years clean and sober. Hope you have found success, one day at a time.

@dietvandermaden4615

@@davidornelas5563 Hope you are doing well now ! Best wishes and greetings from The Netherlands !

@rachelkoch109

My dad passed away a few months ago, and he was a big Emmylou Harris fan. Her songs and Elton John’s have helped me feel close to him, especially this song in particular. ❀️

@jaygoodman2432

Thanks for that, Rachel.
It’s one of these days now.

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